Zechariah 4:10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice… I. SOMETHING ABOUT GOD. These words show us that humility is, if I may say so, a portion of the Divine character. He does not despise "the day of small things." It is impossible to find lowliness in the Divine nature in its essence, because there is nothing upon which to base it. The life of God is a necessary life. There is room for this virtue in the Divine actions, though not in the Divine essence. Note the absence of ostentation in all God's works of nature or of grace. Note the condescension of Divine providence. Not only in its prime, m its perfection, in its maturity, in its grand completeness, does God take delight in the soul, but in the nascent form of undeveloped life, the very foundation of the spiritual structure. He does not despise first beginnings; it is even true that in the "day of small things" God especially acts. II. SOMETHING ABOUT SMALL THINGS. We despise little things, and think them beneath us. Our thoughts and measurements are so different from God's thoughts and measurements. And this results from pride, which makes us think so many things beneath us, not worthy of care and of finish. It arises also from a certain ignorance of the value of little things. The text implies that they are important. 1. Because our life is made u of little things. 2. In their effect upon our spiritual life, because they require so much effort. III. SOMETHING ABOUT OURSELVES. 1. It teaches us hope. God does not despise, because He sees in His eternal mind the results. 2. We learn patience from it. 3. It must fill us with emulation. This will make us persevere and long to make progress. (W. H. Hutchings, M. A.) 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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