Topical Bible: Death: Scenes of Death of Zechariah

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The death of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest, is a significant event recorded in the Old Testament, illustrating the tragic consequences of apostasy and the rejection of prophetic warning. Zechariah's death is a poignant scene that underscores the tension between faithfulness to God and the rebellion of His people.

Historical Context

Zechariah lived during the reign of King Joash of Judah. Joash initially followed the godly counsel of Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, who had been instrumental in placing him on the throne. However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash turned away from the LORD, influenced by the leaders of Judah who abandoned the house of the LORD and served Asherah poles and idols (2 Chronicles 24:17-18).

Prophetic Ministry and Martyrdom

Zechariah, filled with the Spirit of God, stood against this apostasy. He boldly confronted the people, saying, "Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you" (2 Chronicles 24:20). His message was a call to repentance, urging the nation to return to the covenant faithfulness that had been abandoned.

Tragically, Zechariah's prophetic ministry was met with hostility. The leaders conspired against him, and by the king's command, they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 24:21). This act of violence against a prophet of God was a grievous sin, highlighting the depth of Judah's spiritual decline.

Theological Significance

Zechariah's death is a stark reminder of the cost of standing for truth in a time of widespread unfaithfulness. His martyrdom is a testament to the courage required to speak God's truth, even when it leads to personal sacrifice. The scene of his death also serves as a divine indictment against those who reject God's messengers, illustrating the severe consequences of such rebellion.

The narrative of Zechariah's death is further echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus refers to the blood of Zechariah as a symbol of the righteous blood shed throughout history (Matthew 23:35). This reference underscores the continuity of God's prophetic witness and the persistent resistance it faces from a rebellious humanity.

Legacy and Reflection

The death of Zechariah stands as a solemn warning to all generations about the dangers of turning away from God and the importance of heeding His prophets. It calls believers to remain steadfast in their faith, even in the face of opposition, and to uphold the truth of God's Word with courage and conviction.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 24:22
Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look on it, and require it.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... of the slave trade, slavery, and war, will call to mind scenes of vice ... Nor is that
objection worth a rush, that Christ by his death hath taken away ... Zechariah 5:3 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

The Dead Christ
... John did those of the death of the Saviour.[3 ... of God's people back to the wonderful
scenes of divine ... pierced." They are from a passage in Zechariah, which is so ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xxii the dead christ.htm

Author's Preface.
... Chapter VII. From Kadesh to the Death of Moses. ... Events of the forty years' wandering.
Final scenes at Kadesh. ... Prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tidwell/the bible period by period/authors preface.htm

Thessalonica
... I was wounded in the house of My friends." Zechariah 13:6 ... Looking down through the
centuries to the scenes of the ... of God "poured out His soul unto death: and He ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 22 thessalonica.htm

Footnotes
... to keep the feast of Tabernacles." (Zechariah 14:16 ... Passover was fulfilled at Christ's
death, and Pentecost at ... to them"think we, amid other scenes of hallowed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/footnotes.htm

First Attempts on Jerusalem.
... in the land of the shadow of death, upon them ... namely, of the Judges, Kings, Absalom,
Zechariah, Jehoshaphat, and ... had nothing in common with scenes of butchery. ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xiii first attempts on.htm

Desolation of the Earth
... as he mingled with men in the various scenes of life. ... that be done." Now the angel
of death goes forth ... rise up against the hand of his neighbor." Zechariah 14:12 ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 41 desolation of the.htm

Second Journey through Galilee - the Healing of the Leper.
... The Synagogues of Galilee are no longer the quiet scenes of His ... on the other, the
wider bearing on the real cause of death: not our ... [2344] From Zechariah 14:12 ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv second journey through.htm

The Scope of the Apocalypse Shewn by Its Place in the Canon
... Not until shortly after the Apostle's death did God ... a wondrous unveiling of the awful
scenes which shall ... the great physical forces of creation (Zechariah 12:4-8 ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the scope of the apocalypse.htm

Joshua and the Angel
... Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with ... of God's people in the closing
scenes of the ... brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends," even unto death. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 47 joshua and the.htm