IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Not by Might nor Power but by My Spirit

Date: Oct. 21, 2024

Passage

Zechariah 4:1-14

A Vision of a Golden Lampstand

4:1 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked 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: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

“These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Zechariah 4:6

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah saw a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven channels from the bowl to the lamps (2). Two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand, supplied oil for the lamps (12). The vision was related to rebuilding the temple (7-10). Zerubbabel led the people in laying the foundation of the temple (Ez 3:8-10). But a mountain of work remained. Furthermore, what had already been accomplished seemed so small that many despised the work (Haggai 2:1-9).

The vision was an encouragement for Zerubbabel. All obstacles would be cleared, and one day, he would set the temple capstone (7-9). People would one day see the capstone in Zerubbabel’s hands and rejoice (10). This would not happen by human strength or ingenuity. God’s Spirit would empower Zerubbabel for this important work. As the olive trees continually supplied oil for the lampstand to burn bright, so God would supply all that was needed for the temple work. Like the lamp, God’s presence would shine brightly into a dark world.

What work does God have for you? It cannot be done by human might, power, or zeal. Ask God’s Spirit to work through you today.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the promised Holy Spirit for all who believe in Jesus. Please work through us by your Spirit to accomplish your will!

One Word: By God’s Spirit

Daily Bread

In the Shelter of God’s Wings

Psalm 61:1-8

Key Verse: 61:4

Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

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