Zacarias 4

Zacarias 4

Cole - Zechariah 4:1-14 Preventing Spiritual Burnout Excerpt from Cole's Conclusion: (Based especially on the words "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts." (Zech 4:6) I’m no mechanic, but I do know that you can’t run a car without oil or you’ll burn up the engine quickly. I am a pastor, and I also know that you can’t serve the Lord without the continual supply of the oil of God’s Spirit or you’ll burn out. The solution to burnout is not to quit working for the Lord. Working for the Lord—being His lampstand—is the greatest thing you can do with your life. The solution to burnout is to see the great importance of God’s work and then to open your life to the continual, abundant supply of God’s Spirit as you do His work. Have you checked your spiritual dipstick lately? Go Light Your World Do you feel as if you're burning out in your service for God? You may want to supply spiritual light to your dark world till the end of your life, but you wonder if you can. You won't burn out if you understand and apply the truth of Zechariah 4:1-6. The prophet saw two olive trees that supplied oil to a bowl that fed seven lamps on a golden lampstand. As we think about the reality behind this symbolism, we can be encouraged. You and I are not the source of light that enlightens the world. We can only receive the oil of the Holy Spirit that fuels the living flame He produces. If we burn steadily through the long, dark hours, it is because we have learned to yield our lives to the Spirit's unlimited supply of power and strength. This comes only through continual fellowship with Jesus our Savior. It needs to be said again and again: It's not what we do for the Lord, but what He does through us that enlightens and enriches others. We must be satisfied to be a bright and shining lamp, drawing from the hidden resources of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Our role is to help others see the glory of His light. And we must remember daily that every demand placed upon us is a demand placed upon Him.— David H. Roper Help me, dear Lord, to be honest and true In all that I say and all that I do;| Give me the courage to do what is right, To bring to the world a glimpse of Your light. —Fasick Let your light shine—whether you're a candle in a corner or a lighthouse on a hill. Zechariah 4:2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; KJV Zechariah 4:2 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: BGT Zechariah 4:2 καὶ εἶπεν πρός με τί σύ βλέπεις καὶ εἶπα ἑώρακα καὶ ἰδοὺ λυχνία χρυσῆ ὅλη καὶ τὸ λαμπάδιον ἐπάνω αὐτῆς καὶ ἑπτὰ λύχνοι ἐπάνω αὐτῆς καὶ ἑπτὰ ἐπαρυστρίδες τοῖς λύχνοις τοῖς ἐπάνω αὐτῆς LXE Zechariah 4:2 And he said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and behold a candlestick all of gold, and its bowl upon it, and seven lamps upon it, and seven oil funnels to the lamps upon it: NET Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps. CSB Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a solid gold lampstand there with a bowl on its top. It has seven lamps on it and seven channels for each of the lamps on its top. ESV Zechariah 4:2 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. NIV Zechariah 4:2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. NLT Zechariah 4:2 "What do you see now?" he asked.I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. NRS Zechariah 4:2 He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. What: Zec 5:2 Jer 1:11-13 a lampstand all of gold: Ex 25:31-38 37:17-24 40:24,25 1Ki 7:49,50 1Ch 28:15 2Ch 4:7 2Ch 4:20-22 13:11 Jer 52:19 Mt 5:14-16 Rev 1:12,20 2:1 bowl:1Ki 7:50 seven: Ex 25:37 Rev 4:5 seven spouts. Zec 4:12 AN UNUSUAL LAMPSTAND He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; Contrast the 7 branched menorah or lampstand in the tabernacle (Ex 25:31-40). Above this lampstand there was a bowl that served as a reservoir for oil. Then there were seven spouts (or pipes) leading to each of the 7 lamps of the lampstand. The picture is that of an abundant supply of oil to the lamps of the menorah. THOUGHT - Have you ever felt small, powerless, overwhelmed, experiencing opposition on all sides? God's encouragement to you dear believer in Zechariah 4 is don't despise the small things. Remember it is not your power, but the supernatural power of the Spirit that will enable you to climb whatever "mountain" that is before you. Fred Hartman - From that bowl emerged “seven pipes to the seven lamps” (4:2b). Commentators offer two explanations. Some hold that there was one pipe from the bowl to each lamp. Others believe that there were seven pipes to each lamp. This view, promoted by scholars David Baron and Charles Feinberg, is based on their translation of the original language, which, they believe, points to seven pipes to each lamp, the Lord thereby signifying a sufficient and abundant supply of oil. Such construction would ensure that the lamps would never run dry of fuel. Charles Feinberg - The prophet saw in the vision a golden candlestick, or candelabrum, or more properly a lampstand. The one in the tabernacle of Moses described in Exodus 25:31-40 and Ex 37:17-24 is the basis of this vision. The Romans carried off the one from the Temple in AD 70, as seen on the Arch of Titus at Rome. Interestingly enough, the candelabrum is the symbol of the new state of Israel also. The one in Zechariah’s vision differed in four particulars from that of the tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple: it had a bowl, pipes, olive trees, and two golden spouts. The lights themselves were doubtless very simple—small, shallow vessels of shell shape still found in Palestine—with a lip at the outer and narrower end, from which the wick protruded. Note the number seven in Zech 4; it is the number of fullness or perfection. In verse 2 we find seven lamps and seven pipes; in verse 10, seven eyes. The lampstand was all of gold, suggesting purity and preciousness. There were seven lamps to the lampstand, and seven pipes to each lamp. Some follow the Latin and Greek translations of the Old Testament in holding that there were but seven lamps with one pipe to each. In the original Hebrew the numeral is repeated; in other words, there were seven pipes apiece or forty-nine in all. The whole picture is intended to convey the thought of an unlimited supply which needed no human instrumentality for replenishing, as did the lampstands in the tabernacle and the Temple. The larger the number of the oil pipes, the brighter the light of the lampstand. Many who make no distinction between the Church and Israel (a demarcation which is one of the clearest in the Bible), think the figure stands for the Church. It is true that lampstands are used as a figure of the Church in Revelation 1:12, 20, and that the Church is compared to lights in Philippians 2:15, but the Church is not a matter of prophecy in the Old Testament. The Church is first foretold in the New Testament in Matthew 16:18. The symbol in Zechariah’s prophecy refers to Israel when restored to the Lord and the means of light to the world, as God originally intended. God planned to have in them a kingdom of priests (cp. with Zec 3) and a holy nation (cp. with this chapter). See Exodus 19:6 (Borrow Minor Prophets) Believer's Study Bible - The basis of the fifth vision was the lampstand in the Mosaic tabernacle (Ex. 25:31-40; 37:17-24), but this one has some extra features which collect a continual supply of oil from the two trees to keep the lamps burning. As the fourth vision was intended to be an encouragement to Joshua, so this vision is a reassurance to Zerubbabel, the governor, that his efforts have not been in vain. The golden lampstand symbolizes God's purpose for the Jewish nation to be a light to the Gentiles, directing their way to God. This function is only fully accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit, symbolized here by the oil that is abundantly supplied (v. 6). The use of lampstands to symbolize the churches in the Book of Revelation (1:12, 20) does not imply that Zechariah's vision speaks of the church. It does indicate that God's people in any age are to be light in a dark world. The spiritual principles in v. 6, then, apply equally to Christian ministries today. Israel's promised destiny is bound up in her acceptance of the Messiah of whom the Holy Spirit gives witness (cf. Rom. 11:11, 12, 24-27). David Baron writes on the lampstand "The candlestick itself—the central object of this vision—is doubtless a figurative representation of the seven-branched candlestick in the Temple. There it stood in the Holy Place . . . not only as the emblem and representation of what the whole redeemed family shall finally be “when in union with their risen, glorified Lord they shall for ever shine in the sanctuary of God,” but also as typifying Israel’s high calling in relation to the other nations. In his midst a great light had shone—the light of the self-revelation of the glory of Jehovah—not only for his own illumination, but that he might be the candlestick, the light-bearer, and light-diffuser all around. . . . We know how terribly and sadly Israel failed to respond to God’s purpose concerning Him. (The Fifth Vision: The Candlestick (Chap. iv.) J J Stubbs - Question: "Will the Nation, Lord, Be a Testimony for Thee Again?" In this vision God speaks to the remnant who would be concerned, with some degree of exercise, about the testimony of the nation. They had lost their power and potential for God as a people. Having been seventy years in captivity in Babylon they were now spiritually weakened. Would they ever be restored to such an extent that they would once again be a power and a light for God to the Gentiles? God, through the prophet, gives encouragement to them. The message of the vision is that, yes, under God the remnant will still have a testimony to be maintained through the Spirit. The nation can and, prophetically, will be a light bearer again and God will enable them to be effective in their witness. The key verse very decidedly in this chapter is v. 6, where God says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts". This statement contains the very essence of the message of this vision. The heartening message is that God can empower His people for Himself. There is a clear and significant order in the fourth and fifth visions, which should be commented on, as it suggests a very practical lesson for God's people today. The cleansing of Joshua in the previous vision comes before the vision here of the lampstand. This surely shows to us that God will bless, use, and give power only to those who have been cleansed. The nation in the future will experience the cleansing power of the work of Christ at Calvary and then God will take them up to be His light bearer to the Gentiles. The reader should take note of this order: cleansing first and then power. No believer can really be used as God intends if the prerequisite of cleansing in the life has not been attended to. (What the Bible Teaches – Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) Lampstand (04501) menorah from ner = a lamp) refers to a stand, not the candlestick itself. These were used to hold candlesticks or wicks and were in common use in a house (2 Ki. 4:10). Literal lampstand in the Tabernacle and Temple (Ex. 25:31-35; 26:35; 30:27; 31:8; 1 Ki. 7:49) and figuratively of Zerubbabel (Zech. 4:2, 11). TWOT says "This mem-preformative noun represents the stand upon which a lamp was placed (special lamp place")." Coppes has a lengthy note on lampstand - These seven lamps represent God's perfect (PTOT. p. 362f.) leadership over his people. These "lights" were to burn always being trimmed morning and evening (Leviticus 24:2). While they were being trimmed the attendant was to burn incense representing the prayers of God's people (Exodus 30:7-8; cf qāṭar). In 2 Samuel 21:17 (nēr; cf. 1 Kings 11:36), David's death is represented as the quenching of Israel's lamp. Hence, he is viewed as the one who leads Israel into a blessed state (cf. nûaḥ). David, in turn, confessed that Jehovah was his lamp (2 Samuel 22:29), i.e. the one who enlightened his path through darkness (cf. John 3:20-21) and led him into a state of blessedness nûaḥ; cf. Proverbs 13:9; Job 29:3). Psalm 119:105 (cf. Proverbs 6:23) celebrates the word of God as the lamp to the feet of the godly. Christian readers will recognize this "leadership" of "word" and "light" as a foreshadow of Christ (John 1:1-13). As K-D shows, Psalm 132:17 uses "lamp" as a figure of the Messiah (it is parallel to the well-known figure "branch"). Thus, "lamp" is a symbol of God's personal leading (2 Samuel 22:29), through his word, through his chosen king and, ultimately, through his messiah. God's leader was to lead his people as a priestly nation, i.e. a nation which was to lead all nations to God in worship. In Zech. 4 the prophet speaks of a lampstand (i.e. the OT church: cf. KD) attached to an uninterrupted and unceasing supply of oil (i.e. the Holy Spirit; cf. KD). The interpretation (Zech. 4:6ff.) applies the figure to Zerubbabel (and his followers), but it seems obvious that the figure extends well beyond his day to the messianic era, indeed, cf. Rev. 1:20. This symbolism underlies the NT statements that Christians are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) whose lamps are always to burn (Luke 12:35; Phil. 2:15) and shine before men (Matthew 5:16) leading the ungodly to God and basking in a state of blessed expectation of and preparation for Christ's return.[That the lampstand stands for the church also in the NT must be granted (Rev. 1:20). However, the symbolism of the lampstand apparently is double. Zech. 4:6 strongly implies that the lampstand symbolizes also the Spirit of God. Rev. 4:5 seems to build on this when it calls the lamps the "seven spirits of God" (cf. Rev. 5:6). That the seven spirits of God are not seven different spirits, but the one Spirit seven-fold in his perfection seems to be proved by the position of the seven spirits of God bracketed between the Father and the Son as a source of benediction in Rev. 1:4. r.l.h.] (Online Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) See image of Lamp, Lampstand - from Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (see online) Zechariah 4:3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” KJV Zechariah 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. BGT Zechariah 4:3 καὶ δύο ἐλαῖαι ἐπάνω αὐτῆς μία ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ λαμπαδίου καὶ μία ἐξ εὐωνύμων LXE Zechariah 4:3 and two olive-trees above it, one on the right of the bowl, and one on the left. NET Zechariah 4:3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left." CSB Zechariah 4:3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." ESV Zechariah 4:3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." NIV Zechariah 4:3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." NLT Zechariah 4:3 And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl." NRS Zechariah 4:3 And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." Zec 4:11,12,14 Jdg 9:9 Ro 11:17,24 Rev 11:4 AN ADDED FEATURE TWO OLIVE TREES Also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”- Recall that olive trees were the source of oil for fuel in the ancient world, this this symbolizes fuel for the lampstand (menorah). Later in Zech 4:14 we see that the two olive trees represent "the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth". These two olive trees represent Joshua and Zerubbabel. The bowl connected to the olive trees is a picture of abundant supply, essentially a limitless supply which is provided not by human effort but by God's provision.