Zechariah 4:1-13
Thursday, 22 December 2022
“What are you O great mountain? Before Zrubbabel you will become a plain; and will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” -Zechariah 4:7
The book of Zechariah is filled with imageries and prophecies foretelling the first and second coming of Jesus Christ. Bibles scholars have identified around 122 prophetic statements in this book of 14 Chapters; 31 of them already fulfilled and 91 yet to be fulfilled.
There is a very powerful message being conveyed through this book. It was written around 540 BC and had accurately prophesied about many things that had happened centuries later. Also it was written at a time when the people of Israel returned to their land after the Babylonian captivity – a time when people were anguished about the future of their country and were looking forward for powerful leadership to spearhead the re-building of their nation. A stable nation means secured life for its people. At a time when all their dreams were shattered, God sends a ray of hope through His servant Zechariah, to the utterly shattered people that He has not forgotten them and that He has a plan to re-build them and bring them back to their old glory!
The plan of Haggai was construction of the Temple and Zechariah had the intention to continue the same without hindrance. However, they faced stiff opposition in their endeavor to complete the construction of the Temple. Zerubbabel was the governor and was responsible for the construction.
The mountain stated in the key verse refers to the many obstacles they faced in fulfilling their godly service! Ezra 5:1-17 describes the kind of opposition they faced. However, the resistance raised by the worldly system will not hamper the work of God – so in verse 6 God tells very clearly that it will be not by human might or power, but by the Spirit of God that the construction will progress and complete. The capstone referred in verse 7 highlights the completion of the project. In verse 9, God categorically states that the hand of the Zerubbabel who started the construction will complete it!
What an awesome God we serve! He will complete the work that he had begun through each one of us. So long as we do not trust in our might and power, but being led by the Holy Spirit, the work of God will progress uninterruptedly.
Every believer in Jesus Christ has the responsibility and the mandate to share the gospel and disciple others. Jesus said: “I chose you and appointed you that would go and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain.” (John 15:16). A tree would stay in its place and bear fruit – this is the fruit of the Spirit which you bear staying at the place where you are, but the fruit that Jesus refers is to be borne by going! What is it? It is nothing but the fruit of souls. Each believer in Jesus Christ is called, designed and empowered to go and evangelize and bear fruits.
Isaiah 49:8 says: “In a favourable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you, and I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people.“ God’s plan for us is defined here. He wants all of us to be His witnesses (Acts1:8). Often people know this calling of God, but they are stuck in front of certain mountains. You would like to go forward, yet you are confined to the place where you are. Today God is going to make that mountain a plain ground. Oh men and women of God, who toil in the Vineyard of God– take courage and be focused – the God who stood by His people and accomplished what He initiated is by your side too!
Be encouraged: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor.15:58)
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