OUT OF THE CHAOS: A study in the book of Zechariah
Chapter 4: Lampstands and Olive trees. Who is Zerubbabel?
The video of this talk is on YouTube here:
Shalom and welcome to our class today. We are continuing in this prophetic book written by a young Jewish man living in Jerusalem about 500 BCE as he writes to his people, those living there in Judah and also to those living in Babylon. To each of those groups, he has some clear words and I trust that those words he spoke 2500 years ago will speak to you and to me as we will consider what God meant as he used that young man. And we will try to learn what God has to say to us as 21st Century people.
As per usual, my method will take us through a chapter each Friday morning, and then we will have plenty of time for discussion and questions in the final half-hour. If you are watching this teaching on YouTube after our class, please feel free to write me (bob@jewsforjesus.org.au) and I will try to answer queries if I’m able.
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Also if you don’t mind, please read the chapter before you come to the class live, and if you are watching YouTube, pause your playback, read chapter 4 and then rejoin us. Thanks. Welcome back.
Let’s jump in.
Again the new chapter has an unusual vision, Vision #5 in this series of 8 visions, all at the beginning of the prophecy of Zechariah. Last week we turned from the work of the rebuild of the Temple to a person and to sin and cleansing. Today we return to the theme of the Temple, but have two unusual changes to the setting. The vision may happen at night, but an angel actually awakens Zechariah as if from a deep sleep and secondly, again we zoom in on a person, the governor Zerubbabel. We learn about his person from 1 Chronicles and the book of Haggai. He was the grandson of king Jehoiachin, and son of Pedaiah; and for a while, the leader of the first returning exiles. So, along with the task of Temple reconstruction, we note the ministry and the character of Governor Zerubbabel.
Since Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:17) he was in the line of King David. That will be significant later as we consider messianic hope. Zerubbabel was born in Babylon during the exile (between 587 and 539 BC), and made his way over to Judah after King Cyrus II allowed the Judean captives to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1–4; 6:3–5, 8–10). The prophet Haggai identifies Zerubbabel as the governor of Judah after the exile (Haggai 1:1; 2:2, 21).
A little more about this man, a reflection of the times, and history of the building. His name, Zerubbabel is a Babylonian name meaning “offspring of Babylon.” That helps me remember the prophecy of Jeremiah who encouraged Judeans to make a new life in Babylon and thus Pedaiah (or Shealtiel, whichever was his biological father) gave him a Babylonian name. Think about the changes in Jewish culture from Eastern European shtetl life for hundreds of years with men’s names being Menachem or Irving, Louie or Harold to the 20th century when men were given names like Robert, William or Charles. Trying to fit in, to acculturate, and to be less noticeable. And in the world of Babylon in those days, it was a way of being ‘normal’ as well.
Then after Zerubbabel and the other exiles left Babylon, about a year later, they got settled, and those Jewish people began to rebuild, but it wasn’t long before opposition arose from local adversaries, and you have to wonder why the Judeans chose to build alone, and the work was brought to a standstill by order of King Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:1–24). Only the foundation of the temple had been finished. The locals had sent that letter of defamation and Artaxerxes believed that the Jews would not pay taxes to the king and would stay apart from the locals.
The foundation was lesser, that is, it showed that this new temple was going to be much smaller than the First Temple built by Solomon. This brought significant disappointment to some of the older people who remembered the former temple: “Many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid” (Ezra 3:12). Rashi said “although the foundation was a disappointing experience for those who remembered the magnificence of the First Temple, eventually the building would be 7 times more imposing that it is now”
The prophet Haggai addressed their disappointment: “‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. . . . ‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord of Hosts” (Haggai 2:3–4). Zechariah, too in today’s passage, told the people not to despise “the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10), because God had great plans for this new temple.
Finally after a seventeen-year work stoppage, under the next king of Persia, Darius, the Jewish people were granted permission to get back to rebuilding. Within three and a half years after the second effort began, the 2nd Temple was completed in 516 BCE.
In this vision today, Zechariah receives words that should have encouraged Zerubbabel: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts. What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘Grace! Grace!’ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you’” (Zechariah 4:6–9).
As a descendant of King David, Zerubbabel was identified with the coming Messiah by his contemporary prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. The Jewish people began to see Zerubbabel as their great hope for reviving the Davidic kingship and for liberation from the Persians. Rashi said God had chosen Zerubbabel from all people of the world as the one fit to execute this task.
The prophet Haggai declared that God would use Zerubbabel to overthrow and destroy kingdoms: “The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: ‘Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.’ . . . ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD of Hosts, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD of Hosts” (Haggai 2:20–23).
With that as background and a shadow of foreground, let’s unpack the few verses that are chapter four of Zechariah.
Verse one. The angel almost shakes Zechariah, which makes sense in light of Haggai chapter 2 and the shaking that God intended through him.
Verse two. The angel asks “What do you see?” And Zechariah mentions the menorah, but it has 7 feeder tubes into each of the 7 branches. That’s 49 tubes altogether. And a bowl atop. That’s not how the original was built (Read Exodus 25)
Then verse 3, we read of two olive trees, one on either side. OK< that’s not too far fetched. You need the olive trees to produce the olives that are then squeezed and create the oil that lights the menorah.
Verse 4, a simple question. “What are these?” And you would expect the angel to explain. But he doesn’t.
Verse 5. Don’t you know? It’s a mocking question. Obviously Zechariah didn’t know, or why would he have asked. I’m so glad God doesn’t treat us in this way. When we lack wisdom, James says, we should ask of God who gives to all men liberally, without upbraiding us!
Verse 6. The first explanation in this chapter. This is God’s word to Zerubbabel. Your work will not be by human strength or enterprise. It’s God’s work and he will ensure it’s done in his power. That’s comforting.
Look tonight we have a soft launch and tomorrow evening the actual Opening Night for our Art Exhibition in Taylor Square. It has been a huge undertaking, costing us 10s of thousands of dollars and we have high hopes for it. I’ll tell you more in the question time. But for my staff on this call today and for you who are listening and watching, know this, we are not doing this in our own human cleverness or wisdom. Not by human might or power, but by God’s Spirit. That’s how Zerubbabel was to build the Temple. Not trusting in his own capacity or the military might of the Jewish people, but trusting the Lord to make things happen in his timing and in his strength.
Verse 7: What can withstand us? A mountain gadol? הַֽר־הַגָּד֛וֹל Ha…that’s nothing. Sounds like Yeshua talking about a grain of mustard seed faith. You can move mountains of troubles, even of leftover fallen ruins of the first Temple. All that leftover stuff will be like a plain. And God will make the capstone, the keystone, the top stone
אֶת־הָאֶ֣בֶן הָרֹאשָׁ֔ה
To come out, and to fulfil its mission. A capstone is the final stone of a building project. Think of the keystone in a bridge. You build from one side and the other, both at the same time. Then the final piece, the top stone, is the culmination of all that hard work. God says he will bring it out and there will be shouts of CHEN, grace, grace. Double grace. All the grace a man needs. All the grace a people need. All the grace you will ever need is found in doing what God says and he will bring the supply.
Verse 8. More interpretation follows. The angel says further words.
Verse 9. Zerubbabel started this; he will be the one to finish it. It’s not a relay race with baton to baton to baton. It will happen in a season, not over many lifetimes.
Verse 10. Don’t knock the beginnings. Small things are not to be despised. We have to start somewhere. You will get it done. These 7. Must be the facets or eyes of chapter 3. They will be glad when they see the ‘plumb line.’ But the Hebrew is not plumb. Rather Bedil
אֶת־הָאֶ֧בֶן הַבְּדִ֛יל
Like hamavdil or even Havdalah. That’s the dividing line. The line that separates. God wants his people to have his Temple to honour him.
The eyes range to and fro? That sounds like “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those bwhose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16.9) And in the Proverbs we read, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” (15.3)
God’s eyes are on duty all the day long. All the month. All your lifetime.
Verses 11-14. Two olive trees. What are they? It’s not a what; it’s a who. They are the two anointed ones (not Meshach, rather tsahar) standing and awaiting words to fulfil. They are loyal attendants ready to serve. They are Joshua and Zerubbabel. (Revelation 11.3) Don’t expect two particular folks, in fact, it’s not even the real number at the last, but rather a symbol of the same history. And it’s a call to you and to me to stand at the ready to serve our great God.
And to be called “Lord of all the earth.”
עַל־אֲד֥וֹן כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
We will see that going forward in this book even next week, but get that in your head and in your heart. He will be using two witnesses to bring his love and grace to the whole earth. (Isa. 54.5)
Remember the quote from Haggai said something about the signet ring? (2.20-23)
As a seal of royal authority, the “signet ring” is a messianic metaphor. In Jeremiah 22:24–25, God said if Jehoiachin (Zerubbabel’s grandfather) were his signet ring, God would cast him off. Thus, Haggai was saying that through Zerubbabel God would reverse the curse He had personally pronounced on Jehoiachin. God would place the wicked king’s grandson like a signet ring on his own finger. Likewise, the words “on that day” point to a future messianic fulfillment of Haggai’s message.
Although Zerubbabel’s temple was smaller than the one Solomon built, God promised a greater glory: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” said the Lord (Haggai 2:9). The glory bestowed on Zerubbabel’s temple came centuries later when Yeshua, our Messiah, came into the temple courts. The Messiah never visited Solomon’s temple, but Zerubbabel’s Temple did.
I find it strange then, that before the 2nd temple was completed and dedicated, Zerubbabel’s name disappears from the biblical record. It’s possible that Zerubbabel may have returned to Babylon soon after finishing his work on the temple, or it could be that the Persians feared a Jewish uprising and had Zerubbabel removed or executed. Regardless, Zerubbabel is revered as one of the Bible’s great heroes, working to reconstruct the Lord’s house of worship and he is even listed in the genealogy of Yeshua.
“After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of 1Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim,” (Matt. 1.12-13)
While the temple Zerubbabel helped rebuild was nothing compared to the size and grandeur of Solomon’s, it far outlasted it. In fact, Zerubbabel’s temple was still standing 500 years later when the promised Messiah filled it full.
And now we live in an age when Messiah, the despised and rejected one, is trying to be known in the whole earth yet again. Our role as believers is to carry that message and lift him up so that all people will be drawn to himself. Amen?
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Remember, you who are watching today, if you are not yet a follower of Yeshua, and see his love for you, his kindness extended, his offer of forgiveness available, right where you are, submit to him, to his lordship, to his care, and your life will take on new meaning, new substance, and you will have mates on this call, and in your neighbourhood and wherever you travel… the Kingdom is advancing under the King. Chaos is subjugated, life is available.
Would you like that? Pray with me just now. (prayer)
Shabbat shalom!
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Resource on video
To see a fun video overview of the book of Zechariah see this from Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/zechariah/
Bibliography:
Smith, Ralph, Micah to Malachi: Word Biblical Commentary (Volume 32), Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1984.
Stead, Michael, Zechariah: The Lord Returns, Aquila Press, Sydney, 2015.
Webb, Barry, The Message of Zechariah: Your Kingdom Come, Intervarsity Press, Nottingham, 2003.
Wiersbe, Warren, Be Heroic: Demonstrating Bravery by your Walk, David C. Cook Press, Colorado Springs, 1997.
This website was especially significant today and I quote from it and edit its words, but the essence is there. https://www.gotquestions.org/Zerubbabel-in-the-Bible.html
ACTUAL TEXT
Zech. 4:1 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” 4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5 So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
Zech. 4:8 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 “For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel — these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
Zech. 4:11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13 So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.”
