The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees

1Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 2He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” 4Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?” 5So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Jesus Is the Light of the World

12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” 14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” 20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

1) How does the lampstand embody יהוה’s Spirit and guidance?

2) How does Zechariah’s vision deepen this image?

3) How does Yeshua fulfill the role of divine light?

Walk According to His Commandments

1The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. 5Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

12Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.

13The children of your chosen sister greet you.

PSALM 109

Vengeance Invoked upon Adversaries.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1O God of my praise,

Do not be silent!

2For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me;

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,

And fought against me without cause.

4In return for my love they act as my accusers;

But I am in prayer.

5Thus they have repaid me evil for good

And hatred for my love.

6Appoint a wicked man over him,

And let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7When he is judged, let him come forth guilty,

And let his prayer become sin.

8Let his days be few;

Let another take his office.

9Let his children be fatherless

And his wife a widow.

10Let his children wander about and beg;

And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.

11Let the creditor seize all that he has,

And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.

12Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him,

Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

13Let his posterity be cut off;

In a following generation let their name be blotted out.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,

And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15Let them be before the Lord continually,

That He may cut off their memory from the earth;

16Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness,

But persecuted the afflicted and needy man,

And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.

17He also loved cursing, so it came to him;

And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

18But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,

And it entered into his body like water

And like oil into his bones.

19Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself,

And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.

20Let this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,

And of those who speak evil against my soul.

21But You, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake;

Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

22For I am afflicted and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.

23I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens;

I am shaken off like the locust.

24My knees are weak from fasting,

And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.

25I also have become a reproach to them;

When they see me, they wag their head.

26Help me, O Lord my God;

Save me according to Your lovingkindness.

27And let them know that this is Your hand;

You, Lord, have done it.

28Let them curse, but You bless;

When they arise, they shall be ashamed,

But Your servant shall be glad.

29Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor,

And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord;

And in the midst of many I will praise Him.

31For He stands at the right hand of the needy,

To save him from those who judge his soul.