Zechariah 4:1-14

     The Central Idea of the Text is God encourages Zerubbabel with the news that He will strengthen him to complete the task of rebuilding the temple. The chapter opens with Zechariah being aroused—supposedly from sleep—by the angel who was guiding him in understanding the visions (Zec 4:1). Perhaps the prophet’s soul and body were fatigued by the visions he’d been given. After the angel revived Zechariah, he showed him a fifth vision that included a golden lampstand and two olive trees that poured oil directly into it (Zec 4:2-3). This lampstand was different than the one used in the tabernacle, and later Solomon’s temple, which illumined it so the priests could perform their duties (Ex 25:31-40), and which was maintained by the high priest on a daily basis (Lev 24:3). The lampstand Zechariah saw had a bowl on top that served as an oil reservoir and it had 49 spouts on it that served as lights. This was a bright lamp! No priest was needed to provide oil to the lamp, as that was given by the two olive trees, which symbolized Zerubbabel and Joshua (see Zec 4:11-14). The meaning of the lamp is not explained; however, it could refer to Israel as a nation, which God intended to serve as a light to the world (Isa 42:6; 49:6; 60:1-3). If this is correct, then the two olive trees would represent God’s leaders, Zerubbabel and Joshua, channels through whom He poured Himself into the lives of others so the work of the temple could be completed and made operational. The apostle John described churches as lampstands which are to serve as lights in a dark world (Rev 1:12-13, 20). The angel asked Zechariah if he knew what the candlestick symbolized (Zec 4:4), to which the prophet answered, “No, my lord” (Zec 4:5). The angel then gave an encouraging message from God, to Zerubbabel, that He would empower him to do the work, saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zec 4:6). Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David (1 Chr 3:17–19; Matt 1:12) as well as the governor of Judah (Hag 1:1), and God was using him to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:2, 8; 5:2). But Zerubbabel was facing great opposition from Israel’s enemies (Ezra 4:1-5, 24), and apathy from fellow Israelites (Hag 1:2). God would take the “great mountain” of opposition that Zerubbabel was facing and would make it “a plain” (Zec 4:7a); with the result that the governor would complete the project, as he will “bring forth the top stone” of the temple, and this would all be a display of God’s “grace” (Zec 4:7b). Grace refers to God’s enabling power to help His leader do His work. Additionally, the Lord said to Zerubbabel (Zec 4:8), “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it” (Zec 4:9a). The completion of the work would validate the messenger (Zec 4:9b); presumably, the angel of the Lord (Zec 1:11-12; 2:8-9; 3:1, 5-6). The struggling remnant who had returned from captivity did not have the great resources that were at Solomon’s disposal when he built the first temple (1 Ki 5:13-18), and so they were tempted to think of it as insignificant and to despise it as a “day of small things” (Zec 4:10a). However, they were to realize that what they were doing was God’s will, and He was in it to see it through to completion. Zechariah asked the angel to help him understand the meaning of the “two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” (Zec 4:11), as well as “the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” (Zec 4:12). The angel asked Zechariah, “Do you not know what these are?” (Zec 4:13a), to which the prophet replied, “No, my lord’ (Zec 4:13b). The angel answered, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth” (Zec 4:14). Zerubbabel and Joshua are in view, as they are the Lord’s anointed to serve as governor and high priest in Judah, and it’s their relationship to the Lord, “who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth”, that qualifies them for service.