DESPISE NOT SMALL THINGS Devotion 6 of 24 The angel of the Lord has appeared to Zechariah, charging him to encourage those who are building of the Temple. The people will not be left alone in this Divinely appointed project. In fact, he said, "the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation" (2:12-13). God was beginning to work for the very people he had thrust out of the land because of their disobedience and hardheartedness. There would be cleansing and renewal for the good work, as depicted in Zechariah being shown Joshua the high priest standing before the Lord, with Satan standing at his right hand to resist him" (3:1-5). – Tomorrow:
"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 4:8-10, NKJV
The work would not be accomplished, however, in human strength, for "This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (4:6). Divine assistance was on the way! The work of God cannot be accomplished independently of Him. Zechariah is sent to assure Zerubbabel and the builders that God is devoted to finish what He has started.
The obstacles before Zerubbabel and his fellow workers appeared as a great mountain that could not be overcome. Between the beginning of the work and its conclusion stood what appeared to be an insurmountable mountain. The very consideration of this barrier caused hearts to be heavy, and minds to faint. This, of course, has always been the case when the work of God got under way. Prior to the flood, a gigantic ark had to be built. When Israel came out of Egypt, they faced the Red Sea. When they came into Canaan, they faced the swelling river of Jordan, and the walled city of Jericho. Elijah faced the wrath of Jezebel, and a famine in the land as well. Nehemiah faced Sanballot and Tobiah, and a confederacy of enemies. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo faced a fiery furnace, and Daniel faced a lion's den. The early church faced persecution, and Paul fought with beasts after the manner of men. Once the Apostle Paul said, "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us" (1 Thess 2:18).
Make no mistake about it, obstacles are part and parcel of doing the work of the Lord. Sometimes they are like formidable mountains that make us and our strength seem exceedingly small. That is the circumstance in which Zerubbabel found himself.
But a heavenly shout is hurled against the inhibiting obstacles. "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it" (4:7). This is not the cry of Zerubbabel, but the cry of the Master of the mountain! The work of Zerubbabel will not be cast down to the ground. It will not come short of completion. It is the mountain that will be removed!
The finishing headstone, or capstone, would be put into place, and the work will be finalized. God has determined it, and now He sends His prophet to proclaim it. And what a cry will be heard when the headstone is put into place. The top stone will be brought out with accompanying shouts. "Grace, grace unto it!" Other versions read, "God bless it! God bless it!" (NIV). The idea is that the people will look upon the work as that of God Himself. They will call upon Him to bless the work by His grace – to strengthen the laborers, and enable them to gladly put the finishing touches on the house of God.
Thus the builders are not called to look upon the obstacles - -the great mountain of opposition that they are facing. Rather, they are to look to the work, ask the Lord to bestow His grace and blessing upon it, and look with anticipation to placing the headstone in its place.
Who cannot see the relevance of this to our time? God is still "working salvation in the midst of the earth" (Psa 74:12). He has brought those in Christ into the work, making them "laborers together with God" (1 Cor 3:9). When times are difficult, and circumstances are challenging, we are not to sit about studying the great mountains before us. Rather, we are to consider the finalization of the work, and shout out for the blessing of God to be upon what he has ordained to be done.
Thus, preparation has been made for the encouragement of the builders, and those in charge of the building. The project was initiated by God Himself, and it would be brought to completion. No hindering mountain would be able to thwart the work. God would be honored, not only by the beginning of the project, but by its completion as well.
The word of the Lord is not vague on this matter, but powerful and to the point. Our Lord is both the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher, the First and the Last. He finishes what He begins, fulfilling all of His purpose and doing all of His will.
It only remains for the builders to be encouraged, and for their spirits to be raised. In faithfulness, God will raise up such encouragers and sons of consolation as will help the builders finish their work!
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, I thank You for the work You have begun. I praise Your name for calling me to be a part of that work, and for assuring me it will be brought to completion. I now ask You to bless Your work, and those who are engaged in it.