Zechariah 4:1-14
Zechariah: Prophet of God's Future
God accomplishes His plans through faithful people empowered by His Spirit. Rather than seeking greatness, believers are called to faithfulness in their work, trusting in God's presence and power.
Introduction
We like success stories. We like the kind of stories in which a person overcomes personal trial to triumph. We like the kind of stories which demonstrate the fortitude of the individual. But as Christians the best stories are the ones in which a person allows himself to be used for God’s plan and purposes. Stories like Abraham having a child at age 100; Noah building an ark against all odds; Moses leading the people; Rahab who in her faith is blessed to be part of the lineage of Jesus. These are the stories which remind us of God’s greatness. The heroes of these stories reflect the character and desire of God.
Zechariah is no different. Zechariah is a contemporary of Haggai with some of his oracles being given about 2 months after Haggai’s oracles. Zechariah is a priest who returns from Babylonian exile. Of all the minor prophets, Zechariah enters into a number of visions which he relates to his readers. Zechariah helps us to understand some of the phrases found in the New Testament.
Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12 mention the “Branch” which aligns with the idea of the “branch of Jesse” which is a reference to the Messiah. Zechariah 9:9 speaks of the king who rides upon a donkey which is fulfilled in Jesus in Matthew 21:4. Zechariah 11:12 describes the payment of 30 pieces of silver which is fulfilled with Judas. Zechariah 12:10 tells of the people looking on the one whom they have pierced, fulfilled in John 19:37 in reference to Jesus. Zechariah 13:7 describes the striking of the shepherd, which Jesus uses to refer to himself in Matthew 26:31. Zechariah 8:16 calls the people to speak the truth to his neighbor, and Paul uses the same phrasing in Ephesians 4:25. The book of Revelation also employs a number of phrases from Zechariah. The four horsemen in Zechariah 6:1-8 are paralleled in Revelation 6. The two olive trees in Zechariah 4:3 are paralleled in Revelation 11:4. The candlestick and seven eyes from Zechariah 4:2-10 are found in Revelation 1:12.
I refer to all of this for one simple reason. One lesson on Zechariah will not do justice to the entire writing, but one lesson is all that I have. Since he is a contemporary with Haggai, his message is very similar. Like Haggai, Zechariah calls on the people to finish building the temple. But Zechariah’s message is presented differently than Haggai’s. Haggai stressed to the people the importance of getting up and doing something—to finish what they started. Zechariah stresses the importance of the people doing something because God is involved in the process. Zechariah emphasizes the activity of God in the lives of the people in rebuilding the temple. That is what we will stress today.
God Works
There are eight visions in Zechariah. Chapter 4 is the fifth vision. In this vision, Zechariah sees a gold lampstand with seven lamps and two olive trees, one on either side of the lampstand. The lampstand in verse 10 is said to be the reign of God throughout the earth. The olive trees are God’s anointed which in this case are probably Zerubbabel, who is the one in charge of rebuilding the temple and Joshua, who is high priest of Israel. This vision is to encourage these two who have been anointed and to encourage Zechariah as to the plans of God.
We learned from Haggai that Zerubbabel is a reluctant leader. He laid the foundation for the new temple after the exile, but when opposition arose he did not nor could not encourage the people enough to continue the task. Here in Zechariah 4, Zerubbabel is being told that he will finish the temple. Notice in verses 7-8, he will lay the capstone with applause and shouts of “God bless it.” As Zerubbabel laid the foundation so he will complete the temple. Completion of the temple will demonstrate that Zerubbabel is within the will and purpose of God.
But the key is verse 6. Zerubbabel will build this temple not by his might and not by his power, but by the Spirit or activity of God. Zerubbabel has already demonstrated that he doesn’t have the power or might to build the temple. He has already demonstrated that it is not within himself to fulfill the task. Zerubbabel has shown that when the opposition arose he had a hard time finding it within himself to motivate the people to carry on. Haggai’s message was finish what you start. Zechariah’s message is finish what you started because God is going to give you the power to do so.
Lessons
For sixteen years, Zerubbabel had not finished the task. For sixteen years, he lived uncertain about his role. For sixteen years, he believed himself to be powerless to overcome the opposition and the will of the people. And God appears to Zechariah with this message. Zerubbabel is the man to do the job. This isn’t about Zerubbabel and what he can do—it is about God and what he can do through Zerubbabel. Is the lesson that we can all do great things for God? No. The lesson is that faith in this world isn’t about us, it is about the One who is on our side. The lesson is about God’s activity in our lives.
Zerubbabel couldn’t envision a finished product because he thought it depended on him to get it done. Of course, he was going to have to work, but his perspective was wrong. It was God’s temple and if God wanted a temple built he would provide what was needed to build it.
Zerubbabel needed to do the work and allow God to do what he could do. God took care of the opposition. Once Zerubbabel is convinced of God’s power, he then leads the people to complete the temple in about 3 and half years. Zerubbabel’s sixteen year failed attempt gives way to the power of God and 3 ½ years later, God has his building.
The second lesson is a companion to the first. Success in our lives is based on the presence and activity of God—that’s the first lesson. The second lesson is this: God calls us to faithfulness not great things. There is no doubt that building the temple is a great thing. In fact, Zerubbabel’s name is attached to this temple—Zerubbabel’s temple. But what God had always asked Zerubbabel to do was be faithful in his work.
Sometimes we want to do great things for God. Sometimes we want what we do to make a difference in this world. We want to be listed in the Who’s Who of great faith. But God calls very few to be a Noah, Abraham, or Moses. What he does call us to do is to be faithful where we are.
Zerubbabel had a job to do. It was a monumental task. In order for it to be accomplished he would have to be faithful. But he wasn’t. He tried. But he couldn’t finish the task until God came to him and reassured him about his role.
God doesn’t call us to greatness, he calls us to faithfulness. Our task is to do what we can do where we are. Our assurance comes from God through Jesus. Just as God told Zerubbabel that the temple would be completed by his Spirit, so God tells us through Paul that his Spirit is at work in us. The idea in Zechariah is that God’s power and presence are with Zerubbabel. In Paul’s writing the idea is that the power and presence of God live within us through the Holy Spirit.
God has called us to faithfulness and when we are faithful—when we demonstrate an assurance in his power and presence—then we are successful. God has not called us to sit around waiting, but he has told us that he will come again. He has told us to wait for him and in the meantime, be aware of his activity in your life. Be faithful in the task God has given you and demonstrate your faith in his presence and power.
Follow Jesus
If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.