English
Português
Español
Français
Answer
After the Jewish people experienced exile in Babylon, King Cyrus of Persia allowed 50,000 of them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple under Zerubbabel, the governor of Jerusalem. At that time, Zechariah, a prophet and priest of Israel, received several visions from the Lord. In one of those visions, God delivered this important message: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” «Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. », (Zechariah 4:6, ESV).
In this period of Israel’s history, the prophets Zechariah and Haggai were both ministering. While Haggai encouraged the returned Jewish exiles in their work of rebuilding the temple, Zechariah urged them to repent of sin and renew their covenant with God. Spiritual renewal would be essential for their survival and worship of God once the temple was rebuilt.
Construction on the temple, which had been halted by opposition from neighbors, resumed under the exhortation of Zechariah and Haggai. Zechariah experienced a series of night visions; in the fifth one, he saw a solid gold lampstand. Two olive trees provided the lampstand with its oil supply, which flowed through two golden pipes (Zechariah 4:1-3). The main message of the vision is contained in the words of verse 6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.” The work of rebuilding the temple would only be accomplished by God’s Spirit and not by human might or power.
In many places in the Old Testament, the Lord’s Spirit is symbolized by oil (Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Samuel 16:1).
(Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Samuel 16:13). The abundant supply of oil in Zechariah’s vision represents the Holy Spirit’s power, which would assist Zerubbabel in completing the temple’s reconstruction (symbolized by the large lampstand). The light of the lampstand symbolized that Israel, as God’s covenant people, were to radiate light and bring glory to God on earth.
In both the Old and New Testaments, God’s people are instructed to illuminate the world with God’s glory (Isaiah 60:1-3; Matthew 5:14-16). This is the significant mission of every believer (Matthew 28:19-20). Just as Zerubbabel needed the Spirit of the Lord to accomplish his task, Christians today also rely on Him. God’s people lack the ability to shine God’s truth to those in darkness on their own.
The term “might” in Zechariah 4:6 is often translated as “army,” “force,” “ability,” or “efficiency,” and is linked to human capabilities. It also pertains to financial resources and can be associated with wealth. The term “power” suggests purposeful strength, firm determination, dynamic vigor, and resolve. The temple’s construction and the spreading of God’s light worldwide would not be achieved by might or power—meaning not through their own capabilities, abundant resources, or fierce determination. Only through the Spirit of the Lord would their efforts and worship radiate light throughout the earth (Acts 1:8; John 16:7-15).
While the physical labor of rebuilding the temple progressed, a spiritual revival was also occurring. Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel were urged not to rely on financial wealth or military strength but on the mighty power of God’s Spirit working through them: “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mEighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” (Zechariah 4:4-7;NLT).
God had made a similar promise to those who remained faithful to Him in Hosea’s day: “But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies—not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the LORD their God” «But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. », (Hosea 1:7, NLT).
Zerubbabel need not be discouraged by human limitations or afraid of earthly obstacles, and neither should present-day Christians (Romans 8:31;cf: Haggai 2:5;Isaiah 41:10). When God calls us to a purpose, His Spirit fills and equips us to complete it (Acts 2:17-18;John 3:34;Ephesians 1:18-20). As the apostle Paul learned, human weakness is no obstacle because God’s power is perfected in it: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10;see also Hebrews 11:34).
Our God-given work is guaranteed to be successful, not by human might or power, but by the guidance and empowering of God’s Holy Spirit poured into our lives like the oil that fueled Zechariah’s lampstand.
