Zechariah 4:14
So he said, "These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth."
So he said
This phrase indicates a response or explanation, often seen in prophetic visions where an angel or divine messenger provides clarity. In Zechariah's visions, the angel frequently interprets the imagery for the prophet, emphasizing the importance of divine revelation in understanding God's plans.

These are the two anointed ones
The "two anointed ones" refer to Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor, representing the priestly and kingly offices in Israel. Anointing with oil was a significant ritual in ancient Israel, symbolizing consecration and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. This dual leadership foreshadows the roles of Christ as both King and Priest, as seen in Hebrews 7:17, where Jesus is described as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

who are standing beside
Standing beside indicates a position of service and readiness to act on behalf of the Lord. In ancient Near Eastern culture, standing beside a ruler or deity signified honor, authority, and a close relationship. This imagery underscores the roles of Joshua and Zerubbabel as divinely appointed leaders during the post-exilic period.

the Lord of all the earth
This title emphasizes God's sovereignty over all creation, not just Israel. It reflects the universal reign of God, a theme prevalent throughout the prophetic books. The phrase connects to Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it," highlighting God's ultimate authority and the global scope of His kingdom. This also points to the eschatological hope of God's reign being fully realized through Christ, as seen in Revelation 11:15, where the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zechariah
A prophet who received visions from God during the post-exilic period, encouraging the rebuilding of the temple and the spiritual renewal of Israel.

2. The Two Anointed Ones
Often interpreted as Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest, who were instrumental in the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of worship in Jerusalem.

3. The Lord of all the Earth
Refers to God, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority over all creation.

4. The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees
This vision in Zechariah 4 symbolizes God's provision and the empowering of His leaders through the Holy Spirit.

5. Post-Exilic Jerusalem
The historical context in which the Jewish people were returning from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple and restore their community.
Teaching Points
God's Empowerment for Service
Just as Zerubbabel and Joshua were anointed for their roles, God empowers His people today through the Holy Spirit to fulfill their callings.

The Importance of Spiritual Leadership
Spiritual leaders, like the two anointed ones, play a crucial role in guiding and rebuilding the community of faith.

Dependence on God's Spirit
The vision emphasizes that success in God's work is not by human might or power but by His Spirit, reminding us to rely on divine strength.

God's Sovereignty and Authority
Recognizing God as the "Lord of all the earth" encourages believers to trust in His ultimate control and plan.

Faithfulness in Times of Rebuilding
The post-exilic context teaches us the importance of faithfulness and perseverance in times of restoration and renewal.
Bible Study Questions
1. How do the roles of Zerubbabel and Joshua as the two anointed ones inspire us in our own spiritual leadership and service today?

2. In what ways can we rely on the Holy Spirit's empowerment in our daily lives, as illustrated by the vision of the lampstand and olive trees?

3. How does understanding God's sovereignty as the "Lord of all the earth" impact our trust in His plans and purposes?

4. What parallels can we draw between the rebuilding efforts in post-exilic Jerusalem and the spiritual rebuilding needed in our own communities?

5. How can we apply the principle of "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6) to challenges we face in our personal and communal lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Revelation 11
The two witnesses in Revelation are often linked to the two anointed ones in Zechariah, symbolizing God's empowered servants who testify to His truth.

1 Samuel 16
The anointing of David as king illustrates the concept of being chosen and empowered by God for a specific purpose, similar to the anointed ones in Zechariah.

Isaiah 61
The anointing of the Messiah to bring good news and freedom reflects the broader theme of God's anointing for service and mission.
Man as a Student of the Divine Revelation and a Doer of Divine WorkHomilistZechariah 4:1-14
The Candelabrum and Olive TreesW. L. Alexander, D. D.Zechariah 4:1-14
The CandlestickF. B. Meyer, B. A.Zechariah 4:1-14
The Golden CandlestickOutlines by a London MinisterZechariah 4:1-14
The Vision of the CandlestickGeorge Hutcheson.Zechariah 4:1-14
Do not Arrest the Inflow of Spiritual InfluencesF. B. Meyer, B. A.Zechariah 4:11-14
Model Religious TeachersHomilistZechariah 4:11-14
The Candlestick and the Olive TreesHugh Macmillan, D. D. , LL. D.Zechariah 4:11-14
The Consecration of the PeopleW. Gladden.Zechariah 4:11-14
The Olive Trees and the Candlesticks: Model Religious TeachersD. Thomas Zechariah 4:11-14
The Two Anointed OnesT. V. Moore, D. D.Zechariah 4:11-14
The Two Olive TreesGeorge Hutcheson.Zechariah 4:11-14
Two Olive TreesJames Wells.Zechariah 4:11-14
People
Zechariah, Zerubbabel
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Anointed, Oil, Ones, Serve, Sons, Stand, Standing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Zechariah 4:14

     1230   God, the Lord

Zechariah 4:1-14

     1431   prophecy, OT methods
     4416   branch

Zechariah 4:11-14

     4111   angels, servants

Zechariah 4:12-14

     4488   oil

Library
September 2. "Who Hath Despised the Day of Small Things" (Zech. Iv. 10).
"Who hath despised the day of small things" (Zech. iv. 10). The oak comes out of the acorn, the eagle out of that little egg in the nest, the harvest comes out of the seed; and so the glory of the coming age is all coming out of the Christ life now, even as the majesty of His kingdom was all wrapped up that night in the babe of Bethlehem. Oh, let us take Him for all our life. Let us be united to His person and His risen body. Let us know what it is to say, "The Lord is for the body and the body is
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Founder and Finisher of the Temple
'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it.'--ZECHARIAH iv. 9. I am afraid that Zerubbabel is very little more than a grotesque name to most Bible-readers, so I may be allowed a word of explanation as to him and as to the original force of my text. He was a prince of the blood royal of Israel, and the civil leader of the first detachment of returning exiles. With Joshua, the high priest, he came, at the head of a little company, to Palestine, and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Source of Power
'And the Angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2. And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof: 3. And two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4. So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Independence of Christianity
Now, as this is true in the general of the great acts of God, this is equally true in the minutiae of them. It is true that God has a church, that that church has been redeemed and will be preserved for his glory, and it is equally true that everything that is done to the church, in the church, or for the church either with the permission or by the power of God, is for God's glory, as well as for the church's weal. You will notice, in reading Scripture, that whenever God has blessed the church, he
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Encouragement for the Depressed
"For who hath despised the day of small things?"--Zechariah 4:10. ZECHARIAH WAS ENGAGED in the building of the temple. When its foundations were laid, it struck everybody as being a very small edifice compared with the former glorious structure of Solomon. The friends of the enterprise lamented that it should be so small; the foes of it rejoiced and uttered strong expressions of contempt. Both friends and foes doubted whether, even on that small scale, the structure would ever be completed. They
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Power
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."--Zech. iv. 6. J. Tauler, 1361. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 Rest from longing and desire O thou weary heart! Dost thou ween thy choice has been Not the lower but the higher, Thine the better part? And therefore dost thou long with bitter longing From the day dawn to the night. For the holiness, the rest of His beloved Who walk with Him in white? Thou art wearied with the striving and the yearning For the crown that thou wouldst
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

Conversion --Human Agency In
What part and responsibility pertain to the human will in this matter? Before we leave the subject of conversion, it is important that we consider and understand this question also. For on this point also grievous and dangerous views and practices prevail. Human nature tends to extremes. Here too, there is a tendency to go too far, either in the one direction or the other. There are those, on the one hand, who virtually and practically make this change of heart and of nature a human work. They
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Gifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely Religious, and Pertaining to the Conscience.
Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience. Since God hath assumed to himself the power and Dominion of the Conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it, therefore it is not lawful [1226] for any whosoever, by virtue of any authority or principality they bear in the government of this world, to force the consciences of others; and therefore all killing, banishing, fining, imprisoning, and other such things which are inflicted
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in the Soul.
Titus iii. 5, 6. Titus iii. 5, 6. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. IF my business were to explain and illustrate this scripture at large, it would yield an ample field for accurate criticism and useful discourse, and more especially would lead us into a variety of practical remarks, on which it would be pleasant
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

The Harbinger
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD , make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. T he general style of the prophecies is poetical. The inimitable simplicity which characterizes every
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Zechariah
CHAPTERS I-VIII Two months after Haggai had delivered his first address to the people in 520 B.C., and a little over a month after the building of the temple had begun (Hag. i. 15), Zechariah appeared with another message of encouragement. How much it was needed we see from the popular despondency reflected in Hag. ii. 3, Jerusalem is still disconsolate (Zech. i. 17), there has been fasting and mourning, vii. 5, the city is without walls, ii. 5, the population scanty, ii. 4, and most of the people
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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