ZECHARIAH'S VISION: THE LAMP STAND & OLIVE TREES
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Zechariah encouraged the people to put away the sin in their lives and to continue rebuilding the temple. His visions described the judgment of Israel's enemies, the blessings to Jerusalem, and the need for God's people to remain pure - avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, and sin. Zechariah's visions provided hope for the people. We need to carefully follow the instruction to remain pure until Christ returns again.
b) Let's consider Zechariah's vision in the Scripture text and its significance.
1. Scripture text: Zechariah 4:1-14
i) Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
6 So he answered and 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 of hosts. 7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone, With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel, Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know, That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lamp stand and at its left?” 12 And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” 13 Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:1-14 NKJV)
2. Vision
a) Zechariah sees a lamp stand that is continually kept burning by an unlimited reservoir of oil. This picture reminds the people that it is only through God's Spirit that they will succeed, not by their own might and resources.
3. Significance
a) The Spirit of God is given without measure. Human effort does not make a difference. The work of God is not accomplished in human strength.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Zechariah encouraged the people to put away the sin in their lives and to continue rebuilding the temple. His visions described the judgment of Israel's enemies, the blessings to Jerusalem, and the need for God's people to remain pure - avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, and sin. Zechariah's visions provided hope for the people. We need to carefully follow the instruction to remain pure until Christ returns again.
b) Let's consider Zechariah's vision in the Scripture text and its significance.
1. Scripture text: Zechariah 4:1-14
i) Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
6 So he answered and 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 of hosts. 7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone, With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel, Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know, That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lamp stand and at its left?” 12 And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” 13 Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:1-14 NKJV)
2. Vision
a) Zechariah sees a lamp stand that is continually kept burning by an unlimited reservoir of oil. This picture reminds the people that it is only through God's Spirit that they will succeed, not by their own might and resources.
3. Significance
a) The Spirit of God is given without measure. Human effort does not make a difference. The work of God is not accomplished in human strength.
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