The Hope of Any Godly Endeavor

Zechariah 4 opens with another vision for the prophet. 

Zechariah 4:1–3 (ESV) 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.”

Zechariah awakens, but there is no mention of his sleep. What a picture of our need for God's voice to stir our hearts towards things above. For in this world, even while we are awake, we can sleep on spiritual experiences. 

Zechariah 4:4 (ESV) And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

Zechariah doesn't just receive this strange vision; he inquires about it. This is what it means to be awake. But the angel's answer belies the fact that awakening to God's truth requires His instigation, our inquiry, and further investigation together. 

Zechariah 4:5–7 (ESV) 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!’ ”

The Temple was under construction, and I'm sure the people were wondering if it could be completed. The doubts, the fears, the anxiety, on top of nostalgia for the past, all weighed on the nation in its endeavors. The Lord reminds the prophet so that he might encourage the people - God's Spirit will accomplish this work. The mountain of this task will become a plain. 

Let us note that the angel assures with a double reference to Zerubbabel FINISHING the work of the Temple. This will be accomplished in his lifetime. 

Zechariah 4:8–9 (ESV) 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.

And then a question I needed to ask myself a long time ago, when I was planting a small church with about 40 people. 

Zechariah 4:10 (ESV) 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.”

But I like the NLT better:

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

When we start things for God, we can feel so inferior, so incomplete in ourselves to accomplish it. But God delights when we begin. While the world waits for results, the Lord cheers on our beginnings! That is our hope in all the endeavors of our faith. Get started. God is pleased.

And after all of this, the answer to the vision's interpretation comes. The seven lamps are God's eyes covering the earth, seeing all that is done under heaven (end of verse 10). And the two olive trees are both the King and Priest who will be used by God's Spirit to rebuild this house of worship. 

Zechariah 4:13–14 (ESV) 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.”

A beautiful picture for us is that Christ, our final King and High Priest, has sent the Spirit into our hearts to give us confidence in what we do, though it is small in the eyes of the world, it shall be glorious in the end.