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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Zechariah was given a fifth vision. In it he saw a gold lampstand with a bowl on its top. There were seven lamps on the stand with a channel or conduit from the bowl to each lamp. Beside the lampstand were two olive trees, one on either side. The idea was that the olive trees provided perpetual oil to the bowl which supplied the lamps which could burn continuously.

Zechariah enquired about the meaning of what he saw. The reply was a message for Zerubbabel rather than an answer to the question. Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah and tasked with rebuilding the temple. As mentioned in the reflections for chapter 1, construction on the temple had begun 16 years earlier but the people had become discouraged and construction halted. Now, through this vision, the governor was being encouraged to renew efforts on the temple.

While the discouragement that halted construction was no doubt related to a lack of military power to protect workers along with a lack of manpower for the work, God was telling Zerubbabel that success in rebuilding the temple was not dependent on these factors. It was dependent on God's Spirit. No obstacle (mountain) was sufficient enough to stop Zerubbabel in his efforts as long as he was working in the power of the Holy Spirit. He would succeed and the capstone, denoting completion of the temple, would be brought out to be put in place amidst shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"

Zerubbabel was assured that completion of the temple was a sure thing (V. 9), and those who scoffed at the small work force available for the rebuilding would be silenced. The Lord would rejoice along with all Israel at the completion of the temple.

Zechariah asked again about the meaning of the two olive trees (V. 11) and was told, "These are the two anointed ones . . . who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." (V. 14) The two anointed ones are generally understood to refer to priests and kings who were anointed by God when appointed to their respective positions. In this context they are thought to refer specifically to Joshua, the high priest at this time, and Zerubbabel.