Israel had been taken to Babylon and held captive for seventy years. At the end of the seventy years, just as He promised, God said it was time for the people to return home. Only 50,000 returned.
They began to rebuild the Temple but soon became discouraged and the work stopped.
To help them, God’s sent two prophets, Zechariah and Haggai, to call them to revival. They told them to turn from sin and to return to God with all their hearts. If they obeyed God, then they would be able to finish the Temple and the walls around Jerusalem.
Just like the people of Israel, we get discouraged, too, and only by obeying God and knowing Yeshua can we have hope and encouragement.
Zechariah 1:2-3
2 The Lord who rules over all was very angry with your people of long ago. 3 And now he says to us, “Return to me. Then I will return to you,” announces the Lord. .
