Zechariah

Zechariah 4: The LORD finishes by His Spirit

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the golden lamp stand and the LORD’s word to Zerubbabel, please pray together. Ask Him to show us that He finishes His work by His Spirit.

This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Don’t be afraid.’

Haggai 2:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You finish Your work by Your Spirit, and help us to see Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The angel wakes Zechariah and asks what he sees, and he sees a lamp stand all of gold with seven lamps and two olive trees. He does not know what these are, so the angel gives him the LORD’s word to Zerubbabel. The word is, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” The great mountain before Zerubbabel will become a plain, and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of grace. His hands have laid the foundation of the house, and his hands will also finish it. The LORD asks who despises the day of small things, and His eyes run through the whole earth. The two olive trees are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

As you read Zechariah 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD finishes His work by His Spirit, and no mountain can stop Him.

Zerubbabel had laid the foundation of the LORD’s house, but the work was still unfinished (verse 9). A great mountain stood in the way, and the LORD says it will become a plain before Zerubbabel (verse 7). Zechariah sees a gold lamp stand and cannot say what it means. The angel gives him a word from the LORD instead (verses 5 and 6). The word is “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (verse 6). Zerubbabel began the work, and the LORD says his hands will also finish it (verse 9). The LORD asks, “who despises the day of small things?” and says His eyes run through the whole earth (verse 10). The two anointed ones stand by the Lord of the whole earth, and the chapter does not name them (verse 14).

How does Zechariah 4 show us that the LORD finishes His work by His Spirit, and that no mountain can stop Him?

The LORD does His work by His Spirit.

In the vision a gold lamp stand has a bowl, seven lamps, and two olive trees beside it (verses 2 and 3). Zechariah does not know what these are (verse 5). Then the angel gives the LORD’s word to Zerubbabel, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (verse 6). The rebuilding will be finished by the LORD’s Spirit, and no strength of man can do it.

The LORD promises that Zerubbabel will finish the house he began.

Zerubbabel had laid the foundation of the house, and the LORD says his hands will also finish it (verse 9). The great mountain before him will become a plain (verse 7). He will bring out the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace, to it” (verse 7). Zerubbabel is named in the family line of Jesus (Matthew 1 verses 12 and 13).

The LORD watches over small beginnings with eyes on the whole earth.

The foundation was laid, but the house still looked small. The LORD asks, “who despises the day of small things?” (verse 10). The seven rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. They are the LORD’s eyes, which run back and forth through the whole earth (verse 10).

Memorise

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.

Zechariah 4:6

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I trusting my own strength, and why do I need Jesus?

To Zerubbabel the LORD gave this word, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Jesus told His followers that the Holy Spirit would come upon them with power (Acts 1 verse 8). God’s work of saving His people was done through Jesus, His Son.

We cannot save ourselves by our own strength, and no good work can clear our sin. Jesus did what we could not do. On the cross He fully paid for His people’s sin. God raised Him from the grave, and He gives His Spirit to those who trust Him.

Do not wait until you feel strong. Come to Jesus as you are. Turn from your sin and trust Him, and He will forgive you and give you His Spirit.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God saves by His own power, and that Jesus finished the work for His people. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He finishes His work by His Spirit, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so invite each one to speak to Him.

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

Ephesians 6:10

Lord God, thank You that You finish Your work by Your Spirit. Thank You that no mountain can stop You. Please help each one of us to stop trusting our own strength, to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and to depend on You this week. Amen.