Not By Might

OPENING PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, the rush of life, the din of noise, the ache of sorrow, can all overwhelm me.

READ: Zechariah 4

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

4 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” Zechariah 4

REFLECT:

What’s needed for you to fulfill God’s calling on your life today? More education, greater gifts, financial clout, impressive skills? What are you tempted to desire more of in your life?

Zechariah is next given a vision of a golden lampstand between two olive trees (vs 2,3). There is a bowl of oil constantly supplying the lamps, with the two olive trees intimately connected to the lampstand. By the end of the chapter, Zechariah is told that the trees are two anointed people through whom God works – perhaps the offices of king and priest (or Zerubbabel and the high priest, Joshua). But the main focus of the passage is the oil supplying the lampstand.

In the Old Testament, the lampstand typically represents Israel, and God wants to make a key point for Zechariah. How will the Temple be built? How will every obstacle be removed? How will Israel bring light to the world? It is ‘not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’ (see v 6).

So today, we will do what God has called us to, not because of our own strength or any ability we can acquire, but because his Spirit is at work in us and through us.

APPLY:

The response of the observer of God’s work is to give God the credit for it (see v 9). Let’s be sure that we are the first to give God the glory for his work through us today.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Lord, I frequently prefer to organize my life on my own terms. Help me to focus on you and bring you to the center of my life.

WORSHIP:

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