III. Spiritual Teachings
A. “Return
to Me and I will return to you” (1:3).
1.
The relationship between man and God is
interactive.
a.
Disobedience resulted in exile (7:8-14).
b.
Punishment due because they provoked God to
wrath ().
c.
Returning to God brings blessings (-17).
2.
God is a true and living God (Jer ).
a.
God is true—He is unchangeable.
i.
Reliable—unlike man.
ii.
Predictable—unlike stocks.
b.
God is living God—He is responsive.
3.
Why does God respond to man?
a.
All nations are as nothing (Isa 40:12-26).
b.
God's mercy is in heaven (Ps 36:5).
c.
God's faithfulness reaches to the skies (Ps
36:5).
4.
The key rests upon the transformation of man.
a.
The biggest problem is in man; not in God.
b.
Without change, prayer cannot be effective
(7:1-6).
c.
Transformation requires that you have wisdom to
know yourself and have the power to return.
5.
The choice to return.
a.
Return from sin.
i.
God will dwell with those who have a contrite
and humble spirit (Isa 57:14-16).
ii.
Fasting that pleases God must be the one coupled
with change of life (Isa 58:3-9).
iii. Prepare
for the Lord's coming by weeping, mourning, and rending our hearts (Joel -14).
b.
Keeping the Sabbath (Isa 58:13, 14).
i.
Rejoice in God.
ii.
God will return.
c.
Changing our lifestyle.
i.
Depart from evil and dwell in the promised land (Jer 25:1-14; Deut 8:11-20).
ii.
The Rechabites were one of the few role models
who lived by God’s principles (Jer 35:12-19).
iii. The
best lifestyle is one which makes it easiest for us to keep the faith (Deut 8;
Amos 6:1-10).
d.
Offering tithe (Mal 3:7-12).
i.
Not offering tithe is to rob God.
ii.
Offering tithe is returning to God.
e.
Prioritizing the temple and family (Hag 1:1-11, -19).
i.
Putting family first, no blessing from God.
ii.
Putting the temple first, God will bless.
f.
“By returning and rest, you shall be saved” (Isa
30:1-23).
6.
Questions:
a. From the history of the chosen, how did man
turn away from God? What was God's response?
b. What is the key to restoring the
relationship between God and man?
c. How does God respond to man's return?
B.
The teachings of the eight visions.
1.
Vision
of the horses (1:7-17)—the mercy and justice of God.
a. All the earth resting quietly ()—God's thought for Israel were thoughts of peace (Jer 29:11).
b. God was angry with Jerusalem for 70 years ()—God's justice.
c. God was zealous for Jerusalem (-16)—God is different from man.
d. God will choose Jerusalem again ()—the mercy of God.
2.
Vision
of the four horns and four craftsmen (, 21).
a. God will use a powerful nation as a tool.
b. The nation with power will face God's
justice.
3.
Vision
of the measuring line (2:1-13).
a. Restoration of Jerusalem (2).
i.
To
measure Jerusalem.
ii.
It
shall be as a town without a wall.
b. God will be a wall of fire and glory all
around the city.
i.
City of
fire—God's preservation.
ii.
Glory—the
abidance of God.
c. The captured returned.
i.
Those
under captivity were treasured by God (2:8).
ii.
The
plunderer was punished.
iii.
The
Lord dwelt among them.
d. Questions:
i.
What is
the difference between God's anger towards Jerusalem and His wrath towards the nations that feel
secure?
ii.
What
can we understand about God from the ways He treats Jerusalem?
iii.
What is
the spiritual meaning of Jerusalem?
4.
Vision
of the high priest (3:1-10).
a. Satan opposed Joshua (1).
b. A branch plucked from the fire (2).
c. Joshua was clothed with rich robes (4).
d. The requirement to serve God (6, 7).
e. God brought forth His servant the Branch.
f. Questions:
i.
Satan
accuses Joshua before God. What does this means to those who serve God?
ii.
How is
God's rebuke to Satan related to a burning stick snatched from the fire?
iii.
What
are the requirements to serve the Lord?
5.
Vision
of the lampstand and olive trees (4:1-14).
a. The gold lamp (1-10).
i.
By
God's spirit (6).
ii.
A great
mountain shall become a plain. In God, nothing is impossible.
iii.
The
temple will be rebuilt.
b. The olive tree (11-14).
i.
Two
anointed
c. Questions:
i.
How is
the gold lampstand related to the rebuilding of the temple?
ii.
Restoration
of the temple needs reliance on God's spirit. Please elaborate with an example.
iii.
How are
the two anointed related to rebuilding of the temple?
6.
Vision of
the flying scroll (5:1-4).
a. It was huge but flying.
b. Eliminate the sinner.
7.
Vision
of the woman in a basket (5:5-11).
a. The wickedness will be removed (5:8; Rev.
17:3-6).
b. The wickedness will be set in Babylon ().
c. Questions:
i.
What is
the teaching of the flying scroll?
ii.
How is
the flying scroll related to man?
iii.
What is
the meaning of the woman in the basket?
8.
Vision
of the four chariots (6:1-8).
a. God reigns over history.
b. Different political powers can serve as
God's instruments.
c. The final purpose is to give His spirit
rest.
d. Questions:
i.
God is
in control of history. How do we prove this?
ii.
What is
the purpose of the Lord to control history?
C.
The
command to crown Joshua (6:9-15).
1.
Joshua
prefigures the Lord Jesus.
a. Crown on the head ().
b. A branch of David.
2.
He comes
to build God's temple (Isa 2:2, 3; Ezek 40-43).
a. Those who are afar shall come to build the
temple.
3.
His
counsel of peace shall be between both king and priest (Ps 110; Heb 7).
a. Reigns as king (2 Chr ; Isa 9:7; Lk ).
b. Serves as priest (Ps 110:4; Heb 7:1-3).
4.
Questions:
a. Why does Joshua need to be crowned?
b. Joshua rebuilt the temple. What is the
meaning behind this?
c. What does it means for Joshua to achieve
harmony between the two?
D.
Jerusalem will be restored (8:1-32).
1.
Promise
to return to Zion (8:1-8).
a. The Lord is zealous for Zion.
i.
God
will dwell in the city.
ii.
The
city shall be called the city of truth; the holy mountain.
iii.
The
city shall be filled with righteousness and peace.
b. Rebuild the relationship with the chosen.
2.
Promise
of bestowing blessings (8:9-23)—urge to rebuild the temple.
a. Rebuild the temple—will receive blessing
(9-13).
b. Encouragement to be righteous (14-17).
c. All nations will seek after Lord's grace
(18-23).
i.
Sorrow
will be turned into joy.
ii.
God’s
grace will abide.
iii.
All
nations will seek after the Lord.
3.
Questions:
a. What does the magnificent future of the
prophecy about Jerusalem represent?
b. What was God’s action taken for His zeal for
Zion?
c. What was the difference before and after the
temple was restored?
d. What should the chosen’s transformed life be
after the restoration of the temple?
e. Why do people seek after God in the future?
E.
The
coming of the Savior and the triumphant return of His chosen (9).
1.
The
King of Zion is coming (9:9-10), who:
a. Is full of authority.
b. Enforces justice.
c. Provides redemption.
d. Achieves peace.
e. Will bring joy.
2.
God
will redeem (-17) His
people.
a. He will make a covenant with blood (11).
b. He will release them from captivity.
c. He will double His
blessing (12, 16, 17).
d. The chosen will be triumphant.
3.
Questions:
a. What is the meaning of the coming of the
King of Zion?
b. Please elaborate the covenant make by the
King of Zion with the chosen.
c. How do we know that the birth of the Savior
is prearranged by God?
F.
The
coming of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of the chosen (10).
1.
The
coming of the latter rain (1).
2.
The
Lord is the good Shepherd (2-5).
a. They are in trouble because there is no
shepherd (2).
b. The Lord will take care of His sheep (3-5).
3.
The
Lord will bring His people back (6-12).
a. The Lord will bring them back (6, 7).
b. All nations will perish (8-12).
4.
Questions:
a. How does the pouring down of rain related to
the prosperity of God’s kingdom?
b. Why did God scatter the chosen and gather
them again?
G.
Prophecy
of the Lord's suffering (11).
1.
Desolation
of Israel (1-6).
a. Calamity will overflow (1-3).
b. The Lord’s sheep will be ill-treated (4-6).
2.
The
good shepherd is abandoned (7-14).
a. Pastored by the staffs of beauty and bonds
(4-7).
b. Cut the staff of beauty—He will break the
covenant with His people (8-13).
c. Cut the staff of bonds—He will break the
brotherhood (14).
3.
Foolish
shepherd afflicted (15-17).
4.
Questions:
a. How does the Lord pastor His sheep?
b. Why did God break the two staffs?
H.
The
second coming of Christ and the fulfillment of His kingdom (12-14).
1.
God
will defend Jerusalem (12:1-9).
2.
The
house of David will be restored (-14).
3.
Sin was
purged and the people were purified (13:1-9).
4.
The
second coming of Christ (14:1-21).
a. Jerusalem besieged (14:1-3).
b. The Lord’s second coming (4-8).
c. Christ reigns as king (9-11).
d. Nations punished (12-15).
e.
The
remnant will worship the Lord (16-21).
