‘Let your light shine among men’: When God’s people need re-enlightenment (Zechariah 1–4)

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“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14–16 NASB

The main theme of Zech. 2:10–4:7, a traditional parallel reading to the Torah section בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps], Numbers 8–12), is the raising up of the Tabernacle menorah so it will bring forth light (Numbers 8).

The menorah provided light for the Table of the Bread of the Presence. The bread was a present that was presented to the LORD in the Tabernacle to show that the 12 tribes were present before the Presence of the LORD. We are not called to just “clock in” and bide our time with God, but to be present and accounted for in God’s Presence.

The menorah also shined on the incense altar, which we see in the book of Revelation is symbolic of the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8:3). These “holy ones” are the ones who care about the Kingdom of God, are the ones who have been called out and heard God’s call and responded to that call with acceptance and gratitude. Their sins, transgressions and iniquities have been forgiven and forgotten. Thus, God’s gift is to make them holy.

Zechariah was descended from the grandson of Iddo. Iddo was a head of a Cohenim family who returned to the Promised Land from exile. Zechariah was likely born in exile, and yet he was faithful to return to the land God gave his ancestors.

The events of the book of Zechariah start in the eighth month of the second year of Daryavesh (Darius), about 520 B.C. This was Darius I, called “the great,” who reigned 522–486 B.C. (alternate: 559–530 B.C.) Note: This was not Darius II (“Nothus,” 423–404 B.C.) or Darius III (“Codomannus,” 336–330 B.C.) (New International Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology)

Construction of the Second Temple was finished in 516 B.C.

The book of Zechariah starts one month (520 B.C.) before the last date in Haggai (24th day of ninth month, Darius year 2, Hag. 1:1).

Zechariah (“Yah remembers”) and Haggai (“My festival”) tie their prophecies to the reign of Darius: “Darius reigns, but the Lord’s word still comes to, and through, a prophet.” (Understanding the Bible Commentary)

Haggai & Zechariah were Heaven’s two key witnesses about Israel’s heart restart. Haggai was a prophet who was a contemporary of Zechariah and received their prophesies within a month or so of each other. Zechariah starts one month before the last date in Haggai. Both of these books tell us that the children of Israel are in exile and living in subjection to pagan powers, yet God is in control and remembers His people.

“When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.”
Ezra 5:1–2 NASB

Both of the prophets were supportive of the efforts to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem and provided guidance to the governor and the priest.

Zechariah received eight prophesies from God in the same night, but he was shown additional prophesies and visions as well. Here’s an outline of the book of Zechariah¹:

A call to repentance (Zech. 1:1–6)
Eight night visions and prophecies (Zech. 1:7–6:8)
- The Man in the Myrtle Trees (Zech. 1:7-17)
- Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (Zech. 1:18-21)
- A Man with a Measuring Line (Zech. 2:1-13)
- Yeshua (Joshua), the High Priest (Zech. 3:1-10)
- The Gold Lampstand (Zech. 4:1-14)
- The Flying Scroll (Zech. 5:1-4)
- The Woman in the Measuring Basket (Zech. 5:5-11)
- Four Chariots (Zech. 6:1-8)
The crowning of Yeshua the High Priest (Zech. 6:9–15)
Fasting and the future (Zechariah 7–8)
The advent and rejection of Messiah (Zechariah 9–11)
The advent and reception of Messiah (Zechariah 12–14)

In today’s parallel reading to the Torah section בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Beha’alotcha (“when you raise up” [the lamps], Numbers 8–12), we are looking at the third, fourth and fifth visions that God gave to Zechariah:

Vision 3: How to accurately measure up? (Zechariah 2)
Vision 4: Yeshua the High Priest (Zechariah 3)
Vision 5: 2 olive trees, 1 menorah (Zechariah 4)

When the Gospels talk about the rejection of the Messiah, Yeshua is reminded his students of the prophecies of Zechariah that say that the Messiah had to be rejected before He could be accepted.

“The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the LORD.”
Zechariah 1:2–4 NASB

Zechariah tells us that the exile did not happen because of a minor disagreement between God and His people. The divide between God and the leaders of Israel was like a vast chasm. The people were not respected the Shmitah or the Yobels for the land. They were not releasing the oppressed from slavery as God had released them from slavery. Yeshua said if you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven. God was extremely angry with the leaders who were oppressing the less fortunate.

Zechariah did not speak in his own wisdom, but in God’s wisdom. This is why we can trust what Zechariah said by comparing what he wrote to other scriptures.

“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? “But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”(Zechariah 1:5–6 NASB)

They are humbling themselves and admitting that they deserved God’s punishment and exile. Daniel also prayed in a similar manner, accepting responsibility for the sins of his forefathers, expressing repentance and asking for God’s forgiveness.

Vision 3: How does Israel’s character measure up? (Zechariah 2)

Measuring lines, measuring reeds and surveyor transoms have been common tools throughout time for accurate construction.They are also prophetic symbols of the rebuilding/restoration of Yerushalayim after “abominations of desolation.” The symbol is used in a number of prophesies (Jer. 31:39; Ezek. 40:3; 47:3; Zech. 1:16; Rev. 11:1; 21:15).

We have colloquial phrases like “measure up” and “weighed in the scales and found wanting” that directly come from Scripture teachings on character.

Measuring lines and scales are used not only evaluate what is there, but also help plan out a building project.

When Jerusalem and the Temple were rebuilt, after the exile, both the city and the temple were smaller than and less opulent than what existed before the exile. Those who witnessed the First Temple wept at the downsized Second Temple, according to Ezra 3:12-13.

But Khaggi in Haggai 2 foretold of a “greater glory” that would come to the Temple. That became reality when Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) entered the Second Temple (massively upgraded by Rome via Herod) and filled that HaMaqom (The Place) with more glory than it had ever had.

We should give those who rebuilt the Second Temple some credit because when Solomon built the first temple, he had the best craftsman at his fingertips and he spared no expense for it. Those who built the second temple did so with less financial backing and under persecution from the samaritans and others who were in the land and not too happy about those returning from exile.

“Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 2:10 NASB

This is a direct recollection of the Tabernacle experience in the wilderness when God, and when God blessed the first temple.

“Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.”
Zechariah 2:11 NASB

This harkens back to Solomon’s “house of prayer for all nations” prayer at the dedication of the 1st Temple in 1Kings 8:22-53. These foreigners will pledge their allegiance to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jaocb, just as Rahab, Ruth and others have done. When Zechariah says “in that day” he is referring to the promise of the Messianic era.

Yeshua quoted from Isa. 56:6-7 and Jer. 7:11 when He chastises the leaders of the temple for turning it into a den of robbers.

“And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.””
Mark 11:17 NASB

God’s goal is for His kingdom to grow bigger and bigger, not shrink. Every generation has their calling to stand up against the evils of their generation, not to acquiesce to them. The point of prayer is not to change God’s mind but to mould our minds closer to God’s mind.

Vision 4: Yeshua the High Priest (Zechariah 3)

We don’t know the exact nature of the accusations against Yeshua the High Priest in Zechariah 3, we are only told about God’s rebuke of HaSatan’s accusation against him.

Trial of Yeshua (Joshua) the high priest in Heaven by HaSatan (The Accuser): Are Levi’s Cohenim (priests) worthy of continuing to serve as Heaven’s intercessors? Should Israel be restored to their status as God’s chosen people after they had failed God so badly in the generation leading up to the exile?

The Accuser asks how can God keep these people in charge of His rescue plan for the people of the earth? But God addresses this rebuke. He says that Jerusalem was the place He chose to place His name and although God’s glory departed at one point (Ezekiel 8-11), God is faithful to His promises, not only to Jerusalem but to the people of Israel.

The LORD’s rebuke: Heaven chose Yerushalayim to be HaMaqom for HaShem (The Name) (Dt. 12:5).

While Ikhavod/Icabod (“the Glory departed”) (Ezekiel 8–11), the LORD is faithful to His promise to choose Yerushalayim again (Ezek. 43:1–5; Zech. 1:17; 2:12).

This is illustrated in Zech. 3:3–5 when the High priest receives a Heavenly change of wardrobe “have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes” (Zech. 3:4 NASB)

This is a warning against Believers who claim Heaven has replaced Israel with “the church.” (See Romans 9–11.) The nations are a part of God’s plan, but not a replacement for the children of Israel. Israel still has a calling to help guide the nations to Himself.

The New Covenant prophecy (Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 36:22–32) says Heaven will clean the heart via the Spirit of Jews and Gentiles. Yeshua told a parable that those who come to the Kingdom of Heaven must have “wedding clothes” (Matt. 22:2–14). These clothes are a gift from the wedding host. God is the one who gives us the “wedding clothes” just as God was the one who clothed the High Priest.

This is the “now and not yet.” It has come, is coming and will come. We are dealing with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Time does not operate in His realm the way it operates here on earth.

Vision 5: 2 olive trees, 1 menorah (Zechariah 4)

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” … “For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel — these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
Zechariah 4:6–7, 10 NASB

Cyrus allowing the people of Israel to return to their land was a very unusual step in that time. Empires usually ethnically cleansed their conquered territories to break down national bonds and pacify the nations they conquered. People have always known that nationalism is a very strong emotion and the fact that Cyrus was willing to contradict that and allow the children of Israel to return to their Promised Land is the reason God gave him the title of a Messiah.

The Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation tell us that what happened at Sinai (approaching God’s Presence) didn’t stay at Sinai. It moved with them — the Tabernacle in the midst of the people. And what God started at Sinai is still moving in the world today — we followers of the Word made flesh are dwelling places for the Spirit of the Living God.

Summary: Tammy