Shine On Little Lampstand!

In Daniel 5:5, a ghostly hand writes on a wall opposite the lampstand. We know this famous story from the Bible. In the story, a proud king gets his comeuppance, and that certainly is a lesson, but there is another. As is common in the Bible, we get lessons and lessons from one story. God's word is deep enough for the scriptural pearl diver but also shallow enough for the trembling swimmer novice.

In this story, the phrase 'opposite the lampstand' jumped out at me as the gentle touch of the Spirit directed my training in the Word. Why opposite the lampstand? We see the reflected light there, and so it makes sense in the physical world, but in the spiritual sense, the hand wrote on the wall opposite the lampstand because that's where the king was facing. The world faces the darkness too, so lampstands shine onto the wall opposite to enlighten the world to the good news of Jesus Christ.

If we look at the two witnesses in the Revelation, they are called the two lampstands (11:4). This hearkens back to Zechariah in the Old Testament, wherein verse 4:2, the prophet sees a mighty lampstand with two olive trees. This lampstand has seven pipes and seven bowls or lamps. This is our dear friend and constant companion, God's Holy Spirit, shining His word unto the nations. A message is given to Zechariah to pass on to one of God's servants, Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." (4:6)

How often do we pray for some form of might or power? We do, might as well admit it. Yet, the message from the Lord to us may be the same: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." When Ezekiel saw the glory of God, he fell down. God's Spirit entered him and raised him up. We dare not doubt the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of each of God's little lampstands to shine forth into the dark world comes from His Spirit. So, shine on little lampstand; the might and power of God's Spirit shines forth in you!

A good rain comes down,
Bucky