Zechariah 4

Read Zechariah 4

The Lord showed Zechariah another vision with a “lampstand all of gold” and “two olive trees” by it. The prophet did not understand the meaning of the vision, and so he asked for interpretive help.

God's explanation surprisingly focused on Zerubbabel, the descendant of King David in the days of the return of the Jews from exile. The New Testament uses of these two images from Zechariah help us to know that both the lampstand and the olive trees stand for Christ and His witnesses upon the earth (Revelation 1:12, 1:20, 11:4). What did that have to do with Zerubbabel?

Zerubbabel, the Christ figure in his day, needed to have spiritual faith in the power and promises of God. Though he might be discouraged by the “day of small things,” great progress would come based on God's plans for Jerusalem. The physical temple that Zerubbabel had begun to construct would be finished in his lifetime. More than that, every “mountain” of unbelief and falsehood would be no match for the “grace” of the Almighty and the holy praise of His people.

God's purposes would extend far beyond the days of Zechariah and Zerubbabel. The latter's ultimate descendant, Jesus, would build a temple of faithful worshipers in the centuries ahead. Christ and His people would be a lampstand for the world (John 1:4, Matthew 5:14), and they would move mountains by prayer (Matthew 21:21-22). By God's design, they would be a part of a new kingdom for the praise of His glorious grace. Every achievement in the Lord's worldwide church would happen “not by might, nor by power” originating in men or women. As God had promised through Zechariah so long ago, true heavenly fruit would be a gift of God, “by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord God, purify Your church. Make it a lampstand of the finest gold. Give life to Your people by the power and presence of Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with Your grace, and build us up as a living temple. Establish us as true witnesses of Your holiness and Your goodness, for You have blessed us through our glorious King.