September 24, 2015

CONTINUOUSLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (AND RECONSTRUCTION)

Zechariah 3–4

Lonnie Smith
Thursday's Devo

September 24, 2015

Thursday's Devo

September 24, 2015

Central Truth

Rather than human might or physical stamina, only an outpouring of God's Spirit is sufficient to overcome mountain-like obstacles in any rebuilding project undertaken in His name. God will not forsake the work of His own hands!

Key Verse | Zechariah 4:6–7

Then he said to me, "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him!" (Zechariah 4:6-7a)

 

Zechariah 3–4

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan 1 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand 2 3:2 That is, a burning stick plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.

And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, 3 3:9 Or facets I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

A Vision of a Golden Lampstand

And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 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. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 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. 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!’”

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “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. 10 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.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil 4 4:12 Hebrew lacks oil is poured out?” 13 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 5 4:14 Hebrew two sons of new oil who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Footnotes

[1] 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary
[2] 3:2 That is, a burning stick
[3] 3:9 Or facets
[4] 4:12 Hebrew lacks oil
[5] 4:14 Hebrew two sons of new oil

Dive Deeper | Zechariah 3–4

Anyone "up" for some great news this morning? Get this, God is in the rebuilding business! Zechariah prophesied at a time when God's people were rebuilding the Temple. The people were discouraged because their progress could be measured only in small increments. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done. There was also opposition, and the easiest "solution" would have been to give up, conceding that the task of rebuilding was just too difficult. Zerubbabel was the governor in charge of rebuilding the Temple, and, after 20 long years, he had nothing to show for it but a big hole in the ground. It seemed like this rebuilding project wasn't going to happen. Maybe it seems that way for you. I remember when it seemed that way for me.

Drug addiction, divorce, and financial distress are a few "mountains" in my life that, before the Lord, have become level plains. Each "mountain" drove me to a place where I cried out to God, "Lord, if you don't show up in this mess, I'll never rebound or recover." Like our friend Zerubbabel in today's key verse, God taught me that when I face mountain-like obstacles in my life, the power for "construction" or "reconstruction" is the Spirit of God. When I can't, He can. When I'm not able, He's able. When I'm weak, He's strong.

"Mountains" in life are inevitable. Life is filled with challenges, suffering, hardships, and pain. When I didn't know how to deal with "mountains," I often found myself afraid, paralyzed, and full of doubt. I spent over 35 years doing things with my own strength and power to no avail. My talent, personality, and abilities were never enough; they left me facing failure after failure. There's no better place to be in life than one in which we're totally dependent upon Him. When we confess our weakness and emptiness, He does His greatest work, filling us with His strength. That's how He rebuilt my life. And He's still rebuilding lives today!   

 

 

Discussion Questions

1. Like Zerubbabel, we sometimes find ourselves hindered by "mountains" of difficulty. How have you allowed your "mountain" to obscure the mission that God has given you? Are you trying to move and push your "mountain" in your own strength?

2. For many years, the efforts of God's people to rebuild the Temple came up empty. When unexpected delays frustrate our plans, we sometimes become impatient, try to make something happen, or just give up. How do you respond when your plans are delayed? Can you learn something from Zerubbabel's example? 

3. Recall a hardship or difficult season of rebuilding that you've experienced in the past. As you look back, what evidence was there of God's activity in your life? How did the hand of God prepare you for what followed? Did this season deepen your trust in God?