Nebuchadnezzar was one of the greatest of all of the earthly kings which the LORD raised up to fulfill HIS purpose in the Earth. Nebuchadnezzar was sure that he came to power by his own design and that all of his actions were directed according to his own will and purpose. Little did he know that he was but a a pawn in the hand of the Almighty KING who raised him up to winnow HIS wheat in the midst of the disobedient and idolatrous nation of Israel. He, later, painfully discovered that the LORD “ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” (Dan 4:32) Had he read the Proverbs of Solomon he would have known that “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Prov 21:1) This same GOD demonstrated the abundance of HIS grace and HIS mighty power to turn the heart of the king as HE revealed HIMSELF to Nebuchadnezzar as HE humbled him before HIS eternal and sovereign THRONE. (see Dan.4:35)
The LORD has a design for all of the kingdoms of the Earth which in turn manifest the corruption and depravity of all nations and their inhabitants. To this end “that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Dan 4:17) The inhabitants of various countries often think that they will put over themselves men of great character to whom they will yield glad allegiance. Yet the LORD reveals that HE puts men in charge who are exactly like the people over which they rule. Yea according to the scripture the very worst examples. The kingdoms of this world are corrupt and shall all ultimately be destroyed. “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.” (Isa 40:15-17)
Having such knowledge moves the children of GOD to have no confidence in the Princes, Kings, or Presidents of this world. They look for a Kingdom which shall never end whose RULER is triumphant over all of HIS enemies and ever keeps in safety those who are HIS subjects. The saints in all ages have “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb 11:13) “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Heb 13:14)
Zechariah prophesies of the establishment of just such a Kingdom. There was indeed a man, born in flesh and blood, who was the son of Shealtiel. (see Ezra 5:2) His name was Zerubbabel, whose name literally means “born in Babylon” while his father’s name literally means “I have asked GOD.” This Zerubbabel was instrumental in rebuilding the temple in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra as the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon. As important as his work was in those days, this ONE of whom Zechariah prophesies is HE of whom the carnal Zerubbabel is but a type and foreshadow. In like fashion the “house” which HE (i.e.; ZERUBBABEL) would build, is not that edifice of stone and wood which would one day be destroyed again.
Rather this House of which Zechariah prophesies is that everlasting Kingdom which was promised from the beginning and sees its fruition in HIM of whom the carnal Zerubbabel is but a type. For this ZERUBBABEL is none other than the LORD JESUS CHRIST who has come into the world to establish HIS Kingdom of Promise which shall never pass away. HE told HIS disciples, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:18) It is the same Kingdom which was declared unto Judah, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Gen 49:10) The same also prophesied by Isaiah, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” (Isa 9:6-7) It is the same which was promised to David, “I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” (Psa 89:35-37)
We read (in Zechariah’s prophecy) that the same “hands” which have laid the foundation (“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor 3:11)) have also finished it. We see this confirmed when CHRIST spoke these words upon the cross, “It is finished”. “By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb 9:12) “O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.” (Psa 98:1-2) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
We read “This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zec 4:6) This ZERUBBABEL was no “free lancer”, but HE came in the power and might of the ONE by whom HE was sent. “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) HE came to perform HIS FATHER’s will. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)
The men of this world are in rebellion against this ZERUBBABEL. Just like the men in the parable; “But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.” (Mat 21:38) HE is that STONE which the builders rejected who is now the HEAD of the corner. (see Mat.21:42) This is even as Zechariah prophesied, “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” (Zec 4:7) The triumph of CHRIST is sure and steadfast, as HE has come to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isa 40:4-5) Who can stand before the LORD and who shall abide HIS presence. HE comes as a CONQUEROR in HIS holiness, set apart as the SALVATION of GOD.
And this is the basis of HIS Kingdom as HE comes with shoutings (i.e.; a loud voice) “Grace, Grace unto it.” None shall enter HIS Kingdom except by HIS grace and none who have been granted HIS grace can fail to enter therein. In Zerubbabel’s days the adversaries (probably the Samaritans) of Judah and Benjamin came asking if they could “help” build the wall. (see Ezra 4:1). Zerubbabel rejected their request and they became angry and set about to hinder the work. (see 4:4)
There is no shortage of those who think they can “help” ZERUBBABEL. Yet this is a work which is completely that of HIM who is the MASTER BUILDER. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-10) Just like those adversaries who said they wanted to “help”; the opponents of GRACE become the enemies of the cross of CHRIST as they seek to add their own “faith” and “effort”, when HE is the GIVER of all things needful for the sons of GOD. HIS grace is sufficient for all things. Have you tasted of it or do you think you can gain HIS favor on your own?
mam