Zechariah 4-6

Zechariah, chapter 4, begins with the appearance of an angel who “wakes up” the prophet, as if from sleeping. Frankly, the strange visions he sees seem like scenes from my worst nightmare, except that each vision is interpreted in the text. Meaning is assigned to each vision by the accompanying angel. In this respect Zechariah’s prophecy is more satisfying to me than others: I need not wonder about the symbolism, for it is given in the reading itself.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah‬ ‭4:6‬)

How many of my life’s situations fit this verse of scripture! Some bits of wisdom have come to me, not by might nor by power, but by the Holy Spirit. Plenty of problems have been resolved, not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. Brokenness mended, relationships restored, harmful habits healed—not by might nor by power, but by Spirit!