The triumphant light of SPIRIT

The triumphant light of SPIRIT

Spiritual metaphysics penetrates the biblical stories and draws out their healing meaning -- messages that communicate eternal TRUTH-LOVE.  The story of a “lamp-stand and two olive trees” is filled with spiritual treasures.  Let us review it.  Then we will follow it up with spiritual interpretations that educate, inspire and heal. 

A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees (NLB, Zech. 4: 1-14). 1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. 2 “What do you see now?” he asked. I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. 3 And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” 4 Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?” 5 “Don’t you know?” the angel asked. “No, my lord,” I replied.  6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” 8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.) 11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, 12 and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?” 13 “Don’t you know?” he asked.  “No, my lord,” I replied. 14 Then he said to me, “They represent the two heavenly beings who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth

We can start interpreting it metaphysically by employing M. B. Eddy’s (a brilliant, early 20^th century theologian) definitions of “oil” as “heavenly inspiration” and “light” as “revelation and progress.”

Divine TRUTH-GOD’s revelations and inspiration wake us up from the hypnotic grip of materiality – from fear, defeat, doubt, lack, illness, anger, resentment and so forth. 

They give us understanding and gratitude.  They may stir in us recollections of how LOVE’s providence and wisdom have saved us before.  Spiritual “oil” and “light” impart the confidence and wisdom we need to thrust forward against new obstacles.

The “angel messenger” tells Zechariah to remember how 16 years before MIND-LOVE had made it possible for Jewish leader, Zerubbabel, to build a trust-relationship with the Persian king which led the king to give freedom to many Jews.  Then Zerubabbel, with the Persian king’s permission and support, led the newly liberated Jews back to Judah.  Once they arrived there they worked together to rebuild their lives.  An important symbol of this was how quickly they started rebuilding Jerusalem and the Jewish temple.  Divine fortitude and guidance overcame multiple obstacles. 

This energizes Zechariah to motivate and re-dedicate his people to finish rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and their temple.  Their spiritual tenacity, intelligence and savvy resolve many setbacks and challenges. 

“Angels” represent Mind’s intelligent guidance.  When we are open to them they alter our confused reasoning.  They liberate, inspire, enable and transform us.  They show us more than material intellect can.  They bring us into our perfect, immortal, fruitful nature.  MIND’s intelligent ideas communicate, inspire and impel us today like they’ve done it for receptive people down through the centuries. 

We may be mired in difficulties and suffering.  We may lack the health, faith, intellect, courage, vision, talents, social/business connections, and knowledge to achieve what we wish.  But MIND wakes us up to new opportunities and resources.  We also discern new directions that had not been visible before.  LOVE’s noble goals become attainable.  The “angels of the Lord” make everything good possible. 

 Our resources, abilities and attainments do not originate in a limited, mortal, physical identity.  All our good is from SPIRIT, who is all-substance, and the fountain of our spiritual lives.  SPIRIT-GOD’s unlimited intelligence, might, health and resources abound in us.

With MIND fueling us we can take small initial steps, or bold and big ones.   As the means and ways of SPIRIT reveal themselves we will witness that even mountains of obstacles will be made flat. “Heaven’s Armies” of intelligent ideas and abilities will lead us to grand achievements. 

The seven lamps, and all Biblical references to light, represent GOD’s effulgence, the complete hues of LOVE’s all-healing, all-revealing, all-loving, holy revelations.  They induce courage, creativity and inventiveness. They eradicate the darkness of ignorance, fear, disease and failure.  They enable us to experience abundant spiritual health, to receive and give love, and to build strong relationships with others. 

The olive trees that give out inexhaustible oil to the lamps represent how continuous and limitless is infinite MIND’s provision to all mankind.  Why two olive trees?  It means the divine Father and Mother, the spiritually masculine and feminine.  Ultimately, the two, or three, or seven used in biblical stories fit into the ONE and ALL that is SOUL. 

SPIRIT’s realm is imperial.  It reaches down, up and out into infinity.  When we step outside of matter’s paradigms and of our material ego we can visualize an infinite realm of spiritual perfection.  We can experience its ever-multiplying forces for good in our body, relationships and workplace. 

Spiritual understanding is the radiance of Christ.  The term “Christ” is an abbreviated way of describing TRUTH’s timeless, healing revelations.  Christ enters every hungering, willing-to-be-transformed, “wash-me-clean” consciousness.  It fills us with LOVE’s perfection, plentitude and victory.

The Christ-light is what Zechariah perceives in the symbols of the seven ever-lighted lamps.  This light transcends time and shines on and within everyone. 

It eliminated Elijah’s failure, fear, despair and suicidal temptations.  It lifted him to a vision of more life, power and purpose.  He found redemption and new, successful directions.  His consecration to this holier, ever-widening path brought him to the realization of the “ALL” of SPIRIT, which turned into his ascension beyond material limits.

Jesus expressed the Christ-light.  It made it possible for him to comfort, educate, transform and bless thousands of people.  It overturned betrayal, torture and death.  He, too, ascended into the All-Light of SPIRIT.

The seven-lamps’ holy light (the Christ-light) fills all.  When we are a clear transparency for it we accomplish the seemingly impossible.  We are healed, impelled, lifted, empowered, and crowned by it.  Because divine light is fueled by infinite MIND-LOVE (by the “two olive trees”) our expanding spiritual understanding proliferates healing and accomplishments. 

Our incorporeal identities are the sparkle of SPIRIT.