The King is Coming - Small Beginnings
One Year Bible: Dec. 23
Zechariah 4:1-5:11
“Small Beginnings”
Today’s message is filled with visions that involve “Small Beginnings.”
“Do not despise these ‘SMALL BEGINNINGS’ for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (Zechariah 4:10)
Today’s visions begin with Zechariah sleeping. He can’t quite stay awake for the message the angel is teaching him. He was a lot like the disciples in the garden, and all of us, for that matter.
He is asked what he sees by the angel and answers, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks, And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” ( 4:2-4)
Then the Lord explains to Zerubbabel what the vision means, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way. It will become a level plain before him!” (4:6)
The vision goes on to tell of seven lamps that represent “The Eyes of the LORD” that search all around the world. A “Flying Scroll” goes out over the entire land, and there is a basket filled with a woman named “Wickedness’s Sins.” These sins will lead the people of Israel, the Wicked Woman, into captivity.
The people of Israel have been “BLIND” and with “UNBELIEF.”
In Zechariah and Revelation, we see that God is the CANDLE, just as they had witnessed in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. His light and presence were always with them.
The church is “THE CANDLESTICK.” The light from “THE CANDLE” is to shine through us….
And so, once again, the people are asked to “REBUILD the TEMPLE”... They are to make the effort and devote themselves to making a place for God to be the center of their world. He “Dwelled” in the temple, and His presence was always with them to “Bless” and “Protect” them. Yet, they had been returned from captivity and had not rebuilt the temple.
Why is this? Were they too busy? Self-absorbed? Did they learn nothing from captivity?
The Temple of God, before its destruction, had been the most magnificent place imaginable!
Was the task just too daunting for them?
God is giving them this message, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s armies.” (4:6)
They weren’t called to do great, perfect, mighty things on their own, and neither, for that fact, are we…
Speaking of “Small Beginnings,” God’s answer to all of mankind’s problems was a tiny manger, a humble stable, and a Lowly King. Before Jesus was born, God told the people through the prophet Zechariah in 9:9 that He would send a “Lowly King.”
“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey-- riding on a donkey’s colt.” (9:9)
Matthew 21:4-5 tells us that what took place fulfilled what the prophets wrote, “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Once again what is CONCEALED in the Old Testament is REVEALED in the New Testament.
The mystery of the ages will come in the fullness of time and all of mankind will be made right, whole, and complete through…
As we approach the most HOLY of seasons, let us remember that God’s greatest gift did not come in a large, flashy package.
It came as a baby, humble, meek, and mild.
God loves SMALL BEGINNINGS!
