Lesson 7 – Jeremy Thomas

1. God Uses Visions to Shape How We See Reality
   1. Zechariah’s reaction matches ours: “What is happening here?”
   2. God’s goal was not to give charts or tidy diagrams but to form spiritual imagination.
   3. Visions leave impressions and provoke questions, which is part of God’s intent.
   4. Of the eight visions, lesson 7 narrows in on vision 5.
2. The Setting of Vision 5: Zechariah 4
   1. The angel returns and rouses Zechariah as one awakened from sleep.
   2. This awakening mirrors Zechariah 2:13 where God rouses Himself to act.
   3. God awakens His prophet so that he will see what God is doing among His people.
3. What Zechariah Saw
   1. The golden lampstand/menorah with a bowl on top and seven lamps, each with seven spouts.
   2. Two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand.
   3. The angel presses Zechariah to admit his lack of understanding.
      1. Zechariah asks, “What are these, my lord?”
      2. The angel replies, “Do you not know what these are?” to make him feel his dependence on revelation.
      3. Zechariah humbly answers, “No, my lord.”
   4. Principle: Even God-given visions require God-given explanations.
      1. We cannot interpret reality rightly without God’s Word.
      2. Believers must practice “inquisitive humility.”
4. The Meaning of the Lampstand
   1. The lampstand in Scripture represents God’s people as a light to the nations.
   2. The light signifies God’s presence and wisdom among His people.
   3. Contrast with the tabernacle lampstand.
      1. In Exodus the lamp had to be supplied by priests with pure oil daily.
      2. In Zechariah 4 the oil is supernaturally and continuously supplied.
      3. There are no human attendants in the vision because God Himself sustains the light.
   4. Big idea: God ensures His own ongoing presence and power among His people.
      1. He does not depend on human refill.
      2. He supplies through His Spirit.
5. The Two Olive Trees
   1. Immediate identification.
      1. The two trees represent two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of all the earth (Zech. 4:14).
      2. In the historical setting these are Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor.
   2. Their line matters.
      1. Joshua stands in the priestly line of Aaron.
      2. Zerubbabel stands in the royal line of David.
      3. This shows that God’s covenant promises did not die in exile.
   3. Theological trajectory.
      1. Priest and king work side by side again, but not yet in their final form.
      2. This anticipates the coming of one Anointed One who unites both offices.
      3. Fulfillment is found ultimately in Jesus the priest king who pours out the Spirit.
6. The Central Word to Zerubbabel
   1. The key sentence: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
      1. This was God’s word to a discouraged leader.
      2. The work of rebuilding the temple had stalled.
   2. The mountain imagery.
      1. The “great mountain” represents the obstacles before Zerubbabel.
      2. Before God that mountain will become a plain.
      3. God promises divine assistance, not an easy path.
   3. The outcome.
      1. Zerubbabel will bring out the topstone and finish the temple.
      2. The people will shout, “Grace, grace to it.” The glory goes to God.
   4. Application threaded through the teaching.
      1. We distort Scripture when we make the Christian life about our strength for God rather than His strength in us.
      2. God looks for those who rely on His Spirit.
      3. Our greatest problem is not the mountain before us but the failure to see the mountain moving God above us.
7. Grace at the Finish
   1. God will complete His work through human hands empowered by His Spirit.
   2. No monument is built to Zerubbabel. The shout is to grace.
   3. New Testament echoes.
      1. Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts.
      2. Psalm 127:1 God must build or labor is vain.
      3. Philippians 2:12-13 We work out what God works in.
      4. Colossians 1:29 We toil with His energy.
      5. 1 Corinthians 15:10 We work hard, yet it is grace at work.
8. The Glove Illustration
   1. The gloves were made to be filled.
   2. They can “play” only when animated by a living person.
   3. Spiritual point.
      1. Believers were made to be filled with the Spirit.
      2. When the Spirit fills us, God’s music can be heard in our lives.
      3. A watching world needs to see Christians living not by might or power but by God’s Spirit.
9. Closing Prayer Emphasis
   1. Request for a Spirit filled, Spirit moved people.
   2. Confession that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).
   3. Recognition that the Spirit is the anointing oil pictured in Zechariah 4.