The Two Olive Trees

Prof. G. van Groningen. Trowel & Sword. May 1964

Preamble: Question – Where in the Bible do we find the book of Zechariah? If you could without hesitation answer that it is the second last book of the Old Testament, Well done? My guess is that most of us would have to think about it, perhaps for a few seconds, perhaps longer. Being one of the “Minor Prophets”, it is probably not one of the books that we turn to all that often. It may not even be preached about all that often. In this article Prof. Van Groningen show us some of the riches to be found in what may be considered one of the lesser books of the Bible It contains a powerful message and well worth reading and studying.

The Two Olive Trees

Do you know the story of the two olive trees? If you do, or don’t, you will do well to turn with me to the prophecy of Zechariah Chapter 4.

However, before you read of the two olive trees, read of the sinner, who, foul and guilty, meriting everlasting condemnation, accused by Satan, is standing before his Lord, the Judge. But the accusing Satan is condemned. The foul guilty sinner is pardoned, cleansed and recommissioned in the service of God. Wondrous grace – happy saint! Zech. 3.

This happy saint has a big task to perform. “Keep the Lord’s commandments”. Walk in the Lord’s way”. “Build the City and Kingdom of the Lord”. An impossible task for the saint. He tends to despair. In fact, the people to whom Zechariah preached had given up. Enemies, shortage of building supplies, lack of co-operation, diminishing zeal for the Lord all combined to make the saints’ knees weak, their backs ache, their hands inert, their heads bent in shame.

Then comes the story of the two olive trees. These two trees are elevated. They pour a constant supply of oil into a bowl. The bowl has seven little pipes leading to seven candles. The seven candles are on a candle stick. In fact, every feature in the story, the trees, bowls, candles, are on the candle stick.

Revelation 1 clearly identifies the candlestick. It is the Church. The Church must let its light shine. It can! The wicks are lit. The oil comes in steadily from the two trees.

Hear the word of the Lord now. “Not by human power or strength, but by My Spirit saith the Lord. Mountains of enemies, oppositions, handicaps, shortages, problems just disappear. It is God the Spirit who is the mighty worker.

Must men then, having faith in this God the Spirit, exercise their faith and wait for the Lord to act? Never!! That had been the problem before. There was faith. The oil was there and still no activity. If any activity was discernible, it was the disappearance of zeal, obedience and active faith.

Zechariah had a task in this situation. He, as a prophet of God, had to remind the sinner of his sainthood. By Christ’s work he is pardoned, cleansed, and given his task. And he can do his work. That is why he is reminded of the two trees.

What then is the meaning of these two trees? We see that the oil, the symbol of the Spirit which brings light, power, activity into the Church, comes from these trees. The trees are explained in 4:14. “These are the two anointed Ones”. And who are the Anointed Ones? Turn to Chapter 6 and there we read of the perfect union between Joshua and Zerrubbabel. The Priest and the Ruler (or King) are perfectly united and together sit upon the throne. Through these two the Lord performs His wonders on earth. Through these two the Spirit comes in abundant and constant supply into the Church.

To encourage the saints to do their task on earth, Zechariah points to Jesus Christ the Saviour and King. How correct indeed!

Turn to the New Testament. Jesus promised His followers that he would give them His Spirit fully and freely. But first, the priestly task had to be accomplished. Jesus had to suffer, die, be buried and suffer the anguish of hell. Then, having accomplished that, He had to assume His royal position. He had to arise from the grave, ascend to heaven, and sit at Father’s right hand, THEN and only then would He send forth the Spirit. Acts 2:33 tells us that that is just what happened.

The Priest and King – known as a personal Saviour and Master, loved and obediently followed, became the great source of the Spirit’s power and activity in the pardoned, cleansed and commissioned saints in the early New Testament Church. These saints preached, worshipped, prayed together and possibly even spoke in tongues at times.

Today we find some churches emphasising “Jesus Saves”. They even blazon it on their church towers with neon lights. And the preachers, evangelists, elders, teachers wonder why their church is not more active and fruitful.

The answer is before us. One of the main oil supplies is cut off or almost plugged. Christ as the Sovereign is not known or honoured as He should be according to His Word. Men rely upon themselves too much. We often call this Arminianism. In Calvinist circles we gladly herald the Sovereignty of our Lord. We emphasise the Kingly aspect. And all too often the King is granted His domain there where the individual man, woman, boy or girl is not too intimately involved. That could possibly become too much of an “experience”.

In Reformed Calvinistic circles men tend to shy away, or pull back when PERSONAL salvation, assurance of personal pardon, cleansing and commissioning is spoken of as a necessary experience. It just sounds a bit too pietistic to say: “I know Jesus died for me! Oh happy day, Jesus washed my sins away.” It sounds a bit strange to our ears to hear a man rejoicing in his cleansing and new life by the grace of God. Why? One of the main supply lines is not functioning properly. We emphasize the Sovereignty of God but do not stress enough the personal relationship with Jesus Christ established through His priestly work. And, as a result, we do not render Him our full personal allegiance either as our Sovereign Lord. As a result we become guilty of quenching the Spirit, the supply lines from the two olive trees do not send forth a steady, constant supply.

What is our great need in the present day and age? Yes, let us warn one another of dead orthodoxy. Let us warn one another of false and empty piety. But, above all let us do the following:

1. Let us search the Scriptures more diligently and become better acquainted with our Lord Jesus – our Priest and King. Let us not only exercise our faith in Him, but let us also more actively experience His pardon, cleansing, fellowship and love.

2. Let us join together in fellowship and share the treasures of God’s Word. By all means attend the worship service as often as you can. Let us also have prayer meetings, study hours, (name them what you will) where we all feed our souls on the Living Christ and where we in fellowship experience the wonders of God’s grace.

And, in this fellowship, around the Word of God, God having spoken (not some man through a book) let us pray together, giving thanks, supplicating, submitting ourselves to Him as we eagerly await His blessings for daily life and work.

3. Let us, exercising our faith, and rejoicing in the blessed experience of fellowship with our Saviour and Master, go forth and do our task, knowing that our Priest and King, the Saviour and Master gives us His Spirit to accomplish the work of the Lord on earth. And as we thus work let us sing:

Dwell in me, 0 blessed Spirit
How I need Thy help divine
In the way of life eternal,
Keep, 0 keep this heart of mine.

Round the cross where Thou hast led me,
Let my purest feelings twine.
 With the blood from sin that cleansed me, 
Seal anew this heart of mine.

Let me feel Thy sacred presence;
Then my faith will ne’er decline.
Comfort Thou and help me onward; 
Fill with love this heart of mine.

G. VAN GRONINGEN

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