Text: Zechariah 4 In this chapter, Zechariah receives a vision, from an angel, of a gold lampstand with a bowl on top and seven lamps. On either side of the lampstand are two olive trees that continuously supply oil to the
lamps.
The lamp stand represents the people of Judah who are meant to be a spiritual light to the world.
The oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
The constant flow of oil from the olive trees represents the continuous supply of God's grace and Spirit.
1. A reminder So he answered and said unto me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”
(Zechariah 4:6) Zechariah 4:6 was a reminder to Zerubbabel that the rebuilding of God's house would not be achieved through human strength, wealth, or cleverness, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just as the golden lampstand was continually supplied with oil by two olive trees, the Holy Spirit would continually supply strength needed to finish the Temple.
The Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem with a decree to rebuild the temple, but the project was delayed for nearly twenty years, due to opposition and discouragement.
Zerubbabel needed to be reminded that God’s work is accomplished not by human might, but by His Spirit.
Believers must rely on the Holy Spirit’s power, not their own strength to accomplish God’s work.
2. A promise Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:7) God promised that any obstacle blocking the completion of the temple would be leveled to a plain before Zerubbabel.
Zechariah 4:7 is a powerful promise. A mountain is symbolic of an obstacle.
God’s promise to Zerubbable is that He will remove any obstacles and clear the path for the work to be completed.
The capstone is the final stone placed on a building. Just as Zerubbable laid the foundation of the Temple, God proclaims that his hands will also finish the Temple.
Shouts of, “grace, grace!” indicate the the completion of the Temple would be because of God’s grace and not human merit.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth above sea level. It is 29,032 feet. That is one tall mountain! No mountain or problem is big enough to stop the work of God, when God’s work is done in the power of the Holy Spirit. 3. A warning “For who has despised the day of small things?
For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” (Zachariah 4:10) God warns the people not to 'despise the day of small things.'
The Jewish people returned from Babylonian exile and were rebuilding the Temple. Because it looked far less glorious than Solomon’s original Temple, some mocked.
Here, in Zechariah 4:10, God rebuked them. God often starts His greatest works in small ways. A plum line is a tool used to make sure that a wall is perfectly vertical.
The point is that God was delighted to see Zerubbable holding tools and involved in the work of rebuilding the Temple. The eyes of the Lord represent God’s awareness of His people and their efforts. The two olive trees represent Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbable the Governor. They symbolize the priestly and kingly offices and were anointed to lead the Jewish exiles in rebuilding the temple. They were channels of God’s blessings. These two offices, King and Priest, point to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is both the perfect High Priest and eternal King. Christ is the true channel of all of our blessings.
On the TV show Candid Camera, a woman coasted down a hill, right into a gas station. She pulled up to the pump and asked the attendant to “fill’er up!” Then she popped the hood and said, “could you check the engine?” The attendant opened the hood only to find nothing there. Then the Candid Camera crew said, “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!”
A Christian not relying on the Holy Spirit is like a car without an engine.
Thought for the week: To do God’s work, we need God’s power.
Prayer for the week: Lord help me to rely on your Spirit.