“By The Spirit Of The LORD!”

“By The Spirit Of The LORD!”(Zec.4:1-14).
The late philosopher musician Prince Nico Mbarga expressed his nostalgia for homeland in the song, “Home is home.” He said, “If you tour the whole world, the place where you go go na your home. Whether your home big, whether your home small, home be home…” The nostalgia for homeland is not limited to those who left home. It is also for those who may never have set foot on their ancestral homeland, but who have a longing to return there for good.
Today’s text comes from prophet Zechariah. Zechariah was a postexilic prophet. Like Haggai, Zechariah encouraged the Jews who had returned from the Babylonian captivity to complete the rebuilding of the temple. Zechariah was born in Babylon, but he was one of those who returned from captivity.
Today’s pericope is the fifh of the many visions in which God’s prophetic messages came to Zechariah.
The prophet encouraged the Jews to rebuild the temple, reminding them of their divine resources. Human effort is necessary for any accomplishment, but that is only in so far as it is the LORD who wills it. “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain…”(Ps.127:1).
Two persons who headed the rebuilding process were Zerubbabel and Joshua – “representatives of the royal and priestly mediatorial offices.” Through Zechariah, the LORD told Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
Zerubbabel and Joshua were anointed to serve the LORD. This combination of ruler and priest points us to the Messianic King-Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ(cf. Ps.120, Heb.7).
We are still celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit. Like yesterday, we continue to see how shared responsibility through the Holy Spirit makes service to God through humanity easy.
Zechariah was there to assure Zerubbabel of God’s role in the execution of the project. Zerubbabel and Joshua were there to encourage and motivate the people to work as serving the LORD and not men. And the people were thus happy to offer their resources and services.
We are never alone in any project we embark upon for the glory of God. Might and power fail us, but the Holy Spirit carries us through.
The effort we put in requires might and power, but we are reminded that might and power alone is nothing except by God’s Spirit.
Prayer: Dear LORD enable us to depend on your Spirit. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
11/06/2025.