Zechariah 4:7-9 Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings… I. THE SEEMING DIFFICULTIES IN OUR LORD'S WAY. Solomon raised his goodly structure in quiet. Joshua and Zerubbabel had difficulty after difficulty to overcome. Turn to the Lord Jesus. What difficulties were there in His way when He first undertook to build God's temple in heaven! He had — 1. To introduce sinners into heaven; to bring those near to God, who were among the farthest from Him. 2. He had to prepare sinners for heaven. The Lord the Redeemer has to work to the very last against the bias of nature, and the power of nature's lusts. Consider how many of such men He has to work on and change before His task can be completed. He has to bring "many sons unto glory." Remember where this work is to be done. In a world where there is everything to obstruct, and really nothing to aid it. It is to be accomplished too against all the powers of darkness. It cannot be done in an hour, or a day, or a year. II. THE EASE AND COMPLETENESS WITH WHICH THE REDEEMER OVERCOMES THE DIFFICULTIES BEFORE HIM. This is more strongly expressed in the abrupt language of the original, than in our translation "Who art thou?" There is no surprise or ignorance implied in this question. There is something like derision and contempt in it. The question expresses at once His own dignity, and the insignificance in His sight of the obstacles opposed to Him; His own almighty power and their utter impotence. Here lies one of the hardest lessons we have to learn in practical Christianity — to see the difficulties of salvation, and not be discouraged by them; to see the hills before us and around us, and yet to feel sure that the Lord will carry us over them. III. THE MEANS WHEREBY THE LORD JESUS CARRIES ON HIS GREAT WORK. Christianity has been established in the world without the world's aid, by means which have seemed most unlikely to establish it. Its very existence in the world at this moment is one of the greatest moral wonders the world ever saw. The Lord Jesus fits us for heaven by means of His Spirit. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Observe then here how jealous God is for the honour of the Holy Ghost. In looking to the Lord Jesus as our sanctifier, we must not overlook the Holy Spirit. He sanctifies us by this Spirit. IV. THE EFFECT WHICH WILL BE PRODUCED BY THE COMPLETION OF CHRIST'S WORK. God's present dealings with our world will not go on forever. There is a day coming when all His purposes of mercy towards it will be accomplished. The completion as spoken of under the figure of bringing forth and putting on the top or headstone of a building. This, in Eastern countries, was generally done with much ceremony, and in the presence of many beholders. With such a prospect before us, well may we ask with this prophet, "Who hath despised the day of small things?" As for the Church of Christ, let us learn to be ashamed of our fears concerning it. (C. Bradley, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. |
    |