Zechariah 4
Read in the NKJV Join Discussion
Reading Time: 3 minutes Listen Online
And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
See Previous Reading See Next Reading
Commentary
Zechariah sees a golden lamp stand with seven lamps which are fed by oil from two olive trees. The angel gave Zechariah the meaning, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” The Lord was saying that the rebuilding of the Temple was not to be accomplished by man’s power but by the power of God.
The two olive trees which Zechariah saw symbolize the two “anointed ones,” literally, “sons of fresh oil,” who stand before the Lord of the whole earth. How do the lamps give light? They give light by the oil that feeds them. “God’s word is a lamp and a light” for the whole world. We have God’s word because the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the oil, inspired men to write that which God gave to them. As people read or hear the word, the Holy Spirit makes the word pierce their mind and heart. The living word which abides forever awakens them to life.
“Revived by His word,” came true for Zerubbabel. He was able to complete his God-given mission. It will do the same for us when we take His word into our lives.
David Manzano
Retired Pastor, USA
