God gave His prophet Zechariah 8 visions in one night.
• The 1st vision God assured His people that He still cares. He was angry with the hostile nations for their harsh treatment against Israel.
• In the 2nd vision God revealed that He has judged the powerful empires because they scattered Judah.
• God prophesied in the 3rd vision that He has a glorious future for Jerusalem and through Israel, the world will be blessed with the coming of the Messiah.
We see God directing His focus on the two leaders in the 4th vision (covered last week) and 5th vision (today).
• The visions are more specific, giving reference to the current leaders of the group – Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor, a descendant of King David.
• They were encouraged to do the work that God has entrusted to them – the rebuilding of the Temple - because God has a great plan for this place.
• At this point in time, they were barely 5 months into the work and facing difficulties.
Remember Haggai’s 2nd message to them, some 4 months ago – Haggai 2:4 (7th mth)
• “But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. `Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, `and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.”
In Zechariah’s 4th vision (11th mth), Joshua was seen standing before the Lord as the high priest, representing the nation, but dressed in filthy clothes and being accused by Satan.
• He was acquitted by God and given clean garments in exchange, not because the accusation was false, but because the Lord says He has chosen Jerusalem.
• It was election by grace, because God has provided redemption.
• God provides the clean garments, not unjustly or unfairly, but in the light of the coming Messiah, who will pay for the “clean garments”, so to speak.
The Lord said the priests “are men symbolic of things to come” (3:8), pointing to the coming of “the great high priest”, the Christ who would offer, not animal sacrifices on behalf of the people, but himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin.
• Through Him, God would ultimately “remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (3:9)
• (Referring to Jesus’ 1st coming and death on the cross, and more likely, His second coming when He returns and establishes the Millennial Kingdom “in this land”.)
Joshua was made clean and re-instated in his priestly role, and so would Israel.
• They have to look beyond the present distress to the future glory of the times of the Messiah, and therefore treasure what they have to do, right now. It has significance!
Having encouraged Joshua, the Lord turned His attention to Zerubbabel.
• The next vision was directed for him. Read Zech 4:1-14.
Zechariah was awakened and directed to see a solid gold lampstand.
• It probably resembles the lampstand that God instructed Moses to make for the tabernacle (Exo 25:31-40) and also the ones in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 7:49).
• Exo 25:31-32 “Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. 32Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand - three on one side and three on the other.” Exo 25:40 “See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
What was unique in this vision was the bowl at the top of the lampstand and the seven channels connecting it to the lights.
• And there were two olive trees beside the bowl and lampstand, one on the right, the other on the left.
• From the question Zechariah asked in 4:12, we know he saw two gold pipes linking them to the bowl, pouring out olive oil.
The lampstands in the Tabernacle or Temple provide the only source of light in the holy place. They are to be kept burning continuously.
• According to God’s instruction given to Moses (Exo 27:21), the priests (Aaron and his sons) have to step in every morning and evening, to trim the wicks and refill the lamps with pure olive oil (Exo 30:7-8), to make sure they stay lighted continuously.
• They were kept burning by human efforts but the lampstand Zechariah saw in this vision was different.
• It has a constant supply of oil from the olive trees, flowing out to the two golden pipes and into the bowl, and then from the bowl through the channels to the 7 lights.
• No human effort is necessary. The bowl is right on top. The oil flows down continuously. There is unceasing supply of oil.
When Zechariah asked, “What are these?” (4:4), the angel replied, “Do you not know what these are?” (4:5) – almost hinting that he SHOULD have known.
• A reference probably to his current context, the struggles that both the leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, had been experiencing in rebuilding the Temple.
• The earlier vision was a word to encourage Joshua, now a word for Zerubbabel.
4:6-10 “So he 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 Almighty.
7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of `God bless it! God bless it!'"
8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
10 "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel would finish the Temple, the Lord said. Not by their might and strength, but by the Spirit of God. The work would be accomplished by God’s help.
• Remember Haggai 2nd message (Hag 2:5): Be strong and work. The Lord says, “For I am with you… And My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”
• Nothing, not even a “mighty mountain” perceived by Zerubbabel, could stand in God’s way. God is working through him.
• The hands of Zerubbabel that laid the foundation would also be the hands laying the capstone. He started it and he would end it, enabled by the Spirit of God.
The will of God will not lead us to where His Spirit cannot sustain us.
• When God calls, He enables. If He says move, then He will make a way. If He says do it, He will give Zerubbabel the strength to finish it.
• It is important to know that God’s work is done THROUGH human efforts but not BY human efforts. Spiritual work is a work of God. God makes it happen.
They were now at the beginning of their work and God declared its completion, which is at least 3 more years down the road.
• 4:10b has this inserted comment in parenthesis: (These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)
• The God who sees everything and knows everything, has already seen the end. He sees the end from the beginning.
• Whatever the “mountain” of difficulties, God has already seen through it to the end.
Zechariah then asked in 4:11-12 “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
• The angel: “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” (4:14)
• The two prominent figures serving the Lord then and holding anointed offices, would be Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, leader of the people.
• Joshua from the priestly line and Zerubbabel from the royal line of David.
• The priests and the Kings in Israel are anointed to serve God.
Remember Haggai? He directed his messages to both of them, Zerubbabel and Joshua.
• He mentioned it clearly in his first 2 messages, and in particular, the 3rd message to the priests and the 4th on the same day to Zerubbabel, whom the Lord said, “I will make you like my signet ring…” (Haggai 2:23).
• The two anointed leaders, empowered by God’s Spirit, would lead the people to complete the work of God.
Israel would ultimately be rebuilt and restored, in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. That’s God’s glorious future for Israel and blessings for the nations through Israel.
• The significance of the visions extends beyond the immediate Temple, but to the distant future when Christ shall come and bring salvation to the world.
• The testimony of Israel, symbolised by this lampstand, would shine and continue to shine, not by human efforts but by the Spirit of God.
Israel, through the Messiah, would be a light to the nations, as prophesied by Isaiah.
• Isaiah 49:6 the Lord says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
In the light of what God has prophesied, Zerubbabel and the people have to serve God faithfully through their present distress.
• They have to trust God and continue the work for 3 more years until the Temple is completed.
• And then, there is the rebuilding of the city walls, which did not get to be completed until Nehemiah’s time, some 75 years later.
God’s work seems tedious and slow. God’s work has its difficulties. God’s work can often looks insignificant. But we trust in the Word of God.
• The prophetic visions assured the people that God is in control, His plan is intact and His future is certain. God’s work will prevail.
• We, the people of God, are called to do the work of God, not by our own might and power, but by the Spirit of God.
• We serve with a conscious dependence on His Spirit. We don’t fight the battles of life on our own. We pray and stay connected. Don’t look AT the mountain; look TO God.
• The mountain may be there, but so is God. We will lean on the power of the Holy Spirit and accomplish God’s will.
The lampstand is used in the Scripture to depict the testimony of the people of God, here with Israel and in the book of Revelation (Rev 1-3) with the churches.
• LET THE LIGHT SHINES. In ancient Greece, there was such a torch, like the Olympic torch relay where runners hold torches. The winner is not the fastest runner, the one who crosses the finish line in the quickest time. It is the one who crossed it with his torch still burning. You might be the fastest runner (in this rat race) with no testimony because your light has faded or has become extinguished. What’s the use?
• May our lives will shine like this lampstand, continuously, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It cannot fade and it will not fade because we are connected to Him.
• Pray that this lampstand will continue to provide light to those who cannot see, shine the path of truth to those walking in darkness, and help people see Christ.
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COMMUNION Jesus, Our High Priest - Heb 7:23-27
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered himself.
Let’s pause to ponder the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. Give thanks for the gracious plan of God, our heavenly Father. The visions revealed His heart for Israel, and more importantly for us.
• We are freed from sin, never to sin again, therefore let’s resolve to walk aright before God.
• Remember also that our salvation is not an end in itself; we are saved to serve Him and worship Him. Let us walk in His likeness and be a testimony of His love.
PRAYER: Dear God, to whom all hearts are opened and from whom no secrets are hidden, examine our hearts and test our minds, help us stay pure and holy before you. Cleanse us by your Word and inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy Name. Consecrate this bread and cup. May all who takes them in humble faith be blessed in every way. Renew us, for your own glory. AMEN.
1 Cor 11:23b-24 The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
1 Cor 11:25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
