4:2 And said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked,
and behold a a lamp stand all [of] gold, with a bowl upon
the top of it, and its seven lamps, and seven b pipes to
the seven lamps, which [were] upon the top of it:
(a) Which was ever in the midst of the temple, signifying
that the graces of God's Spirit would shine, here in
most abundance, and in all perfection.
(b) Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into
the lamps, so that the light never went out: and this
vision was to strengthen and encourage the faithful that
God had sufficient power in himself to continue his
graces, and to bring his promise to pass even though he
had no help from man.
4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This [is] the word
of the LORD to c Zerubbabel, saying, Not by d might, nor
by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
(c) Who was a figure of Christ, and therefore this doctrine
was directed to all the Church who are his body and
members.
(d) He shows that God's power alone is sufficient to
preserve his Church, even though he does not use man's
help to do it.
4:7 Who [art] thou, O e great mountain? before Zerubbabel
[thou shalt become] a plain: and f he shall bring forth
its headstone [with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace to
it.
(e) He compares the power of the adversaries to a great
mountain, who thought the Jews were nothing with regard
to them, and would have hindered Zerubbabel, who
represented Christ, whom the enemies daily labour to
stop in the building of his spiritual Temple, but all in
vain.
(f) Though the enemies think to stop this building, yet
Zerubbabel will lay the highest stone of it, and bring
it to perfection, so that all the godly will rejoice,
and pray to God that he would continue his grace and
favour toward the Temple.
4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this
house; his hands shall also finish it; and g thou shalt
know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to you.
(g) Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent from my
Father for the building and preservation of my spiritual
temple.
4:10 For who hath despised the day of h small things? for they
shall rejoice, and shall see the i plummet in the hand of
Zerubbabel [with] those seven; k they [are] the eyes of
the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
(h) Signifying that all were discouraged at the small and
poor beginnings of the temple.
(i) By which he signifies the plummet and line, that is,
that Zerubbabel who represented Christ, would go
forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the
godly, though the world was against him, and though his
own for a while were discouraged, because they do not
see things pleasant to the eye.
(k) That is, God has seven eyes: meaning, a continual
providence, so that neither Satan nor any power in the
world, can go about to bring anything to pass to hinder
his work; (Zec 5:9).
4:14 Then said he, These [are] the two l anointed ones, that
stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
(l) Which were always green and full of oil, so that still
they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that
God will continually maintain and preserve his Church,
and endue it still with abundance and perfection of
grace.
