Zachariah 4:2,3, 5-7
‘And 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.” So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of armies. ‘What are you, you great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring out the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
This is quite a passage. The main point is that Zerubbabel, the one in charge of rebuilding the temple, is discouraged. The task seems like a great mountain, but God is sending His encouragement. “Z, it won’t be by your power, but by My Spirit.”
The application here is obvious. This is a lesson we need to apply. We will run into walls of discouragement in which we are overwhelmed and don’t seem to have what it takes to proceed. Our meager strength won’t be enough. That’s ok. He wants to empower us to do the task.
There will be an end to the task. There will come a time when this is the reality, ‘he will bring out the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”‘ The top stone is the last piece. When done we will be aware that it was because of His grace. I am presently at the end of my working life. It’s been awesome. I am finishing at one of the best public schools in the county. Which is funny as I was a poor student myself. I can certainly say that it was because of His grace. There were a few turns that appeared to have bad ends. But the Lord righted the ship. I’m getting a glimpse of retirement. It looks good as well. A couple areas are developing that I thought were dead. Again, His grace. I had attempted to get them going, with no success. Yet, I see two sprouts. “Thank You, Lord!”
Let’s go back to the beginning and look at some imagery God gives. It’s with the lamp stand and the olives trees. The light is God’s presence. The fuel is the oil, which is the Holy Spirit. The two trees represent the source of the oil. God is providing all of this. God in our lives produces the oil which allows the flame to stay lit. This is a picture of today’s entry. It’s not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit.
What’s our job? John 15:4 has Jesus answering this with another agricultural explanation, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” We are to abide in Him. How do we do that? By staying in His Word, and imploring of Him and trusting Him. We are His sheep and He is our Shepherd. Follow Him.
Lord, thank You for this beautiful passage and it’s great message. You supply the oil and the Light. Your Spirit gives us the power to do it. Thank You.