Reflections on Zechariah 4

Zechariah 04 (Contemporary English Version)


1. The angel who explained the visions woke me from what seemed like sleep.
   
2. Then he asked, "What do you see?" "A solid gold lampstand with an oil container above it," I answered. "On the stand are seven lamps, each with seven flames.
   
3. One olive tree is on the right side and another on the left of the oil container.
   
4. But, sir, what do these mean?"
   
5. Then he asked, "Don't you know?" "No sir," I replied.
   
6. So the angel explained that it was the following message of the LORD to Zerubbabel: I am the LORD All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit.
   
7. Zerubbabel, that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground. Then you will bring out the temple's most important stone and shout, "God has been very kind."
   
8. The LORD spoke to me again and said:
   
9. Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple, and he will complete it. Then everyone will know that you were sent by me, the LORD All-Powerful.
   
10. Those who have made fun of this day of small beginnings will celebrate when they see Zerubbabel holding this important stone. Those seven lamps represent my eyes--the eyes of the LORD--and they see everything on this earth.
    
11. Then I asked the angel, "What about the olive trees on each side of the lampstand? What do they represent?
    
12. And what is the meaning of the two branches from which golden olive oil flows through the two gold pipes?"
    
13. "Don't you know?" he asked. "No sir, I don't," was my answer.
    
14. Then he told me, "These branches are the two chosen leaders who stand beside the Lord of all the earth."
    

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Thus far through Zechariah's visions God's anger and judgment have been expressed against the nations that afflicted Israel and God has described His blessings on restored Israel and told of His future cleansing of her and her reinstatement as a priestly nation. Now in chapter 4 we come to the fifth vision of a golden lampstand and two olive trees. By now we come to realize that the message communicated through these visions has two levels - the immediate plans for Israel, and the future, Messianic, plans for her.

In this fifth vision Zechariah sees a solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top and seven lamps beneath. There are seven channels from the bowl to each lamp. On either side of the bowl there is an olive tree with a gold conduit leading from the tree to the bowl. Gold oil miraculously pours from the trees into the conduits and into the bowl from which it then flows through the channels to the lamps. The immediate message of this vision is to Zerrubbabel, the governor of Judah. He will not only begin the rebuilding of the temple, he will complete it. But it will not be in his own strength that this is accomplished. "Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit," the Lord says. The abundant supply of oil for the lamps is associated with an abundant supply of God's Spirit that will enable Zerrubbabel to complete the rebuilding of the temple. With the Holy Spirit's help, nothing will be able to stop this task. In verse 7 the question is asked, "What are you, great mountain?" suggesting that even a great mountain is nothing beside the power of God's Spirit to enable Zerubbabel in this task.

Though initially reluctant to respond to this rebuilding task, Zerubbabel stepped up and began the work. Having taken this step, he was then assured that he would successfully complete it, but only due to the enabling of God's Spirit. There is a lesson here for us. When God assigns us a task He also provides us His Holy Spirit to empower us for the task. But we have to step up to the task. God's Spirit is given when we commit ourselves to do what God has led us to do - not before.

Zerubbabel's completion of the rebuilding of the temple by the enabling of God's Spirit is the first level message from this vision. The second level message is usually conveyed at the conclusion of the vision. In this case it comes in verse 14, "These are the two anointed ones," he said, "who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." This is a reference to the two olive branches by the conduits that provide a constant flow of golden oil. As we move to an understanding of the second level meaning of these visions we must acknowledge that our understanding becomes rather speculative. However, these branches are thought to represent the anointing of both priest and king. On the immediate level they would refer to Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the ruler or king. But on the second level they would represent the Messiah who fulfills both roles as Priest and King. If this understanding is correct, then it is thought that the lampstand represents Israel's role as a light to the nations which is to ultimately be fulfilled during Christ's millennial reign.