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John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
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MacArthur - The graphic picture is of limitless oil, supplied automatically without human agency, flowing from the trees down to the bowl, down to the lamps. (Borrow MacArthur Study Bible) Moody Bible Commentary (borrow) - While this depiction seems impossible, it is a vision, not an actually engineered menorah, that the angel needed to explain (Zech 4:4–5). ESV Study Bible - Arranged around the bowl were seven lamps, each of which had seven lips (i.e., “spouts”). Individual seven-spouted lamps have been uncovered by archaeologists, but the combination of seven around a single bowl is unmatched. The result would be 49 wicks to give light, a kind of “super-menorah.” (Borrow ESV Study Bible) NET NOTE - The MT, supported by a Qumran manuscript, reads “seven and seven,” which would be fourteen. But Hebrew normally says “four and ten.” The LXX simply reads “seven,” suggesting the MT has a case of dittography. The vision apparently describes two olive trees providing olive oil by pipes to a large basin atop the menorah. From this basin two pipes extend to each of the seven lamps of the menorah, for a total of fourteen pipes in all. David
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MacArthur - The purpose of the vision was to encourage Zerubbabel to complete the temple rebuilding, to assure him of divine enablement for that venture and the endless supply for the future glory of Messiah's kingdom and temple. The lampstand pictured Israel fully supplied by God to be His light then and in the future. It must be noted that the church has temporarily taken this role presently (cf. Eph 5:8, 9; Rev 1:12, 13, 20), until Israel's salvation and restoration to covenant blessing and usefulness. Cf. Ro 11:11-24. Neither human might, wealth, or physical stamina would be sufficient to complete the work. Only an abundant supply of the power of the Holy Spirit, pictured by the "bowl" (v. 2) would enable him to carry out the task, and enable Israel in the Messiah's kingdom to be a light again to the world by the operation of the Spirit (cf. Eze 36:24). (Borrow MacArthur Study Bible) Moody Bible Commentary (borrow) on Zechariah 4:6-10 - 4:6–10. The angel gave Zechariah a message for Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David, the head of the Davidic house and the governor, explaining the essential meaning of the vision in summary form: God’s work would be done not by might (strong or firm, used of all kinds of human resources including wealth or physical strength (Gn 34:29; Ps 84:7; Ec 10:10) nor by power (human strength, Jdg 16:5; Is 44:12), but by God’s Spirit (Zch 4:6). His point was that Zerubbabel would overcome the great mountain, or obstacle before him and turn it into a plain (4:7), referring to the completion of the construction of the temple (4:9). Despite the small beginnings of the temple (4:10), there would ultimately be shouts of Grace, grace to it, meaning, “Lovely, how lovely it is!” (4:7). Also, God, in His omniscience (seven … eyes), will see the temple and approve (4:10). Although the message to Zerubbabel, as an event in space and time, was given in 520 BC, the book of Zechariah was written many years later, after the completion of the second temple. Thus, Zechariah’s prediction had come true already, and readers of the text would have been aware of the near-term fulfillment of this prediction, giving them confidence in the eschatological fulfillment to which the rest of the prophecy points. David
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MacArthur - SUSTENANCE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit. Zech 4:6 God’s Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit all work together for the benefit of God’s servants. The Spirit’s special part is to grant all that is necessary to sustain the righteous. The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Christ” and “the Spirit of God” (Rom. 8:9). He can be called by either title because He is within the Trinity and proceeds from the Father in the name of Christ (cf. John 14:26). The apostle Paul knew the Holy Spirit as his indwelling teacher, interceder, guide, source of power, and all–sufficient provider. That’s what the Spirit is for all believers. Paul’s confidence in knowing that all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28) was based on the provision of the Spirit, who “helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (v. 26). Knowing what the Spirit provides will help you face with tremendous confidence anything that comes your way. The builders of the Panama Canal faced enormous obstacles of geography, climate, and disease. Most of the construction was supervised by Colonel George Washington Goethals. He had to endure severe criticism from many back home who predicted that he would never complete the "impossible task." But the great engineer was resolute and pressed steadily forward. in his work without responding to those who opposed him. "Aren't you going to answer your critics?" a subordinate inquired. "In time," Goethals replied. "How?" the man asked. The colonel smiled and said, "With the canal!" And his answer came on August 15, 1914, when the canal opened to traffic for the first time. God Judges us by what we do, not by what others say. It's Done By The Spirit July 11, 2000 — by David C. Egner A man who worked for a television station accepted an invitation to attend a church’s drama about the death and resurrection of Jesus. At the conclusion, a pastor invited attendees to call the church if they wanted to talk about what they had seen and heard. Simon, who was a skeptic, called the next day and made an appointment to meet with a pastor. Later that same year, after several meetings and much soul-searching and thinking, Simon decided to trust Jesus as his Savior. He grew rapidly as a believer, and he was part of the cast in the next year’s drama. This type of testimony is encouraging because so often it seems that our efforts to shine the light of the gospel into our communities are met with resistance. In today’s Bible reading, former Jewish exiles who were trying to rebuild Jerusalem were facing opposition from their neighbors. God reminded them that success would not come by human might or power, but by God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Thinking It Over Do you have friends or neighbors who have been resistant to the gospel? Are you continuing to pray for them? Are you trusting God for the results? Heart-work is God's work—not ours. G Campbell
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MacArthur - PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN, PART 2 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”—Mt 13:33 In order for it to have the positive influence we referred to yesterday, the leaven of God’s kingdom must be hid. And that does not mean hiding to be invisible but hiding to penetrate deeply, completely permeating the world as leaven thoroughly permeates bread dough. Believers are not to be of the world, but they must be in the world to reach and change it with the gospel (cf. Mark 16:15; John 17:14–16, 18). When we faithfully serve as the moral and spiritual leaven of the kingdom, our influence in the world will be both positive and pervasive. And for this to happen, we don’t have to be powerful national leaders, wealthy entrepreneurs, or popular sports figures—just obedient servants of Jesus Christ. Evangelism and other aspects of kingdom ministry often seem to have little immediate effect. As the church grows bigger, the world’s population grows at a much faster rate, and the church remains a remnant by comparison. But the Lord continues to add to His kingdom by reaching millions through radio, television, publications, and the Internet—means that were largely unavailable or untapped just a century ago. The leavening work of the kingdom may seem invisible or ineffective to you—“a day of small things”—but that does not mean the Lord is not at work. Jesus’ purpose in this parable and the previous one on the mustard seed was to assure the apostles as well as believers of every era that the kingdom would not fail but ultimately prosper and triumph (cf. Matt. 16:18). When Small Things Are Big The day of small things can become the life of biggest and best things. A small word spoken at the right time may set a whole life straight. A gentle smile may brighten the way for the man with a heavy load. The small bit of time with the Book and the knee bent will hallow the day's task. The still, small voice listened to may turn the world's tide. "The small in God's hand becomes big." —A. J. Gordon in The Bent-Knee Time. Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 18. See: Psalms 8:2; 1 Corinthians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 12:10. Small Places Some of our best-known and best-loved hymns came from a small village church in England. It was in the little town of Olney that William Cowper and John Newton lived. Who can ever forget Cowper's "There Is a Fountain"; and who has not been blessed by Newton's "Amazing Grace"? James Butler - DESPISING SMALLNESS “Who hath despised the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10). It seems that every age despises “small things.” At the time of this verse, the work on rebuilding the Temple was being ridiculed because of its small progress. The seemingly small efforts were laughed at and to many of the Israelites the Temple looked as “nothing” compared to Solomon’s Temple (Ezra 3 and Haggai 2:3). We live in a day that esteems bigness. We have spectacular sales, and super stores. We have “giant” and “blockbuster” sales. It is the “super” bowl in football, the “big” dance in basketball and the “world” series in baseball. Everything must be big, including churches, or it is not considered successful. We have lost the excellence of quality in the emphasis on quantity. And this thinking, unfortunately, has gotten into our spiritual thinking and corrupted it as worldly thinking usually does. We seem to forget that a small toothache is a major disturbance, that small snowflakes can cause major problems, and that small affronts can create major disagreements. We consider a few items that are small but need to be esteemed, for they are also large. FIRST—THE SMALLNESS OF PURITY “Who hath despised the day of small things.” We are often not concerned much about small sins and tolerate them, but small can cause big trouble. Small sins are the seeds of big sins which ruin our lives. Purity is a result of faithfulness in small areas. SECOND—THE SMALLNESS OF PRAYER “Who hath despised the day of small things.” Prayer is belittled in our apostate day. and we belittle prayer by not taking some things to prayer that seem, we think, too small for prayer. But if something is major enough to disturb you, it is major enough for prayer THIRD—THE SMALLNESS OF PROGRESS “Who hath despised the day of small things.” When progress in something is slow and small, we think we are not making any progress and often quit our efforts that could have brought big gains eventually. FOURTH—THE SMALLNESS OF POSITION “Who hath despised the day of small things.” Sometimes we look at our position, our job, our task and perceive it as very small compared to the overall picture of life. However, if that task or job of position is given you by God, it is a major responsibility. If it was big enough for God to assign it to someone, it is big enough to be done. Do not neglect your responsibilities just because your position seems small and ineffective. FIFTH—THE SMALLNESS OF PIETY “Who hath despised the day of small things.” Small churches are considered unsuccessful and large churches successful according to the current thinking. However, many large churches are very corrupt. Their methods and multitudes are worldly. Small churches can be true to the message and the Master. That is big with God.