INTRODUCTION:

            Light is a powerful conqueror in Scripture.  Even in the natural world light always wins over darkness.  Walk into a dark room and flip on the light switch and the darkness disappears.  The first words God spoke were, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3, NASB95)[1]    Just as light was at the beginning of creation, light will continue to shine into the eternal state.  Revelation 21 and 22 describe for us the new heaven and the new earth, and John writes in Revelation 22:5, “And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5, NASB95)[2]  Often Scripture contrasts light with darkness.  The brightness of light is used in Scripture to illustrate biblical enlightenment or illumination.  God’s Word uses darkness to illustrate sin and the wickedness that we walked in before salvation.  With the fall the world was plunged into darkness and came under the judgment of God.

            The psalmist reminds us that the heavens declare the glory of God, and part of that glory is the consistent rising and setting of the sun as the earth rotates.  Every 24 hours the earth rotates so that we have a sunrise and a sunset.  I remember a few decades ago there was talk about the sun burning out but I do not think that is something we have to worry about, it has burned consistently for more than six thousand years, it will continue to burn until it is no longer needed.  The light of God’s glory also shines constantly.  It was Yahweh that appeared as  the flaming fire in the darkness when He confirmed His covenant promises with Abraham.  Yahweh was the One who appeared in the fire of the burning bush when He called Moses and commissioned Him to deliver His people from Egypt.  It was Yahweh God that dwelt among the Israelites as a pillar of fire by night to be the light to guide the Israelites through the wilderness.  In spiritual terms God has declared that His light will overcome the darkness.  This promise was both for the faithful remnant of the exile and also to believers in the church age who formerly walked in darkness.  The Lord has called His people out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  So, this theme of light extends from one end of Scripture to the other end, symbolizing the presence and power of God, and giving His people that assurance that He has not forsaken them.

            In this fifth vision, Zechariah sees a lampstand, and he would have immediately understood the symbolism.  The lampstand communicated the greatness of God’s plan concerning His glorious light.  It not only symbolized the presence of God but also expressed the role Israel and the temple would have in God’s plan to overcome all darkness.  The lampstand also pointed to the One true Light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ.  This lampstand that Zechariah sees and describes was no ordinary lampstand.  The uniqueness of it pointed to the extraordinary Messiah by whom God would fill the earth with His glory.  Christ is the light that pierces the darkness, the light that gives life, and the light that gives both physical and spiritual sight to the blind.  This vision reveals to us the glorious theme of God’s light and specifically the brilliant radiance of Jesus Christ.  Just as the theme of the fourth vision was the Messiah, the theme of this fifth vision is the Messiah.

--LET’S PRAY--

SCRIPTURE:

            Turn in your Bibles this morning to Zechariah 4:1-3.  We will just get this vision started this week and finish it up over the next couple of weeks.  Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word, and follow along as I read.

     Zechariah 4:1-3,

            “Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 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; also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.’ ” (Zechariah 4:1–3, NASB95)[3]

THE STIRRING UP (Zechariah 4:1)

            The first three visions began by simply stating that Zechariah saw or that he lifted up his eyes and looked.  The fourth vision began differently by stating that God showed the prophet the vision, He opened Zechariah’s eyes and mind so that he could see and understand what that vision had to convey about the coming Messiah.  Like the fourth vision, the fifth vision also begins differently than the other six.

            Zechariah writes, “Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.” (Zechariah 4:1, NASB95)[4] This reference to “the angel who was speaking with me” must refer to the same interpreting angel that had appeared to Zechariah previously in the earlier visions.  This angel was absent in the fourth vision as the Angel of Yahweh, the Messiah was the focus, and He had done most of the speaking.  But we are told that this interpreting angel has returned for this fifth vision, which tells us that there is more revelation for the prophet to receive and comprehend.  It is very possible that this angel is the same interpreting angel that appeared to the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel when they needed clarification as to what they were seeing in the visions revealed to them.  Not only did this angel return but we are told that he roused the prophet to stir him up to action, or at least to stir him to alertness.  Zechariah describes this rousing to be like a man who is awakened from his sleep.  The angel was stirring him up so that he was alert and attentive.  This activity of rousing Zechariah demonstrates for us that the prophet needed to be fully aware of all that this vision contained.  Like the previous vision, this fifth vision was another concerning God’s promises regarding the Person and work of the Messiah.  Because this was the focus of this vision, it merited Zechariah’s full attention.

THE LAMPSTAND (Zechariah 4:2a)

            After rousing the prophet, the angel drew Zechariah’s attention to what was before him in this new vision, the fifth vision of the eight he was to receive in this one night.  The angel asked him, “What do you see?” (Zechariah 4:2a, NASB95)[5]  What Zechariah saw was complex.  As Zechariah began to examine what he was seeing in this vision, he began to describe it to the angel who was with him.  He exclaimed, “I see, and behold” (Zechariah 4:2a, NASB95)[6] indicating that he was looking at was before him and concentrating on the features of this detailed vision. 

First, he describes that he sees a lampstand, the Hebrew word is one we have heard, it is Menorah.  The same word used for the lampstand that was in the tabernacle and later in the temple.  This lampstand would have a base, then a center post going straight up with multiple branching arms, seven to be exact having a lamp at the end of each branch.  Each lamp would be filled with oil and have a wick that would provide light when lit.  The light given by the lampstand in the Tabernacle, and later in Solomon’s temple, symbolized God’s continual presence with His people, thus the lamps were always burning.  The lampstand gave the people hope that even though they could not fully see God at present, one day He would dwell with them face to face.  The lampstand also symbolized Israel’s witness to the world, they were to be mediators of God’s presence to the nations as a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6) and a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). 

Zechariah went on to describe that this lampstand in his vision, like the one in the tabernacle and the temple, it was made all of gold.  The fact that it was all gold represented the precious value of the glorious and brilliant light of God’s glory among His people.  The apostle John describes the church as a lampstand in Revelation 2.  Believers are instructed to live as those who were called out of darkness into the brightness and holiness of righteous light, belonging now to the kingdom of light.  Jesus spoke of this responsibility in His Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew.  Jesus’ words were part of our Scripture reading this morning from Matthew 5.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, NASB95)[7]   As I stated in my introduction, the theme of God’s glorious light extends from the beginning of creation to it culmination in the eternal state.  The lampstand in this vision illustrates that theme as it portrays both God’s radiant presence and His fixed plan to overcome darkness and fill the earth with the light of His glory.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (Zechariah 4:2b-3)

            As Zechariah continued describing what he was seeing in this vision he highlighted three features that made this lampstand unique from any lampstands he had seen before.  These distinct features demonstrate that this lampstand was perfectly self-sufficient, illustrating the reality that God will fill the earth with His glory by His power alone.  He does not need anyone or anything to help or assist Him to accomplish His sure purposes.

            First, the prophet tells us that the lamp was self-supplying with a bowl on the top of it.  That bowl served as a reservoir of oil, allowing a constant flow of fuel so that the lamps could burn continually.  In the lampstand found in the tabernacle, and then later in the temple, the oil had to be constantly replenished by the priests, they would refill each lamp regularly.  Leviticus 24:1-4 describes this, it is written, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Command the sons of Israel that they bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.  Outside the veil of testimony in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations.  He shall keep the lamps in order on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.” (Leviticus 24:1–4, NASB95)[8]  This was a statute the priest had to carry out twice daily to keep the lamps burning continually.  A normal lamp in Zechariah’s time was in no way automatic, but the lampstand in his vision had a bowl which made the need of priestly assistance unnecessary.

            Second, the lampstand was self-operating.  It had “seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which  are on the top of it.” (Zechariah 4:2c, NASB95)[9]  The lampstand in the tabernacle had seven lamps.  The  number seven corresponded to completeness and fullness, as in the seven days of the creation week.  With its seven lamps, this lampstand in this vision, like the one in the tabernacle or temple, brightly lit up its respective place, symbolizing the fullness or completeness of God’s presence.  What are these seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps about?  This made the lamp operate in a self-replenishing fashion.  No priest was needed to bring oil from storage to refill each lamp and replenish the oil that had been burned up.  Each distributing spout or pipe was a conduit that channeled oil from the reservoir bowl to the lamps.  The Hebrew is very specific that for each lamp there were seven spouts or pipes feeding oil from the central bowl, resulting in forty-nine spouts or pipes total.  While the lampstands in the tabernacle and temple were designed to show the fullness of God’s presence.  This lampstand, with its bowl and an additional seven spouts for each of the seven lamps, was meant to illustrate the complete perfection—truly the fulness of the fulness—of God’s radiant glory.

            Third, not only was this lampstand self-supplying and self-operating but also self-sustaining.  Zechariah writes, “also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” (Zechariah 4:3, NASB95)[10]  The significance of the olive tree and the reason for two of them will be explained by the interpreting angel later in this chapter.  At this point in the vision, everything that Zechariah observed was related to the operation of the lampstand, and these two olive trees completed the picture of the lampstand’s self-sufficiency.  Zechariah had observed how each of the seven lamps drew their oil supply through seven pipes to each lamp which provided the most plentiful flow from the abundant reservoir in the bowl of oil.  But if the reservoir were to run dry, there would soon be no light.  Without oil, the seven spouts or pipes were worthless, and the lampstand would cease to burn.  Zechariah knew, as well as everyone in ancient Israel, that an olive tree could produce olives and olive oil for centuries.  Some of the oldest olive trees in the world are believed to be more than 3000 years old.  Because of this truth, the two olive trees in this vision illustrate an important truth, they demonstrated that the supply of oil was endless, and that the operation of the lampstand would not cease, its lamps would continue to burn brightly.  Notice that Zechariah described one of the olive trees as being on the right side of the bowl and the other tree being on the left side.  They stood on both sides of the bowl to supply oil in abundance.  This illustrates for us that the lamps on this lampstand will burn brightly, automatically, and perpetually.

            Two major truths can be drawn from what Zechariah has observed so far.  First, the lampstand was truly exceptional, superior to every other lampstand in Israel’s history.  This lampstand in the prophet’s vision was completely self-sufficient.  Zechariah in describing it repeated the number seven to highlight its fullness and completeness.  The light from this lampstand visibly illustrated the brilliant splendor of God’s presence and the truth that His power is irrepressible and unstoppable, He will display His glory.  The sun will cease to shine, but God’s glorious light will never be diminished, filling not only the world but also the hearts of His people.  God’s light will triumph over all darkness.  The lampstand in this vision was a stunning symbol that God will certainly accomplish His plan of redemption since the penetrating light of His glory will always overcome and succeed.

            The second major truth of this lampstand was its full independence.  It in no way relied on man’s assistance for it to operate.  The two olive trees provided an unending source of oil, the bowl on top was there to store the fuel, and a network of forty-nine pipes or spouts to distribute the oil necessary to the operation of each of the seven lamps.  It operated entirely apart from priests or any other human power.  This was to illustrate that God alone, without help or aid from anyone else, will fully accomplish the triumphant unveiling of His glory.

            The question that must be answered is who will specifically achieve this?  The answer is God’s Son.  Isaiah declared that the Messiah would be a light to the nations.  Isaiah 49:5-6 says, “And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the Lord, And My God is My strength), He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’ ” (Isaiah 49:5–6, NASB95)[11] Isaiah had already declared that the coming Messiah would be a light to His people Israel in Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.” (Isaiah 9:2, NASB95)[12]  When Simeon saw the baby Jesus in the temple courts, he exclaimed concerning Him, “A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”” (Luke 2:32, NASB95)[13]  Most importantly Jesus declared this about Himself, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’ ” (John 8:12, NASB95) Jesus made this declaration in the temple as the feast of booths had just ended, on this last day a massive lampstand was lit in the temple to commemorate the glory of God in the wilderness.  While Israel had their physical lampstand, a mere symbol of God’s presence, Jesus declared Himself to be the true light, God incarnate.  He declared that He was the eternal light and that all who believe in Him possess the Light of life.  The lampstand that Zechariah saw in this fifth vision ultimately pointed to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah and Light of the world.

CONCLUSION:

            This vision seen by Zechariah was a message to the prophet and the people he ministered to, the remnant of Israel who had returned from exile, that the light of God’s glory continues to shine.  His presence is with His people, and one day His glory will fill the whole earth.  The vision of the lampstand showed that God’s sovereign purpose does not depend on any outside help, it will be accomplished.  Its light is the eternal, divine Messiah who John declared was the fullness of God’s glory.  He wrote in John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NASB95)[14]  The author of Hebrews declared, speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ, “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:2–3, NASB95)[15] Christ, God incarnate, came the first time as the Light of the world to save sinners from their sin.  He will come again in unveiled glory to fill the earth with the light of His presence.  So, what does this mean for us?  As Jesus said, “he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12b, NASB95)  We possess the Light of life, we are to reflect His light to the world.  Our Scripture reading this morning stated, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, NASB95)[16]  Is your light hiding under a basket?  Or are you letting it shine before men so they may glorify the Father.  We are not the Light, but a reflection of the Light, much like the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we must reflect the Light of the Son (S-O-N) who indwells us by His Spirit.  Let your reflection be Jesus.

 

[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. Emphasis mine.

[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.