Day 231 - Zechariah 1–3 Psalm 38

The book of Zechariah takes place around 520 to 518 BC, during the time when the Jewish people had returned from living in Babylon. They had been away from their homeland for seventy years, and now they were back in Jerusalem, trying to rebuild their lives and especially the temple of God. Zechariah was a young prophet serving at the same time as Haggai. Together, they encouraged the people not to give up on the rebuilding project, even though they were few in number and faced discouragement from their neighbors. The Persian Empire, led first by King Darius, was the ruling power at the time. Unlike Babylon, Persia allowed the people to go back home and restore their temple. This moment in history was filled with hope and challenge. The people were poor and tired, but God kept reminding them through Zechariah that He was with them. In Zechariah 1, God spoke through Zechariah to remind the people that He wanted them close to Him again. Even though their parents had turned away long ago, God was offering a fresh beginning. Zechariah then saw a vision of riders on horses traveling across the earth, bringing back the news that the world was at rest. God promised He would again show kindness to Jerusalem, rebuild His house, and bring comfort to His people. This shows us that no matter how far we may feel from God, He is always ready to welcome us back and surround us with His peace. In Zechariah 2, Zechariah saw a man measuring Jerusalem as if the city could be contained, but God said the city would grow so much it could not be limited by walls. In our lives, we often think in terms of limits, but God’s presence makes us bigger than we imagine. In Zechariah 3, Zechariah saw Joshua the high priest standing before God in dirty clothes. An angel took away the filthy garments and gave him clean ones, showing that God Himself was giving Joshua a fresh start. This reminds us that God does not leave us stuck in our mistakes. Instead, He lovingly clothes us in His grace and calls us to live out the purpose He has for us. In Psalm 38, The psalmist shared how heavy life can feel when struggles and troubles pile up. He felt alone and weak, yet he turned to God with hope.