Zechariah 4

Read Zechariah 4

Helpful Background Information: 

• Zechariah, a prophet of the Lord during the return from Babylonia, was a grandson of a priest named Iddo. Iddo is listed in the names of the priests returning with Zerubbabel and Joshua to Jerusalem. The word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah during the rule of Darius, king of Persia (Zechariah 1:1), just two months after the word of the Lord came to Haggai (Haggai 1:1).

• Zechariah has eight visions from the Lord recorded in chapters 1-6. Of these, chapter 4 is the fifth. In this vision, there are two olive trees that supply oil to an elaborate golden lamp. The two olive trees represent Joshua and Zerubbabel (v. 14), and the golden lamp represents God’s watchful eye over His people (v. 10).

• Verses 6-10 explicitly mention Zerubbabel and what God had to say about his ministry and completion of the temple. God makes it clear in this passage that He will construct the temple by His own power, using Zerubbabel. 

Reflection Questions: 

• In this passage, God calls Zerubbabel to complete the difficult task of completing the temple by the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 6). With this in mind, what role does the Holy Spirit play in strengthening you daily? 

• Ask the Lord to convict you with the Holy Spirit of ways that you have been trying to live by your own power instead of His. What are some ways that you can humbly rely on the Lord for strength?

• When God is the one who works through us by His Holy Spirit, how does that change your perspective on your place in relationship with the Lord? How is this humbling?