ZECHARIAH 4

OPENS WITH THE LORD GIVING ZECHARIAH ANOTHER VISION & SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO HIM, WHEN HE SAYS, "By My Spirit, Says the LORD"

Verses 1-3 tells us Zechariah's vision of the olive trees and lampstands.

"Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left."

As a man who is wakened out of his sleep...Zechariah is teling us that he had that woozy feeling that you get if you are awakened suddenly from a deep sleep.

A lampstand of SOLID gold...God gave Zechariah a vision of the golden lampstand that was meant to stand in the temple.

WHY?

Since Zechariah and his people were there to REBUILD the temple, it made sense that God spoke to them in images related to the temple & GAVE HIM A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT HE WANTED THE LAMPSTAND THEY CREATED TO LOOK LIKE.

THIS SHOWS US SOMETHING PRECIOUS HERE ABOUT OUR GOD...HE IS INVOLVED AND CONCERNED WITH THE SMALLEST DETAILS OF THINGS IN OUR LIVES AMEN?

SEVEN PIPES to the SEVEN LAMPS … two olive trees:

AND WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND UNIQUE HERE. In addition to the lampstand, Zechariah saw something that was NEVER BEFORE IN THE TEMPLE - TWO OLIVE TREES THAT SUPPLIED the seven lamps WITH OIL through seven pipes.

AND SOMETHING INTERESTING HERE ABOUT TEMPLE SERVICE IN THAT DAY...

DID YOU KNOW....One of the more tedious duties of the temple service was the CONSTANT CARE REQUIRED of the lamps on the golden lampstand. They had to be CONTINUALLY REFILLED WITH OIL, cleaned of soot, and their wicks had to be maintained.

SO WHAT WAS SO ASTONISHING ABOUT THIS LAMPSTAND AND THE OIL LAMPS? In this vision, Zechariah sees "self-filling" lamps, fed directly FROM TWO OLIVE trees.

AND DID YOU KNOW, In the temple, IN THOSE DAYS, the lamps were fueled by pure, specially prepared olive oil.

BUT IN THIS VISION GOD GAVE ZECHARIAH, The lampstand was fed straight from the trees.

CONFUSED?

WELL SO WAS ZECHARIAH.

AND WE NOTICE SOMETHING ELSE IN THE NEXT VERSES. ZECHARIAH DID NOT HESITATE TO ASKKK FOR CLARITY AND EXPLANATION....AND MORE IMPORTANT, GOD WAS PLEASED & NOT ANGRY AT HIS QUESTIONS, AMEN?

Verses 4-5 tells us Zechariah asks for an explanation of the vision.

"So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."

What are these, my lord?...Zechariah CLEARLY SAW saw the vision, but HE DID NOT understand what it meant. What he saw was unusual but simple - a lampstand with lamps supplied with oil directly through pipes coming from two olive trees.

WHAT ZECHARIAH SAW, WAS IMPOSSIBLE IN THE NATURAL. THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD PLANT TWO OLIVE TREES WITHIN THE TEMPLE & MAKE THEM CONSTANTLY SELF SUPPLY THE PURE OLIVE OIL FOR THE LAMPS.

THIS SHOWS US SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT ZECHARIAH, HE WAS WILLING. HE DID NOT DOUBT THE VISION AND THE SPOKEN WORD OF THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, WHO CAN ONLY BE OUR JESUS, BUT HE COULD NOT FATHOM HOW THEY COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS, AMEN?

Do you not know what these are?...THIS TELLS US THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT for Zechariah to know, and the angel makes sure that Zechariah knows that he must come to understand the meaning of this vision.
HERE IS OLD TESTAMENT AFFIRMATION AND CONFIRMATION OF JESUS WORDS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND....ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU.

Verses 6-7...JESUS EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF THE VISION. WHICH IS...How Zerubbabel will accomplish the work: by the Spirit of God.

"So he answered and said to 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. 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!" ' "

This is the word of the LORD OF HOSTS TO Zerubbabel.

SO WHO WAS Zerubbabel?

HE WAS THE CIVIC LEADER of Jerusalem, and had the responsibility to finish the work of rebuilding the temple. The work had stalled, and Zerubbabel needed encouragement to carry on the work.

'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts...REMEMBER In the vision of Zechariah 3 God spoke TO Zerubbabel about the issue of purity. But purity alone is NOT enough to accomplish the work of God - the work of God NEEDS RESOURCES, and CONTRARY TO MANKIND'S THOUGHT PROCESSES....THE RESOURCES NEEDED ARE NOT the resources of HUMAN might or power.

WHY? WHAT DID GOD MEAN?

MIGHT FOCUSES on collective strength, the resources of a group or army.
POWER FOCUSES on individual strength.

God says, "not by the resources of many or one, but by My Spirit. HE IS TELLING ZECHARIAH AND ZERUBBABEL It will NOT BE by your cleverness, your ability, or your physical strength that the temple will be rebuilt, but by the Spirit of God, AMEN?

SO WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY RESOUCES WE NEED?

The necessary resource for God's work is THE HOLY SPIRIT and God promises Zerubbabel a RICH RESOURCE in the Spirit of God to accomplish His work.

GOD IS SAYING CLEAR AS CRYSTAL HERE....TRUST ME...LOOK TO ME...SEEK MY GUIDANCE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN?

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW when we PUT OUR TRUST AND FAITH IN OUR OWN resources - whether they be small or great in the eyes of man - WE WILL ALWAYS FALL SHORT, then we don't CALL UPON, LEAN ON, REACH FOR THE FULL SUPPLY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING WITHIN THOSE OF US WHO KNOW AND LOVE JESUS CHRIST AND CALL HIM LORD, SAVIOR, AND FRIEND, AMEN?

This was THE SPIRIT---THE BREATH---THE RUAH OF THE LORD WHICH ALSO WORKED IN CREATION, TOLD TO US IN Genesis 1:2.

ALSO AT THE RED SEA, to open and close it TOLD TO US IN Exodus 15:8, 10.

AND and that gave life to dead bones TOLD TO US IN Ezekiel 37:1-14.

Looking back to the vision NOW.... we too SEE & UNDERSTAND that God wanted Zerubbabel TO KNOW that the Holy Spirit would continually supply his need, just as the oil trees in the vision continually supplied oil to the lamps on the lampstand. God wants His supply and our reliance on the Holy Spirit to be continual.

CHARLES SPURGEON SAYS IT WELL OF THESE VERSES..."O churches! take heed lest ye trust in yourselves; take heed lest ye say, 'We are a respectable body,' 'We are a mighty number,' 'We are a potent people;' take heed lest ye begin to glory in your own strength; for when that is done, 'Ichabod' shall be written on your walls and your glory shall depart from you. Remember, that he who was with us when we were but few, must be with us now we are many, or else we must fail; and he who strengthened us when we were but as 'little in Israel,' must be with us, now that we are like 'the thousands of Manasseh,' or else it is all over with us and our day is past."

By My Spirit...AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, AND ASK OURSELVES WHY OIL is a good representation of the Holy Spirit:

- Oil lubricates when used for that purpose - there is little friction and wear among those who are lubricated by the Spirit of God

- Oil heals and was used as a medicinal treatment in Biblical times TOLD TO US IN Luke 10:34 - the Spirit of God brings healing and restoration.

- Oil lights when it is burned in a lamp - where the Spirit of God is there is light.

- Oil warms when it is used as fuel for a flame - where the Spirit of God is there is warmth and comfort.

- Oil invigorates when used to massage - the Holy Spirit invigorates us for His service.

- Oil adorns when applied as a perfume - the Holy Spirit adorns us and makes us more pleasant to be around.

- Oil polishes when used to shine metal - the Holy Spirit wipes away our grime and smoothes out our rough edges.

Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain....

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

The work of rebuilding the temple was so massive it seemed like a great mountain TO ZERUBBABEL & THE PEOPLE... BUT RIGHT HERE God promises that by His Spirit, that great mountain will be leveled into a plain.

AND FROM OUR STUDY OF NEHEMIAH, WE KNOW IN THIS CASE, the great mountain may have literally been the mountainous pile of rubble at the temple site. That rubble would be removed and the work carried on.

He shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

This is God ASSURANCE TO Zerubbabel that not only will the work be finished, but Zerubbabel - HE HIMSELF - shall finish it, setting the capstone and declaring that it was ALL A WORK OF GOD'S MIGHT, POWER, SUPPLY & GRACE, AMEN?

When the work is done through human might or power we can take credit for it, but when the work is done by the continual supply of the Spirit, then it is all to the glory of God's grace.

Verses 8-10 tells us GOD GIVES MORE encouragement for Zerubbabel.

"Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 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."

His hands shall finish it...When the work is done by God's Spirit there are not only resources to begin the work, but also to finish the work.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 CONFIRMS THIS..."God is a finisher."

For who has despised the day of small things?.... DOES NOT Zechariah's question rings true to us today TOO?

Almost every one of us could answer, "I have despised the day of small things." The question provides its own answer: none of us should despise the day of small things, because God has a wonderful - though perhaps difficult - purpose for those days.

It was a long "day" for Zerubbabel, because the work of the temple laid in ruins for almost 20 years. He probably would say to God, "What do you mean 'day of small things?' I've lived with 20 years of small things." Even so, God tells Zerubbabel to not despise the time of small things, and to consider it is all as just a day.

In many of God's choice workers He uses a powerful season of small things.

WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY THIS?

Those days are NOT a mistake nor are they punishment; they are days of priceless shaping and preparation. They are not days to despise.

When Satan tempts us to despise the day of small things, he shines as an outstanding liar because Satan does not despise the day of small things.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER Satan ACTUALLY FEARS the day of small things in our life because he sees what great things God does in them and brings out of them.

AND AS CHARLES SPURGEON POINTS OUT....GOD USES OUR SMALL WORKS IN WONDROUS AND MYSTERIOUS WAYS TOO. "God accepts your little works if they are done in faith in his dear Son. God will give success to your little works: God will educate you by your little works to do greater works; and your little works may call out others who shall do greater works by far than ever you shall be able to accomplish."

For THESE SEVEN rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel:

The seven are the PERFECT, ALL SEEING EYES eyes of the LORD mentioned in this same context. They rejoice when they see Zerubbabel busy with the building work, with the plumb line in his hand. The eyes of the LORD see it all, and they are happy to see God's people at work.

Though the work was empowered by the Spirit of God, Zerubbabel still NEEDED his plumb line. He still needed to get to work. God could have given Zerubbabel a shortcut and instantly, miraculously finished the work. That's isn't God's way of doing things, because His work in the life of Zerubbabel was as important to Him as His work through Zerubbabel, AMEN?

Verses 11-14 tells us the explanation of the olive trees and lampstands.

"Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees; at the right of the lampstand and at its left?" And I further answered and said to him, "What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?" Then he answered me and said, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth."

What are these two olive trees...we see that Zechariah DID NOW understood the message of encouragement to Zerubbabel, but he STILL DID NOT EXACTLY UNDERSTAND AND CONNECT IT to the vision of the olive trees and the lampstand.

These are the TWO anointed ones...

SO WHO WERE THEY?

In Zechariah's day, the two anointed ones were Zerubbabel and Joshua. It seems that they were NOT the entire trees, but two olive BRANCHES from the trees, probably one branch from each tree. The trees themselves represent the kingly and priestly offices in Israel.

God had a special work for these two anointed ones. They would be uniquely anointed to work together and to accomplish the work of God. AND THE BIBLE TELLS US AND SHOWS US THAT God often calls two men to work together:

- Moses and Aaron
- Joshua and Caleb
- Elijah and Elisha
- Peter and John
- Paul and Barnabas
- Calvin and Luther
- Whitefield and Wesley
- Moody and Sankey
- Graham and Barrows

God promises to raise up TWO MORE WITNESSES, anointed ones to preach the gospel to the world immediately before Jesus' SECOND COMING RETURN, WHEN HE STEPS DOWN INTO JERUSALEM TO RESCUE ISRAEL FROM THE ANTICHRIST & THE WORLD TOLD TO US IN Revelation 11:3-13.

AND WE KNOW FROM HAVING STUDIED THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THAT Revelation 11:4 specifically says of these witnesses: These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

SO ONCE AGAIN WE SEE NEAR AND FAR VISIONS/PROPHECIES...AMEN? IT REMINDS US THAT OUR TRIUNE GOD HAS ALREADY BEEN INTO THE FUTURE LONG BEFORE WE EVER GOT THERE!

AND YOU NOTICE....The two anointed ones had work to do and it would be so supplied by the Spirit of God that they would be like the olive trees with a continual supply of oil for the lamps on the lampstand.

AND DID YOU KNOW...Anointed ones is literally SONS OF OIL?
In Hebrew idioms the son of something is radically characterized by that thing. For example, the sons of Belial totally represent their pagan god Belial.

BUT THESE TWO ANOINTED ONES OF GOD, are so characterized by the ministry and the power of the Holy Spirit WITH THEM SO that they ARE sons of oil.

How did the trees supply the oil?
It came out of the trees.

All real ministry is giving of ourselves.

It doesn't matter how much we have; what matters is how much we give of ourselves. Some people are like a huge tank of oil that you might see at a refinery. You think, "that's enough gas to last a lifetime" - but you could never fill your tank there. At the refinery there is much supply, but no delivery. A five-gallon can of gas at home can carry only a little supply - but it will deliver.

WHAT GOD IS TELLING ZECHARIAH AND US...IS IF YOU HAVE ME, MY HOLY SPIRIT IN THE FULL, A TINY BIT OF ME, WILL NEVER RUN OUT, YOU CAN SHARE AND SHARE AND SHARE AND GIVE AND GIVE AND GIVE AND NEVER RUN OUT, AMEN?