Zechariah 4:10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice… In this message God reproved those who had regarded the new temple with contempt, and those also who thought that they were unable to finish it. He informed them that the work was His, that it was to be effected not by human might nor power, but by His Spirit. Zerubbabel should finish it, and those who had despised the feeble commencement of the work should witness its completion. I. IN ALL GOD'S WORKS THERE IS USUALLY A "DAY OF SMALL THINGS." There is a season in which His work makes but a very small and unpromising appearance. Illustrate from the beginnings of the Christian Church, and from the work of grace in the hearts of individuals. II. MANY PERSONS DESPISE "THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS." God's enemies did so in Zechariah's time. The friends of God do. They think too little of it; they undervalue it, and they are by no means sufficiently thankful for it, and therefore may be said, comparatively speaking, to despise it. Illustrate, times of religious revival generally begin with persons of no social standing, and so revivals are often despised. Even Christians too lightly esteem the work of God in their own hearts. III. REASONS WHY IT OUGHT NOT TO BE DESPISED. 1. Such conduct tends to prevent its becoming a day of great things. 2. Because the inhabitants of heaven, whose judgment is according to truth, do not despise it. 3. Because our Saviour does not despise it. "The smoking flax He will not quench." 4. Our Heavenly Father does not despise it. 5. Because it is the commencement of a day of great things. Apply — (1) By asking every individual present, is it with you, in a religious sense, even so much as a "day of small things"? Beware how you deny or underestimate what God has done for you. (2) There is an opposite error. Instead of despising the day, some professors make too much of it, and are too satisfied with it. They conclude too hastily that the work of grace is begun in their hearts, and flatter themselves that it will go on, without their attention. (E. Payson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. |
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