We will be studying Zechariah's fifth vision in two parts, for there is more to be said about it than we can study in one post. This chapter is rich with symbolism and we want to make sure we thoroughly take it in.
Many commentators feel that Zechariah experienced all of his visions in the same night, one after the other. This would naturally make anyone tired and overwhelmed, and it would appear that Zechariah falls asleep between the fourth and fifth visions, "Then the angel who talked with me returned to me and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, 'What do you see?' I answered, 'I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.'" (Zechariah 4:1-3)
The Hebrew for "lampstand" in this passage is "menorath", more commonly known as a menorah, and it is the same word that is used for the lampstand Moses was commanded to make for the tabernacle in Exodus 25:31-40. The lampstand of the tabernacle was to be kept burning day and night as a symbol of God's constant presence with His people Israel. In Zechariah's day the primary focus of the people was the rebuilding of the temple, so the vision of the lampstand is a sign that the rebuilding will be accomplished. But as we will see, it will not be accomplished by the will of man, but by the power of God. God is Israel's strength and shield. It is God who made Israel a chosen people. It is God who brought Israel out of captivity. It is God who promised that Israel would never cease being a nation before Him. (Jeremiah 31:36) He is the source of all light, all power, and all protection for His people.
Zechariah wants to know more about the lampstand he sees in his vision, along with the two olive trees. "I asked the angel who talked with me, 'What are these, my lord?' He answered, 'Do you not know what these are?' 'No, my lord,' I replied. So 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 Almighty." (Zechariah 4:4-6) This is a message for Zerubabbel, a prince of the line of David, the man whom Cyrus of Persia appointed governor of Judah. The Lord is saying to him, "Take heart! I know you've faced much opposition in the rebuilding. I know you've had your own moments of discouragement, plus you've shouldered the heavy burden of the discouragement of the people. But the power to do this great work does not lie in you or in the people. The power is from Me. I will accomplish all that I have promised."
We find a number of people in the Scriptures whom God called to do a great work. Many of them felt unequal to the task ahead. That's a good sign, for the person who knows he must depend on God is a person God can use. Please don't let feelings of inadequacy stop you from fulfilling your destiny in the Lord! A humble spirit is a spirit God can work with. Instead of feeling discouraged, use your feelings of inadequacy as a reason to call upon His unlimited power. God doesn't expect you or me to complete our tasks alone, just as He never expected His people to rebuild the temple alone. The lampstand in the Old Testament is a reminder to the people that God is always with them and that He is the source of their power. He is still the source of our power today in 2017. In everything we do, let's rely on Him. Let's not allow the fear of letting ourselves down, or of letting God down, stand in our way. He is not going to let us down.
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