1. M AJOR L EARNING F ROM THE M INORS Z ECHARIAH P ART 2 Thirsting for a God Who Leads Us.

2. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH 9-14 The last six chapters of Zechariah have been described as some of the most difficult in the Bible... The difficulty lies in discerning the true fulfillment of these prophecies…

3. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH 8:23 Consider this picture… “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.” God has a plan…

4. Thirsty? W ORTHY OF W ORSHIP Both Haggai and this first section of Zechariah remind us that our God is a God worthy of worship all day, every day, and together on Sundays. Worship binds these truths allowing His people to be in the presence of a Holy God.

5. Thirsty? A S ECOND T HEME The theme of righteous judgment and leadership is a thread that I see through these last chapters. People are thirsting for a God who is worthy of worship and who leads His people.

6. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH 9 P AGE 1479 Verse 1: “The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach… and …and.” Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

7. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH 10 Zechariah chapter 10 shows that the Lord will care for Judah and Israel will be restored. They need to turn from Idols and God will give them new shepherds as He redeems them, restores them, and brings them back from far lands so they can walk in his name (10:12).

8. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH 11 Chapter 11 contains imagery of judgment as well as a reminder of how they became separated from God in exile. The staff of Favor and Union. 12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.

9. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH C HAPTER 12 God will protect His city and His people against future enemies (12:3). Zechariah 12:10 “…they will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him…” which seems to have its final fulfillment with Jesus on the cross. 13:1 says “on that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”

10. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH 13:7 “…Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered,…” Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. 13:7-9 is the refining nature of judgment. At the end of the process “They will call on my name and I will answer them; and I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” In all of this I see our draw towards a God who leads us even in difficulty.

11. Thirsty? Z ECHARIAH C HAPTER 14 Chapter 14 gets extra difficult and many opinions exist as to what it means and when this will happen, or has happened. My two cents at this point is that the chapter shows that Jerusalem will be attacked, and even in the attack, God will protect it. Even when things look extra bleak God will lead us.

12. Thirsty? T HE P OINT ?? These chapters may be difficult to understand but the application I want to draw is for us to trust in a God who loves us enough to lead us.

13. Thirsty? D O S OME S PENDING Spend time in God’s word so you know His voice and His character. Spend time in prayer being thankful and asking direction. Spend time with others who help you listen and obey. Spend time wrestling with God if you need to.

14. Thirsty? D O S OME S PENDING Spend time preparing your heart for obedience before you approach Him. Spend time making the Kingdom the priority. May God bless you richly for your investment!

15. Thirsty? N EXT W EEK August 30 th Malachi Thirsting for a God of Relationship.