Lesson 7

Summary:

In Zechariah 4–6, God reveals that His redemptive work will not be accomplished through human strength or ingenuity but through His Spirit’s power. The visions of the golden lampstand and olive trees highlight God’s anointed leaders—Zerubbabel and Joshua—through whom He would rebuild His temple and shepherd His people. The flying scroll and basket visions expose sin and wickedness that God will remove from His land, while the four chariots demonstrate His sovereign control over the nations. Altogether, these visions affirm that God Himself empowers and purifies His people to accomplish His kingdom purposes.

Scripture References:

Zechariah 4:1-14 – ESV (audio 🔊)

1. And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.
2. And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.
3. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4. And I said to the angel who talked with me, “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?” I said, “No, my lord.”
6. Then 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 of hosts.
7. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
8. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9. “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
10. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.”
11. Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12. And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?”
13. He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
14. Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Zechariah 5:1-11 – ESV (audio 🔊)

1. Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll!
2. And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”
3. Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side.
4. I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”
5. Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.”
6. And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.”
7. And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket!
8. And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.
9. Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.
10. Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?”
11. He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”

Zechariah 6:1-8 – ESV (audio 🔊)

1. Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze.
2. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,
3. The third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses — all of them strong.
4. Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5. And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.
6. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.”
7. When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.
8. Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”