ZECHARIAH 4 AND 5 (NOTES OF A READING)
ZECHARIAH 4 AND [p. 506] 5 (NOTES OF A READING)
Zechariah 4: 1 - 14; Zechariah 5: 1 - 11
CAC We should see the force of what comes out in chapter 5, if we see its connection with chapter 4, in which we get the thought of a vessel of light connected publicly with what is said to flow through it. The lamp is said to be gold, and the oil is said to be gold too. Have we sufficiently apprehended the lamp as a suitable vessel for the Spirit? At the beginning there were those who companied with the Lord, who were formed in features corresponding to Him, so that there was no disparity in them as they received the Spirit. The Lord companied with them as risen. So they are persons who do not put any difficulty or obstruction in the way of the Spirit. I think we should pay serious attention to this.
Ques Would you think neglect of this would hinder our meetings?
CAC I think chapter 5 is the enemy’s work to counteract all in this vessel to contain light. The vessel is divine workmanship and so suitable for a spiritual flow.
Ques Would that ensure that all that passes through would be gold?
CAC Yes, I think so. But, if the expression may be allowed, we think too much of the action of the Spirit in the assembly. I am not sure that we should look for that. The assembly is a circle or sphere that is marked by the action of spiritual persons.
Ques Do we seek to take account of the Spirit apart from condition in the saints?
CAC What is of the Spirit is in a vessel, so it is not exactly the action of the Spirit, but of spiritual men. So we get no mention of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 13 and 14, chapters which have to do with the character of the vessel. So it is the vessel that comes into evidence in all ministry; it is not the Spirit speaking. The gifts speak according to their [p. 507] own measure, and it is for the saints to say how much they say is of the Spirit. Ministry is the service of spiritual persons, and what is to be said is to be said intelligently.
Zechariah 4 is one of the most important chapters in the Old Testament. It suggests a spiritual flow through a vessel. Three nice young men once told me that the reason why they had not opened their mouths was because they had never felt led by the Spirit. The enemy had succeeded in keeping them bound for years.
Rem Paul refers to the Spirit speaking expressly.
CAC That would be a sovereign action of the Spirit speaking directly, and in Acts where He said, “Separate me now Barnabas and Saul”, it was as a divine Person speaking.
Ques Would you distinguish for us between chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians?
CAC The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man. It is the man who has the gift of faith, the word of wisdom, etc. A qualification is bestowed by the Spirit, but the person acts, and is spiritually suitable to act. The vessel of light is suitable. We want more spirituality. The spirituality of a meeting does not count only on the presence of the Spirit, but it is a question whether under the hand of the Lord I have been fashioned so as to be a suitable vessel.
Ques How would you explain the Spirit speaking to the assemblies today?
CAC What the Spirit is saying to the assemblies today is a general thought without reference to persons — the whole vein and trend of what He is saying today. I do not think of persons.
Rem It is said to the spiritual.
CAC Yes. If I do not harmonise with what the Spirit says, I am out of tune and not qualified to serve. It is present and not past ministry. We are thrown back on spirituality. A carnal man could not tell what the Spirit is saying to the assemblies. We come together as spiritual persons to take up these things, we know what we are about. We have to act when we come together. The lamp in Zechariah 4 is clearly [p. 508] the vessel of light as it is known in a day of great weakness. They had stopped building, and this vision is used to encourage them to go on. It is peculiarly adapted to remnant times. If we want to get this lamp in the New Testament we get it in what is presented to the angel of Philadelphia. It is a revival of spirituality; it is restored in Philadelphia and we want to be in it. I hope every man, woman and child here wants to be in it. There is a company in Philadelphia with a little power, keeping His word and not denying His Name; that is, having every feature of true spirituality. There is nothing else in Scripture exactly like this, giving perfection in a self-contained vessel, having all its sources of supply within itself. It is a more beautiful figure of spiritual flow than in any scripture.
Rem You make me feel glad not to be in the days of Pentecost!
CAC I would like to make you feel glad that way! I have found ‘Pentecost’ Christians lamentably lacking in everything of value.
Rem 1 Corinthians 13 has been likened to the oil by which chapter 14 has been carried out.
CAC Yes, but it must be carried out in vessels. These pipes are very interesting as representing flow. There is a volume of light in freedom. ‘Keeping His word’ would be John held in assembly affection. Think of His word being kept by persons like you and me! It means all that is expressed in Christ in John is held in spiritual affections in the assembly.
Ques Are these two representative men at the end of the chapter standing in contrast to the two women in chapter 5? There is dignity with them, they are “sons of oil”.
CAC There are various aspects here. One aspect is that saints can be sources of flow. Then there is a containing vessel, and then the seven pipes to each lamp. The sisters are not excluded from this. They are welcome to supply me with oil! Fancy seven sisters contributing their grace, etc., to help [p. 509] a brother. Each lamp depended on the seven tubes. The lamp is what is done publicly.
Rem It shines before the Lord of the whole earth. “Ye are the light of the world”, the Lord said.
Rem Is that not the whole bearing? These trees are competent to become sources of oil.
Rem “Believe in the light, that ye may become sons of light”.
CAC There is to be no misrepresentation, no looking to take a place on earth before He does. What a vessel of light! The Lord sets it before us as His representation of each local assembly.
Ques Are we to regard it as a grand possibility?
CAC Certainly! It would not otherwise have been given, though we may have a good deal of exercise to go through for it.
Chapter 5 is Satan’s answer to all God is doing. The mystery of lawlessness is Satan’s answer to God’s mystery.
Rem Say a word as to the flying roll.
CAC These are features that have come to light in Israel and more distinctly in the christian profession — stealing and swearing falsely. I think christendom is marked by stealing what does not belong to it. There is not a christian truth that has not been taken up by the natural man — it is all stolen goods — the thought of being a Christian, of God, of the church, words and forms that only belong to the house of God. But God’s judgment is on it all. What is not the product of God’s work is all stolen by natural men. We should be very watchful that we are not trading in stolen goods. If I assume to be very spiritual and I am not, I am a thief. There are those that say, “Lord, Lord”, and he says, “I do not know you whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity”. It is all stolen goods. God is going to bring it all under judgment. We must come honestly by what we have spiritually through exercise with God, or it will only end in condemnation. Like the Philistines, it is a real danger. God [p. 510] hates stolen goods. Swearing falsely in His name is connecting His name with what is not right. It is connected with a thousand things He hates.
Rem We may get hardened ourselves as to all that goes on around.
CAC The mystery of lawlessness, the woman, is put in the ephah, which is a measure. The element of lawlessness is working, but it is restricted. The great rebellion against God takes place even now (cf. Thessalonians). While we do not exactly feed on this, it is most important that we should know what is going on. The whole clerical system is connected with His name and He hates it. Taking His name in vain is connecting it with what is not true.
Ques What is the meaning of the measurement of the roll?
CAC I must confess I have no light as to the size of the roll, but no doubt it signifies something.
Rem It says, “Speak truth every one with his neighbour”.
CAC We do not say, ‘I am pleased to see you’, without really feeling it.
We do not see the woman judged, she is reserved for a place in the land of Shinar, so we shall not see the mystery of lawlessness judged while the church is here. It will head up in the antichrist, the beast and the false prophet, and will be judged. It is seen here as reserved for judgment, and limited. What a comfort to see the woman put in the ephah, and the lid put on top of her. So the lawlessness now in the world is strictly limited and under judgment. It will come to a full head in its own place and it will be judged there. As long as government is maintained by God in the world there will be a check on what is lawless. The greatest check is the assembly as the vessel of the Spirit. This vessel is seen in Zechariah 4, a vessel marked by obedience. So long as it is here maintaining the principle of obedience, so long the principle of lawlessness cannot prevail. It is the greatest barrier to the anti [p. 511] christian forces of today — not the aeroplanes, tanks and guns.
Under government, if you are so lawless as to murder, you will be punished, but the greatest moral restraint is the assembly marked by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — that is the greatest barrier. Satan knows it if we do not. It is most instructive to see these two chapters together. So we want to go on with the vessel of light, do we not?