Reasoning Through the Bible
Taking a cue from Paul, Reasoning Through the Bible is an expository style walk through the Scriptures that tells you what the Bible says. Reviewing both Old and New Testament books, as well as topical subjects, the hosts methodically show how Scripture is one cohesive story. Critical Thinking with a little bit of theology and apologetics and you have what this podcast is about. Just like Paul on Mars Hill, Christianity today must address woke, deconstruction, and progressive Christianity, all topics that are addressed if we go purposefully through the Bible. Join Glenn and Steve weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as they reason with you through the Bible.
Reasoning Through the Bible
S8 || Prophecies of Hope and Renewal || Zechariah 3:10 - 4:7 || Session 8 || Verse by Verse Bible Study
What if ancient prophecies held the key to understanding both past and future peace for Israel? Join us as we unpack the intriguing phrase "in that day" from Zechariah 3:10, exploring its metaphorical significance as a beacon of peace yet to come. We’ll guide you through the layered imagery of sitting under the vine and fig tree, and question if this tranquil vision will manifest after Jesus' second coming. Discover how these images provided comfort and hope to the Jewish exiles returning from Babylon, underscoring the timeless message of the Holy Spirit's guidance over human strength. Inspired by Zechariah's message to Zerubbabel, we reflect on the power of God's Spirit in overcoming historical challenges during the temple's reconstruction, and probe the relevance of these ancient visions in our modern spiritual journeys.
Welcome to Reasoning Through the Bible. My name is Steve, I'm here with Glenn and we're going through the book of Zechariah. Last session we were completely in chapter 3 of Zechariah and we have one last verse there to finish up in that chapter. So if you have your Bibles with you, take them out, turn them to Zechariah 3, verse 10, which says this In that day declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree. Glenn, in our last session we went through and talked about the stone that was referred. We talked about the seven eyes that were referred. We talked about the branch that Zechariah, in this vision, referred to. Now we have this term here in that day and in our study we have seen in that day mentioned several times. This is the first time that it's mentioned. What is in that day? What is he talking about there?
Speaker 2:In that day is a phrase used in Old Testament prophets many, many times. In one sense, it's very simple it's the day in which the things he's predicting will happen. And if you remember the vision, he was going to clean up the high priest and put a new turban on his head. It said at the end of verse 9, remove the iniquity of that land in one day. The question then comes in is when is in that day? It's the day in which all these things will happen. Well, it's either going to be the immediate lifetime of Zechariah and the people that were hearing this, or it would have been the first coming of Jesus or the second coming of Jesus. That is the question really is when is in that day? I think from the context we can answer the question.
Speaker 2:He again says in that day, every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree. Every one of you will sit with the neighbor, which implies a time of peace. The same phrase, sitting under the vine and the fig tree, is used other places that the hearers would have already been familiar with 1 Kings 4.25 and Micah 4.4 both speak of sitting under the vine and the fig tree as a time of peace. Therefore, it implies a time of peace for Israel. Every one of you will sit, not just some of you, but every one of you will have a time of peace. Steve, when is this time of peace? Was it at the time of Zechariah, or when Jesus came in the church age, or is it later, in the second coming, or?
Speaker 1:is it later in the second, coming In that cross-reference that you have there from Micah 4.4, those verses of 4.1-8,. It starts out there in verse 1, talking about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as a chief mountain, and it goes through in those verses they're talking about the judgment and then also the peace there in verse four that each will sit under his vine and fig tree with no one to make them afraid. I think Micah cross-reference makes it clear that in that day is referring to the last days.
Speaker 2:I think we can tell that the preterist view of Zechariah's immediate time is not really the answer to the question, simply because the people of Israel weren't in a time of peace, especially when he says this. There were still continued wars and things that happened after that. As far as the church age and making it some sort of a spiritual application, that doesn't really work either, simply because the Christian is very often in a state of turmoil, such as the end of Romans, chapter 11. The things I want to do I don't do, and the things I don't want to do that I do. Who will deliver me from this body of death? We are still chained to this body of death. We are still chained to this body of death and still living in a time where we have to not sin and things like that.
Speaker 2:This is not describing the time today in the church, because the church still has enemies. We as Christians still have enemies. We're not in a position to invite all of our neighbors. Some of our neighbors are enemies. I mean there's Christian martyrs happening every day, get their heads removed from them. Missionaries get killed every year on the mission field.
Speaker 2:This is not a time where we have peace. That's strongly implied from this passage. Sitting and inviting you under the fig tree is not just inviting to the gospel, it's there's enough peace that we can lay down our conflict and have peace. Therefore, verse 10 is speaking of the time when Jesus returns to bring about the day of the Lord, when there will be peace in the world. There is no Jew nor Gentile today that has complete peace with his neighbor. The Jews certainly don't have peace with their neighbor today, and neither does the church. We as Christians can have an internal peace, but again we're stuck in Romans 7, sometimes longing to get to Romans 8. When God reveals this prophecy, I think we can say, for example, at the end of verse 9, remove the iniquity of that land in one day, but then, at the same time, in the very next sentence, in that day is going to be a future day. Simply because, steve, I think it's as good a time as any to reveal some of our views on how to interpret these.
Speaker 2:The Old Testament prophets and what God revealed to them didn't always distinguish between times that would happen when Jesus' first coming and his second coming. The analogy that's been given a lot is somebody that would look off at a mountain range in the distance and you might see several mountain peaks, but you don't really see the valleys between them. The timing in the distance and you might see several mountain peaks, but you don't really see the valleys between them. The timing in the distance is compressed because it's off in the distance. When these prophets were seeing these prophecies off in the distance, they would see things merge together when really there might have been a time period in between them. Would you agree?
Speaker 1:I do agree, and Paul references one of these valleys. Between the mountaintops you have the valleys that the prophets aren't seeing. Paul references one of these valleys as being the church. It was a mystery, meaning that it hadn't been revealed to the prophets in what we call the Old Testament. That mystery was both that Jews and Gentiles would be one together in a body of believers called the church. That is an example of the valley that the prophets didn't see on the mountaintops as they're looking across the various ranges.
Speaker 2:Therefore, we can say with confidence that most of this vision in chapter 3 was indeed the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the branch, he was the stone, he was the one that removed the iniquity in one day. He's the one that took away the old dirty rags and clothed us with clean clothes. But, at the same time, we are not yet in that day where everyone can sit under his vine with his neighbor in peace. That is still yet to come. That brings us to Zechariah, chapter 4.
Speaker 2:In chapter 4, we're introduced to the next vision, which is the golden lampstand, the two olive trees, and the first three verses of that chapter say this Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me as a man who was awakened from his sleep. He said to me what do you see? I said I see, 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. Also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side. With this, what do we see in this vision, Steve? We'll start with the first of it. It's almost as if he's asleep and he's being awakened. In our day are we asleep, sometimes in need of being awakened.
Speaker 1:I think that that does happen. Maybe sometimes we get complacent in our Christian life and many times the way that we're awakened is a tragedy comes into our life or a tragedy in somebody else's life, a fellow Christian, and that kind of awakens us from our slumber and gets us back interested to having a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Does God ever come and wake us out of that? Does he ever come and interrupt our stupor and cause us to wait a minute? Focus on me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like I said, it's through those type of things and it doesn't have to be a tragedy, it could just be a period of time. Whenever you come to a realization, your Holy Spirit is pulling you back and saying return to me and I'll return to you, and you get this conviction that you know I need to build my relationship with Jesus again.
Speaker 2:Then, in the next couple of verses, he sees two main things in this vision. What were they?
Speaker 1:The first thing he saw was a lance stand and it had all of gold with a bowl on top. Now, there was a lance stand that was in the temple. It was what we refer to as a menorah and it was what brought light into the holy area there of the temple, light into the holy area there of the temple. People that are reading Zechariah's vision from that time period would have this lampstand in their mind's eye. That's in the temple. Then also, it says there are two olive trees, and on the right side of the bowl and on the other side of its left. Those are the things that he's seeing here in this section.
Speaker 2:Lamps provide light, of course. What is the spiritual application of that Well?
Speaker 1:again. That lampstand in the holy area was the only light that was in that holy area. In the New Testament when Jesus says I am the light of the world, the people that were there would understand that what he was saying was I'm that lampstand. I'm the one that provides the only light in that temple area. The spiritual application is that he is the one that provides the light of the world. Colossians gives a description there from Paul, that we are carried from the area of darkness into an area of light. That's accomplished whenever we become a believer in Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world.
Speaker 2:We live in a very dark world and without the true light of Jesus Christ then we have no spiritual illumination. He is the light of the world in that he reveals spiritual truths. Otherwise all we know is darkness and falsehood. Number of completion it would also just provide a lot of light. It's not just one flame, it's a lot of light. Seven lamps the number of completion it gives good illumination, it gives complete illumination.
Speaker 2:In those days the lamps used oil. They actually burned olive oil according to the Old Testament law. So this lamp had a reservoir on it to hold a lot of oil. That means it would not run out. There were these two olive trees next to it that would provide a source for the oil. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:In this vision. It's saying God is going to provide the light, the spiritual illumination. He's going to provide the energy, the oil, through the Holy Spirit. That's the spiritual application here. And there's plenty of it. It's not going to run out. There's a big reservoir supplying all the flames and then there's an olive tree that keeps growing and supplying more olive oil into the reservoir. That is exactly what you mentioned, steve. It would immediately remind the Jews of the lampstand inside the holy place in the original temple. Remember, at the time they were creating this prophecy, they were still building the temple and the ceremonies I don't think had started yet. What he's saying is I'm seeing this vision and the lamp's going to be lit again. Only this time, when the lamp's lit, it's going to have plenty of oil, it's not going to run out and it's going to be lit again. Only this time, when the lamp's lit, it's going to have plenty of oil, it's not going to run out and it's going to be a wonderful day and, glenn, isn't that what we have in this church age?
Speaker 1:We have the Holy Spirit that we get whenever we become believers. Jesus himself said I must go so that the Spirit can come. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. It's never ending, never runs dry. So I do think that this is a picture. This again is right after the timeframe when the previous verses, when he says there's going to come a time whenever I'm going to send the branch who is the root of Jesse, that is Jesus, that's coming. We have the Holy Spirit now and we have that never-ending Spirit of God that is with us in this age.
Speaker 2:We can't forget where the Jewish people were emotionally and culturally and spiritually at this. They were at a low point. They had been in 70 years of captivity in a very pagan country of Babylon and now they were back. So they were really at a low spot. They had been taken to the woodshed by the Lord. So this vision of the lampstand would be a great encouragement to them.
Speaker 2:God reaches down at their lowest point and gives them a word of encouragement. Zechariah says what do I see? I see the lamps lit again. That lampstand of the temple, it's going to be burning again, only this time it's going to have this large reservoir, so it's not going to run out. It's going to grow again because there's going to be olive trees that are going to supply it. So this is a great word of encouragement.
Speaker 2:People would like to hear this. God is saying, yes, the temple ceremonies are going to start again and the lamps are going to be lit. The lamps in the tabernacle the original one had to be constantly tended. The priest had to go in there daily, trim the wicks, add more oil and constantly tended or it would go out. The lamp in Zechariah's vision would burn continually without human help because large bowls feeding the lamps and two olive trees supplying oil. God is saying that he's going to supply the light, he's going to supply the Holy Spirit without any human effort. Can we today, steve, when we get to the lowest point, can we trust God to step down and give us a word of encouragement and supply all our needs and supply the Holy Spirit, even though, hey, I might have been in a bad spot of Babylon for many decades? Will God reach down with a word of encouragement and tell us, hey, there's going to be a renewal, there's going to be a spiritual light that's going to shine again?
Speaker 1:I think that's a great thing about this age, that we have Glenn, that we have the Holy Spirit. That does give us that word of encouragement If we heed it. I think that there's many times that we really don't take advantage of the Holy Spirit, god who is with us. I don't mean that in a way of using that Holy Spirit for something that is dramatic or something like that. What I mean by that is taking advantage of it is that God is always with us and he gives us that calmness and peace. Philippians 4, the summation of those verses that are there is really worry about nothing, pray about everything, and God will give us the peace beyond all understanding. Well, we get that peace through the Holy Spirit. I think that is with us. But God says pray, don't worry about it.
Speaker 2:The people of Israel needed God to reach down and give them a word of encouragement. They needed some spiritual light, and God did that. He will still do that today. He will reach down even though we may be in a very dark place, and he will provide spiritual light. Philippians 4.19 says this my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. We can take wonderful, wonderful comfort in that. The next few verses, zechariah asks the angel what the vision is. Steve, can you read verses four through seven?
Speaker 1:Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, saying what are these? My Lord? The angel who was speaking 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, saying Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain and he will bring forth the top stone which shouts of grace.
Speaker 2:grace to it With this we have the angel's message about the vision. There's some very interesting things here. Let's go through it. Verses 4 and 5, zechariah asks about what the vision means. Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah and had come back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. And in verse 6, god's message to Zerubbabel is that the temple would not be built by human effort, but by the Spirit of God. Note God speaks here as the Lord of hosts. Well, this is a military term. God speaking as the leader of all the heavenly armies. All the heavenly beings were led by God. He is the Lord of all these powerful heavenly beings and the God of all power and might is saying that he will not work through might or power or force, but will work through his Holy Spirit. The Lord of hosts, which is the all-powerful one, says it will not be built by might or by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord. Steve, take that into our day. What happens when we try to do God's work on our own power?
Speaker 1:The things that we do on our own power are successful, sometimes for a while, but if we don't give God the glory for it or the credit for it to honor him, they might not always bring us the satisfaction that we think that they will, or they might fail, get us into a situation that draws us automatically back to God, because he is the one that can restore us and restore that situation and turn it into one that will glorify and honor him.
Speaker 2:When we try to do God's work by our own might and our own power, all we get is tired. All we end up with is failure. But if we do it through his might and his power, then he succeeds and we get the blessing. Zechariah 4.6 says succeeds and we get the blessing. Zechariah 4.6 says not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord.
Speaker 2:Philippians 1.6 tells us that God has started a work in us and he will finish it unto his purposes. So we can take comfort from all the way back here in the Old Testament books all the way up to our day, that he is the one that works through us and if we but yield to Him, then he works through His Holy Spirit. His olive trees are going to supply enough oil to keep the lamps burning, to keep the fire of God alive in us. His Spirit is going to supply the energy. We just need to realize it's his work and we're doing it in his timing and it's going to happen in his will. We're just along for the ride and then we get the blessing because of it. We try to force it and do it of our own strength then it will always fail and all we get is tired.
Speaker 1:In Haggai, who is a contemporary prophet with Zerubbabel, they were both at the very same time In temporary prophet with Zerubbabel. They were both at the very same time. In Haggai, chapter 2, verses 1 through 5, those verses they're directed to Zerubbabel and to Joshua, the high priest. In Haggai, joshua is referred to as Yeshua. It says there, my spirit, my being, yahweh, is abiding in your midst. I, yahweh, am with you. It goes right along with encouragement of what he's giving here to Zerubbabel. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. He's with them. He's giving them encouragement that the temple is going to be rebuilt.
Speaker 1:Again, they are receiving opposition. Remember when we went through Nehemiah, at one point there were troops that were coming around to actually attack them, to kill them and to wipe them out. Well, zerubbabel, during his time they were receiving opposition as well to rebuilding this temple. I think it's great knowing that God is there, he's with them, giving them encouragement. It's not by power or might, but it's by my spirit. And Zerubbabel, joshua, I'm in your midst, I'm there with you. It's the same type of encouragement that you've been talking about Glenn for us, that we have the Holy Spirit with us and we have encouragement of living a Christian life. If we would just tap into it.
Speaker 2:I agree. That's clearly the message that's been given so far. On that we can all take comfort. The next verse, verse 7, I want to read again, and this is one of these passages that we have to ask the question was it completed in Zerubbabel's day, zechariah's day, or is it symbolic of a future date? Let's read verse 7 again. It says this what are you, o great mountain, before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain and he will bring forth the topstone with shouts of grace. Grace to it.
Speaker 2:In deciding whether that verse is literal, the second half of the sentence was literally fulfilled in Zerubbabel's day. He saw the temple completed with the capstone on it. The first half of the sentence says that a mountain will be laid low. We have to ask our question whether that fits. This didn't literally happen in Zerubbabel's day. We cannot assume that they laid off the top of a mountain in order to finish building the temple because it was in the same place as the previous temple. The verse says the mountain will become a plain quote before Zerubbabel, which would not give room for end times such as later in this same book, zechariah 14.4,. The Messiah comes and the mountain splits.
Speaker 2:Zerubbabel did have to overcome obstacles. Therefore, it would seem like when it says, here again, the mountain will be laid low and you will see the capstone finished in your day. It seems some of these phrases have both a literal and a figurative language in them, in the sense that the mountain will be laid low, in the sense of you will overcome problems and things will go smoothly for you, but the capstone of the temple. That did indeed literally happen in Zerubbabel's day. Now the vision I think we can be very clear, though, of what it's saying is that, through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, the Jewish leaders are going to be able to do the Lord's work, including finish building the temple, which they did in Zerubbabel's day.
Speaker 2:The prophecy was literally fulfilled four years later when the temple was completed. If we just merely obey the Lord, the mountains of obstacles in our day are going to be made low. Now it also could have been literal in the sense they had to do some construction, mountain of rubble that would be there, possibly, or even the obstacles that they would see in their day that they had to overcome. So I don't think we need to get all caught up in the literalness and the future of it simply because it was literally fulfilled in Zerubbabel's day, in the sense that the capstone was done where they could see it. With that, steve, we've again learned some very, very interesting things here in Zechariah, chapter 3.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of little things that are kind of tucked away here in Zechariah. I think it's just great.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's just a wonderful ground. So we'll continue this next time, as we continue to reason through the Bible.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for watching and listening. May God bless you you.
