Zechariah The Power To See It Through Look At The Book! Zechariah The Power To See It Through

Facing A Monumental Effort At the first of every monumental effort we can be discouraged by the enormous amount of work ahead of us. First week of each semester in school – wonder how you’re ever going to get it all finished. For Judah – rebuilding the temple, the walls, the structures of Jerusalem must have seemed overwhelming. Especially since the surrounding peoples were against them and trying to stop their building.

Where Does The Strength Come From? God’s message through Zechariah was for them to trust Him to get them through. It was a message of encouragement to overcome overwhelming tasks with God’s power rather than their own. Whatever we face today, the same message holds true. Whatever we lack, God has. Whatever we need, He provides. All we need is faith, prayer, and patience.

Eight Visions To Zechariah Zechariah would receive a total of eight visions from God. Each one had to do with trusting God for their needs. We will focus on the fifth vision for our lesson today.

A Vision Of A Lamp And Trees Zechariah 4:1-3 --Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”

Basic Meaning Of The Vision Vs. 4 – Zechariah asks for the meaning of the objects. Vs. 5 – Angel seems surprised he doesn’t know. Vs. 6 – Angel answers: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.” Question: What are you great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring for the top stone with shouts of, ‘Grace, grace to it.’”

How to Overcome Any Obstacle Zerubbabel was the governor of Jerusalem, one of the thousands of former exiles returning home. He was faced with the “mountain” of rebuilding Jerusalem, and especially the temple. He, along with Ezra, and high priest Joshua, had a monumental task ahead of them. God’s message with the trees and lamp is, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” God would provide the power and the might to accomplish their deeds.

Deeper Understanding of the Vision The lamp was the menorah. The menorah was the seven-light lamp used in the tabernacle/temple in the worship of God. The menorah was filled with olive oil to burn and provide light in the holy place. Here, the menorah is fed continuously by two olive trees – a constant unfailing source of oil to keep it continually lit.

Where Does Our Strength Originate? From ourselves? Or from God? 1 Peter 4:11 – “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

God’s Strength, Not Ours Isaiah 40:28-31 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with winds like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” With the Lord, all things are possible. What is the source of your strength?

With That Truth – How Do We Proceed? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “…pray without ceasing….” 1 Timothy 2:5-6, 8 – “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time….Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting holy hands without wrath and dissension.”

The Plumb Line And The Two Anointed The word of the Lord then came to Zechariah, and explained further: Verse 9-10 – “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will 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? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel – these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.”

Everything By God’s Power! From foundation to capstone by the power of God. So: Grace! Grace to it! – Built by the grace of God! What about the seven eyes of God? What is that about?

The Seven Eyes Of God? Seven is the number of spiritual or divine completion. Seven stations on the lamps. Seven eyes for God – a fullness of seeing Ezekiel 10:12 – “Their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were full of eyes all around….” God sees everywhere at once and knows all things.

Our All-Seeing God Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” 1 Peter 3:12 – “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

So Who/What Are/Is The Two Anointed? Some suggest Zerubbabel and Joshua. I disagree. The angel said, “This is the word of the Lord….” To Zerubbabel initially. But: Do the trees represent the word of God? I think probably so.

God’s Word As An Anointing God’s word has been called an anointing 1 John 2:20 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.” Their anointing was the gospel message.

God’s Word Is Often Called Light Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” So: We have all we need to accomplish anything in the name of the Lord. We have His power. We have His light. We have His eyes watching us.