# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S572
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

2 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Ep
Spirit remaineth among you; fear ye not.” To these:
encouragement God added the assuring promise that
of nations would come to this second temple and hen
exceed the former in glory. .

Next, God encouraged Zerubbabel through the Prophe
ariah. In a vision this prophet beheld “a candlestick.:3
with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps
seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are on the
and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side,
and the other upon the left side thereof.” -

What a remarkable vision! It had its definite si,
the work assigned to Zerubbabel. The candlestick of go}
seven lamps burning brightly, the bowl filled with
seven pipes supplying the seven lamps with oil were:
minders of the completed temple. But what about th
Zechariah asked the Angel of the Lord: What be. thes
branches which through the two golden pipes empty:th
out of themselves? The answer which he received was:
the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the
Zerubbabel, the governor, or temporal ruler, and Joshua,
were both anointed for special service to the Lord.

The vision was far from being pretentious. Though
golden candlesticks, golden pipes, golden oil, all thes
the completed altar in the temple. It brought assurance
babel that he would be successful in his assignment
temple. However, the vision said nothing whatever abo:
about superior forces, about weapons, about strategy,
tional generalship, nor about great financial strength.
posely omitted every mention of these things which
consider important. God is not dependent on these tem:
for the building of His temple. That is precisely the
He wanted to impress on Zerubbabel, and hence. He
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” .

The Bible account of the temple’s rebuilding
vincing evidence that its success cannot be attributed'4
or power on the part of the leaders or the peop
lacking altogether. However, the Spirit of God supp
thing abundantly. He rendered hearts willing, He pr
necessary ability, He furnished funds and materials: +
the workers to defend themselves when enemies attackéd
tried to hinder their progress in building. Despite mai
and hindrances Zerubbabel was permitted to complete
and to dedicate it to the glory of God in special festi