Zechariah 4:7, commentary and pictures

Before Zerubbabel the great mountain of obstacles and difficulties blocking the rebuilding of the temple would become level ground, and he himself who laid its foundation would set its final stone in place amid shouts acknowledging divine favor in its completion. That leveling and finishing comes not by human might, strength, talent, money or display, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts and by grace alone. The golden oil flowing from the two anointed ones through the lampstand's pipes is that Spirit imparted from God's presence to consecrated workers and churches to give light, save souls and overcome every satanic agency. Christ is the one who laid the foundation and brings the building to completion as its headstone, and every opposing force will be brought low before Him while God's glorious work founded on eternal principles triumphs amid acclaim of grace. The mountain becomes a plain and the oil is received when workers are emptied of self and unbelief, controlled by the Holy Spirit in humility, purity and unity, and move forward in intrepid faith till the spiritual temple is finished.

Setting in Zerubbabel's Time

The saying belongs to a series of encouraging visions given when the returned exiles feared that permission to rebuild the temple might be withdrawn. They were given to sustain those advancing God's work and to assure them of His compassion and love. The word was spoken to Zerubbabel while he was rebuilding the house of the Lord amid manifold difficulties. Adversaries had weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building, and had made them cease by force and power, but the Lord interposed in behalf of the builders.

The instruction continues the experience recorded in Zechariah 3. There Satan resists those who have transgressed yet have sincerely repented, humbled themselves before God, confessed their sins to the sin-pardoning Saviour, and received pardon and clean garments. At the same time men who have never confessed and refuse to humble the heart accuse, condemn and tantalize the truly repentant. That experience is being acted over and will continue while men professing cleanness refuse to confess.

Zechariah 3 and 4 must be carefully studied because they are essential for the last days. In figure the saying gives encouragement that there is strength not of our own, for the sacred work is done not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, a lesson all who have any connection with the sacred work of God must learn. Together chapters three and four represent what God has prepared for His people and reveal the heavenly realities that believers can discern when faith clears away Satan's darkening influence. The visions will become a living reality amid the final conflict, when people in high places may block God's work.

Mountain Made a Plain

The great mountain is the great obstacles and difficulties that confronted Zerubbabel in rebuilding the temple, which seemed insurmountable to human sight. Before him that mountain would become level ground, for every such obstacle would be removed by God and by His Spirit rather than by human might or power. Difficulties that obstruct the work become a plain when God acts for His name's glory, opening a level way forward for His appointed servant. He himself would complete the work by bringing forth its final headstone amid shouts proclaiming grace, acknowledging that its completion depended on God's favor and gracious help. The same promise applies to restoring a struggling institution, where those with means are to unite to remove difficulties, repair what is needed, and keep God's work from languishing.

The mountain is Satan's work to make the establishment of God's kingdom seem forbidding. It means all the powers of darkness, the difficulties obstructing God's work, unconsecrated hearts that become a stumbling block by professing precious truth without practicing it, self-exaltation, disharmony of spirit and action, unbelief that says we cannot do this or that, and every molehill exalted into a mountain. Before Zerubbabel the mountain becomes a plain as those who carry out God's plans advance in sanctification through the truth, adorning doctrine by a changed life, moving forward with the mind of Christ and self hidden with Christ in God, drawing together in even cords with hearts open to receive the oil of grace. Then the headstone is brought forth with shoutings proclaiming grace and the work goes forward until all opposition melts away.

Such great mountains of difficulty, apparently insurmountable, have loomed throughout history before those trying to carry out the purposes of Heaven. They are permitted by the Lord as a test of faith, and they are placed by Satan across the pathway of the Christian. When hedged about on every side, that is the time above all others to trust in God and in the power of His Spirit. The exercise of living faith brings increase of spiritual strength and the development of unfaltering trust, making the soul a conquering power. Before the demand of such faith the obstacles disappear, for the powers of heaven come to aid so that nothing is impossible.

The leveling comes before an intrepid spirit and unwavering faith like Zerubbabel's, which holds the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end. When perplexities and obstacles tempt to faltering, persevering faith is answered by God making the way clear. Success comes through struggling against difficulties, and apparent failure trains His servants to overcome. Success after such struggle brings joy, and the one whose hands laid the foundation also finishes it, bringing forth the headstone with shoutings proclaiming grace.

Headstone Crowned with Grace

The hands that laid the foundation are the hands that finish it, for Zerubbabel himself brings forth the headstone, the final stone of the temple, and sets it in its place amid shoutings crying grace, grace unto it in acknowledgment of God's favor in its completion. The great obstacles confronting him are removed by God's Spirit and not by human might or power, becoming level ground before him, and it is intrepid spirit and unwavering faith holding the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end that sees perplexities cleared and success come through struggling against difficulties. The same promise is laid upon a struggling institution, that those with means should unite to remove difficulties, repair what is needed, and keep the work from languishing until the headstone is set with cries of grace.

The triumphant shout is the pledge that God's work will never cease until its completion, and the tempest of opposition will spend itself by its own fury and its clamor will die away. Therefore the chosen ones are to hold fast the word of life and carry forward the work bravely and cheerfully, assured that the Father above watches with tenderest solicitude and will bless efforts made in His name until the work is finished.

The shout celebrates that the carrying through to completion is wholly of grace by God's Spirit and not by human power, and it must be acknowledged as wholly of grace with joyful praise and triumphant shouting. It is not accomplished by might, power, human capability, plans, advantages, money, large preparations, or costly display, but by the Spirit of the Lord, when workers have less faith in what they can do and more faith in what the Lord can do for them, emptied of self in humility, consecration, clean hands and pure hearts. Despite mighty foes and mighty opposition the work advances under God's care by His grace until it is completed in victory to the glory of God, and that belonging to the perils of the last days requires moving forward in faith without failing, discouragement, or negligence, with full attention to spiritual necessities and diligent use of entrusted talents to return increase for the glory of God. For health institutions this same rule forbids extravagant spending on large expensive buildings, furniture and surroundings to give character and influence, holding that comfortable, convenient, healthful rooms, surroundings and food in harmony with Christ's teaching are enough, since influence and success come from faith working by love, the atmosphere of grace, and the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart.

The words about the completed work and the cry grace, grace are applied to a planned tower, whose builders must count the cost and consider whether they can finish it rather than begin an extravagant project that cannot be completed.

Not by Might but by Spirit

The work is finished not by human might, power, strength, talent, capability, plans, advantages, money, large preparations, or costly display, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts and by grace. The great obstacle is leveled by God's Spirit, and completion is acknowledged as wholly His gracious help with joyful cries of grace. For workers facing a dearth of means who think difficulties would vanish with more money, preparations, conveniences and supplies, the teaching is to bind about the edges, make no calculations to absorb means, not spend large sums to rush out of perplexity, and take hold interestedly to do the work with what is in hand. For health institutions this means no extravagant spending and no large expensive buildings, furniture, surroundings or provisions to give character and influence, but comfortable, convenient, healthful rooms, surroundings and food in harmony with Christ's teaching are enough, because influence and success come from faith working by love that purifies the soul, the atmosphere of grace, and the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart. The leveling comes when workers have less faith in what they can do and more faith in what the Lord can do for them.

The surrounding vision of the golden lampstand with bowl, seven lamps, two olive trees, olive branches and golden pipes shows golden oil flowing from the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth through tubes into bowls and lamps. The oil is the Holy Spirit imparted from the holy ones in God's presence to consecrated workers, churches and institutions to give light, communicate heavenly grace, minister truth, save souls, and overcome satanic agencies. Churches are golden lamps that hold the treasure of oil and disperse light, but a lamp in itself is not light and a church of itself has no grace, fire, love or glory, and all depends wholly on Christ the Source of all light. Receiving from Christ the golden treasure of oil and fire, the church shines in distinct rays amid moral darkness, and messengers who first receive the golden oil of sacred truth present it with fervency and make its importance appear. When workers are united with Christ and one another and labor together, they receive the Spirit's help and supply what is needed for the work.

God's servants and leaders must first receive the heavenly supply so they can pass spiritual life, truth, light, joy and refreshment to others through grateful praise and deeds of love. This emptying of the anointed ones through the golden pipes into the golden bowls to flow forth into the lamps, which are the churches, is the work of every true devoted servant of the living God. Without that ministering, preaching is destitute of the dew and rain of heaven, ministers cannot truly feed the flock, and the flock starves for the bread of life. God's servants gain victories through inward purity, cleanness of heart and holiness.

God's way is to make the day of small things the beginning of the triumph of truth and righteousness, while the world begins its work with pomp, show and boasting that comes to nothing. Therefore a prosperous beginning is no cause for elation and apparent feebleness is no cause for discouragement, because God Himself is riches, fullness and power to His people, and His purposes for His chosen people stand firm and immovable like the eternal hills.

The mountain becomes a plain and the oil is received when workers are controlled by the Holy Spirit, emptied of self, selfishness, self-sufficiency and ambitious devising, with humility, consecration, clean hands, pure hearts, inward purity and holiness. They advance in sanctification through the truth and obedience, adorning doctrine by a changed life, moving forward with the mind of Christ and self hid with Christ in God, conformed to His image in the beauty of holiness and Christlike character, shining as lights of the world. They draw together in even cords with hearts open to receive the oil of grace, and the channel of the heart is kept unobstructed in meekness so the oil is received constantly, making workers meek, tender and lowly in heart and enabling them to avoid arousing bitterness so hearts are not closed against truth. Then the heavenly messengers empty the golden oil into the golden tubes so it flows into the golden bowls, every church whose lamp is going out receives what it needs, the lamps burn bright and clear to penetrate the moral darkness covering the world like a funeral pall, angels cooperate with every unselfish worker against Satan's stumbling blocks, opposition melts away, and the work goes forward to completion.

Christ and His Church

Every power set against the Lord's work will be leveled low before Christ, who took human form, humbled Himself, and made atonement for sin, and the promise that opposition will be overcome stands within His work accomplished by God's Spirit rather than by human power, with its completion marked by rejoicing and grace. Christ completes the work of salvation as the one who laid the foundation and brings the building to its finish as its headstone with grace proclaimed over it. Law and gospel belong together as a perfect whole, for the law reveals sin but cannot pardon it, while the gospel offers pardon through Christ's sacrifice and draws sinners back to allegiance to God's law, together producing genuine love and faith. He laid the foundation of His church and by Him the topmost stone will be brought forth and fastened in a sure place, for He is the first, by whom all things were made and who is before all things, and He is the last, for whom all things were made and who is judge of all, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The word to Zerubbabel explains the vision of the golden candlestick with its bowl, seven lamps, and two olive trees, continuing the promise that the work is done not by might nor by power but by God's Spirit. Churches are golden lamps that hold the treasure of oil and disperse light, yet a lamp in itself is not light and a church of itself has no grace, fire, love, or glory, and all depends wholly on Christ the Source of all light. Receiving from Christ the golden treasure of oil and the fire, the church shines in distinct rays amid moral darkness, and the Lord's messengers who first receive the golden oil of sacred truth will present truth with all fervency and make its importance appear.

God's glorious work founded on eternal principles will never decay but will triumph in the end amid shouts acclaiming grace, and though opposed and hindered it will be brought to completion by His grace, with its finished work standing on enduring principles and shining with the light of those principles. Though the church has sadly failed to meet her Redeemer's expectations, God does not withdraw Himself but bears long with waywardness, unbelief, and folly with wonderful forbearance and compassion, disciplining His people because of His own name before the enemies of truth and righteousness. If they heed His instruction He will cleanse away their perverse tendencies, save them with an everlasting salvation, make them eternal monuments of the power of His grace, and under His superintending care they will carry forward His work without misrepresenting Him in any line, shining with the light of the Sun of Righteousness. His love is as light in the morning in the midst of the church militant, feeding each lamp with the golden oil of His grace and His love, and this living connection with God is the privilege and faith of His commandment-keeping people waiting and watching for the Son of Man to come in the clouds of heaven, whom He shields as His strength and keeps as precious as the apple of His eye.

Counsel for Present Workers

Understood and taken to heart, the chapter is a call to move forward in God's work, carrying the gospel of present truth to every people and serving those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. The great obstacle becomes level ground and the work is finished amid rejoicing over grace, for the work will never cease until its completion and the storm of opposition will spend its own fury until its clamor dies away. Those chosen for the task are therefore to hold fast the word of life and press the Master's work bravely and cheerfully, assured that the Father above watches with tenderest care and blesses effort put forth in His name until the spiritual temple stands complete.

For workers facing a lack of means who imagine difficulties would vanish if only they had more money, preparation and supply, the mountain made a plain forbids rushing out of perplexity by large expenditure and forbids calculations that merely absorb means. The work is not accomplished by human might or power, by spending large sums, or by waiting for more conveniences and supplies, but by God's Spirit bringing the work to completion with grace. The lesson is to bind about the edges, to take hold with personal interest, and to do the work with what is already in hand.

In health and sanitarium work the same rule holds, for imposing buildings and costly provisions cannot give success and character, nor can large expensive furniture and surroundings supply influence. Comfortable, convenient, healthful rooms, surroundings and food in harmony with Christ's teaching are enough. Influence and blessing come from faith working by love that purifies the soul, from the atmosphere of grace surrounding the believer, and from the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart to finish the work by grace and not by costly display.

For houses of God the people are to rise and build rather than neglect the task or leave the work to languish, uniting what they have to remove difficulties and repair what is needed. It dishonors God and shows mismanagement from beginning to end for churches to be built on borrowed money and left burdened with debt while self and selfish interest are thought much of. The duty laid down is to give and sacrifice year by year to free church buildings from debt and to lessen the principal, so that interest does not swallow up the means.

The promise belongs to the present time amid the perils of the last days, when mountains of difficulty will be removed as the work of truth moves forward in faith under appointed order, for lack of faith leaves the work incomplete. It requires workers who press on from point to point without failing or discouragement, with no negligence, giving full attention to the spiritual necessities of men and women and diligently using entrusted talents to return to God His own with increase. Pride and selfishness must not be allowed to spoil the beauty of the pattern God is weaving, but by self-sacrifice workers are to learn living faith in Christ as sufficiency and all in all until the headstone comes forth with the shout of victory over grace. Practical obedience in laboring for others strengthens confidence and increases the abilities used in service, turning obstacles into a level path.