The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 47

II. 'l'nrn COMPLETENESS OF THIS RESTORATION. In the seventh verse, 8.11 noted bofore, tho figuro is changed. The Church of the restored Captivity is before us now under the metaphor of a building inhabited by God himself, as often in God's Word (see Hob. iii. 6; 2 Cor. vi. 16; Eph. ii. 21, 22 ; 1 Tim. iii. 15 ; 1 Pet. ii. 5). And th6 purport of this change seems that of representing, not only as before the adequacy, but also now the actual effectiveness, of the provision here made. It should eventually be with that spiritual house as with the material house which they were then building as its image and type. This true : 1. As to external obstacles. The greatest of these, even if like a" great mountain" it~elf in bulk, should become," before Zerubbabel "- having the Spirit of God on his side-like a plain. 2. As to final vidory. To use a well-known modem expression, there should be " the crowning of the edifice" of the Church. All that the pre-Captivity Jewish Church had really been in the world this restored Church should now be, up to the very "headstone "-the la.et stone to be put in its place-with every mark of triumph(" shoutings ") and favour ("grace") as well (ver. 7). Observe, in conclusion: 1. How strikingly these promises were fulfilled. Besides all that we read concerning the days of the Maccabees (as referred to probably in Heh. xi. 35-38), how much more spiritual life remained in the Jewish Church even to the times of the gospel! See indications of this in Luke il. 25, 38; Matt. xxvii. 53; Mark xv. 43; .Acts ii. 6, etc. See indications, also, as to the extent to which the witness or " light" of this Church had told on the Gentile world in Luke vii. 5 ; John xii. 20; .Acts x. 1; xiii. 43, 50 (Tcl.s rre/30µ.lva.s); xvii. 4, 17. 2. How great a lesson this teaches. There was nothing in this case but the secret working of God's Spirit thus to keep this Church in existence; no "might," no "power." On the contrary, ma.ny obstacles- persecutions, enemies, corruptions, and so on. So plain is it how much can be done (and done only) in the wa.y of Christian organization, labour, and progress by the sacred oil of God's Spirit. "Utilis lectio, utilis eruditio, eed magis ntilis unctio, quippe qure docet de omnibus." Vera. 8-14.-The <Jhurch sustained. "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands ofZerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house," etc. These verses continue the metaphors of the previous portion, but in the opposite order. Vers.1-7 begin with the" olive trees" and end with the" house;" vers. 8-14 begin with the "house" (vers. 8-10) and conclude with the "trees." We may look on this latter passage, therefore, as a kind of additional message (" moreover," ver. 8) on the same general subject and to the .same general purport as before. The principal difference is in connection with the questions of order and depth. As we learned befvre not a little, first as to the secret, and secondly as to the completeness, of the restored life of the Jewish Church, so here we learn very much more (1) as to that same com- pleteness, and (2) as to that same secret, of this same restored life. I. lTs COMPLETENESS. As conveyed, we suppose, by what is said respecting the material "house" (or typical Church) then in process of erection. We find this described in vers. 9, 10. .And of the promise contained therein we may notice : 1. How peculiarly explicit it is. Not only is the work which Zerubbabel had begun to be finished; it is to be finish eel by "his hands," and therefore, of course, in his time. Not only, again, is it to be so far finished as to be capable, as it were, of habitation and use; but so far finished as to be ready for that most absolutely ultimate of all building processes, the process of testing the work done. How graphic the description of this! "'l'hey shall see the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel." 2. How exceed- ingly deliberate it is. To start the work of erecting this temple-to begin such a true spiritual Church-restoration-was a great thing. 'l'o accomplish it, a still greater. If accomplished, indeed, that of itself would be a sufficient proof of a true mission from God (see the end of ver. 9; also, to some extent, 2 Sam. vii. 12, 13). Especially would this be so in that "day of small things," when even well-wishers-persons ready to "rejoice" in such a thing, if really accomplished-as it were "despised" the idea. All this was known, all this was recognized, when the promise was gi\·en. 3. How fzilly assured it is. Was there not One" sent" to accomplish this, even that Angel- Jehovah represented by the "stone" 'of eh. iii. 9? .And was there not sent also, of neccssit,y, together with him, a full supply of all that was necessary to accomplish  THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. [oli, IV, 1-14,