Zechariah 3 & 4

In Ezra we see the building of the house of prayer in two phases.
1. First phase: altar & foundation - 18 years
2. Second phase: the temple

Between the two is an 18 year period of no work because of intense warfare after the first phase.

Haggai & Zechariah deliver prophetic words that stir up restoration on the work of the Temple.

Zechariah has eight dreams in one night.

Dreams 4 and 5 are essential in stirring up the two key leaders for the restoration work before them.

After quitting for 18 years the problems are deep.
1. Shame is the issue with Joshua.
2. Lack of Strength/Resource is the issue with Zerubbabel.

Zechariah 3:1-5 (ESV)
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

Zechariah 4:6-10 (ESV)
6 Then 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 of hosts.
7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”