"Two olive trees [are] by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left." So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What [are] these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This [is] the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.`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!" ' " Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish [it]. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:3-10)
The New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
The Prophet Zechariah is getting messages from God which he is unable to discern the meaning of. He understands that God will show him the meaning, so this dialog goes back and forth. The situation is the return from 70 long years of captivity to foreign nations and foreign ideas, and God is bringing the people back to His provision, protection, and presence. God is rebuilding the failed city and temple, and He is using Zerubbabel to accomplish this task.
Three things stood out to me this morning as I met with the Lord. First, the Holy Spirit is enabling, empowering, and accomplishing all the work. It is through confident dependence upon the Holy Spirit that true rebuilding occurs. Confidence can be had in God completing the work. God is working with and through the man, and Zechariah needs to know this. Likewise, we all must be attuned to the active Holy Spirit; otherwise, we become confused.
Second, Zerubbabel must persevere dependently in his assigned task. The tedious work is monumental, the naysayers are abundant, the cooperation is lacking, the man is small in ability... BUT GOD! God is with Zerubbabel and with us in the small, ordinary, insignificant things. Do not despise them nor allow others who despise them to discourage you.
Third, God is rejoicing in the little things! This is HUGE! People like monumental things, for it helps them boast of the goodness of mankind, but God takes note of the smallest of details that bring Him glory. Little things that bring God glory become big things that bring God glory as we fade into the background and learn to bask in His glory. God is excited that little by little, in the littlest of things, the passion and pursuit is to bring Him great glory. When we intentionally dedicate and do little acts for the sole purpose of His pleasure they will grow into monuments of His glory.
This leaves me with the question, "Are you / Am I, rejoicing with God in the small things?"
