By My Spirit

December 24

Zachariah 3-4

Psalm 146:1-4

Proverbs 30:29-33

Revelation 15

By My Spirit

“I replied, ‘I see a solid gold lampstand there with a bowl on its top. It has seven lamps on it and seven channels for each of the lamps on its top. There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’ So, He answered me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 4:2-3, 6 NIV

God gave Zechariah a vision of a golden lampstand that was supposed to be in the temple. At that time, Zechariah and the people were rebuilding the temple, so it is logical that God would give him visions about the things in the temple. What was unusual was the two olive trees standing on either side of the lampstand. The temple would not have live trees inside it. One of the tasks of the priests was to keep the lampstand full of olive oil. This was probably not a task they enjoyed because it was repetitive and never finished. They had to clean it, fill it, and replace the wicks over and over. It was necessary, but a very menial task, kind of like making the bed or doing the laundry. Almost as soon as they finished, they had to do it again. In Zechariah’s vision, he sees a self-filling lampstand. There are seven pipes to the seven lamps coming from the olive trees, so the lampstand is filling itself and doesn’t have to be continually filled by the priests. Zerubbabel had been given the job of finishing the building of the temple, but the work had stalled. He needed encouragement to keep going and get it completed. God’s Word to him through Zechariah was that he would not find the ability to finish by relying on human might or human power, but he would find it by relying on the Spirit. The olive trees (olive oil) represent the Spirit of God. They are a continual source of power and strength. If he relied on the resources of the world, they would not be enough to provide everything he needed, but if he relied on the Spirit of God, he would find a never-ending supply.

Olive oil was used for many purposes in biblical times and still has many uses. It has medicinal properties and is used for healing just as the Holy Spirit brings physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing to our lives. It was used in lamps to provide light just as the Spirit of God brings light in the darkness. Oil is used as a fuel for fires to bring warmth and to cook over. The Holy Spirit brings warmth and comfort to us when we are in distress, and He provides sustenance to us. He is the bread of life. Oil is used to polish metal just as the Spirit polishes our lives and smooths out the rough edges. Oil is also used in perfume to adorn. The Holy Spirit adorns us with inner beauty as He sanctifies us to make us more like Christ. When we rely on our own power or the resources of the world around us, we will not have everything we need, but when we rely on the Holy Spirit, He will continually fill us and provide for every need we have. We will be able to proclaim that it is “not by might and not by power, but by the Spirit” that we can live victorious lives and accomplish His purposes.