DESPISE NOT SMALL THINGS Devotion 15 of 24 DESPISING THE DAY To "despise the day" is to look upon a work or a time as though it was of no significance – just a waste of time. It is to measure a person, time, or work, by worldly standards of greatness. To "despise" something is to see no value in the matter – like Esau despising his birthright. Under the circumstances, he thought the birthright to be of little or no value, forfeiting it for some bread and stew. Thus it is written, "Esau despised his birthright" (Gen 25:34). SANBALLOT AND TOBIAH To "despise" is to look upon the wall-building of Nehemiah and his workers like Sanballot and Tobiah did. "What do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? . . . Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall" (Neh 4:2-3). To these two "blind guides," the work the Jews were doing was not significant. How wrong they were to despise the day of small beginnings! GOLIATH Despising small things is like Goliath looking upon David, disdaining him because "he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance" (1 Sam 17:42). Goliath looked at David and saw a young and handsome red-haired boy anything but a mighty warrior. How wrong he was to despise the day of small beginnings! CHRIST'S ENEMIES When "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14), He did not appear to be a King to His enemies. He was "despised and rejected of men" (Isa 53:3). Beholding His works and hearing His words they reasoned, "From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him" (Mark 6:2-3). How wrong they were to despise the day of small beginnings! THE WORD TO THE PROPHET The word of our text is the Lord's admonition to the Prophet and his people NOT to look down upon small beginnings as though they were no consequence. They were not to look upon the foundation and conclude no Temple would be built upon it. They were not to imagine the work had been frustrated and could not be completed. The fact that years had passed since the work began did not justify thinking their work had been in vain. – 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
"For who has despised the day of small things?"
The word "small" means little or youngest, as in a small child who is immature and in the beginning stages of life. It also means insignificant, and apparently unimportant – something that seemingly can make no real difference. Something "small" looks inconsequential when compared to the larger work: like Nehemiah starting to build the walls in comparison to the whole city of Jerusalem. Or, like the foundation of the Temple being laid, in comparison to the whole Temple complex with all of its priestly activities and sacrifices.
The people were discouraged, yet had no right to be! Their discouragement was the fruit of erroneous thought. It sprang from delusion, not faith. This is always the reason for discouragement and despising the day of small beginnings. We do well to learn from this text that such attitudes are nothing less than imaginations to be thrown down!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, help me to view Divine beginnings with respect and expectation, whether they are in me, some other person, or in various other works you have begun.