⁷ ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ‘ ” 

Verse 6 focused on the necessity of God’s Spirit to accomplish His work on the Temple. Verse 7 affirms that God’s grace would erect the Temple despite the difficulties at hand.

⁷ ‘Who are you, O great mountain?

The interpreting angel turned to speak to the big problem of building the Temple under duress. It refers to anything that would hinder the Temple’s rebuilding, including human adversaries (Ezra 4:1-5, 24). A “great mountain” is a metaphor for an imposing task or obstacle. The task before Zerubbabel and Israel was the rebuilding of the Temple.

Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!

Zerubbabel, under God, would make the mountainous or difficult task a plan. This political leader had laid the foundation for the Temple about 15 years prior. The job was not complete. However, Governor Zerubbabel would complete the building of the temple by overcoming a mountainous task.

And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace [favor] to it!” ‘ “

Grace is what God does. It is something that man does not earn or deserve. God would put the capstone on the Temple after its completion. The capstone indicates the completion of the Temple.

PRINCIPLE:

Grace is God’s enablement.

APPLICATION:

If God is in a situation, no obstacle can hinder its work. It is by God’s grace that we accomplish His purposes in the world. No mountain can withstand His work if God is in it. Whatever mountain we may face in ministry, we trust in the ministry of the Holy Spirit through us to work.