(REFLECTIONS ON Zechariah 4:1-14)

10 “For who has despised the day of small things?“

We previously saw the challenges that Joshua the priest faced in returning from exile to minister in Jerusalem. We now turn to Zerubbabel the civic leader, the governor, the administrator of the rebuilding effort in Jerusalem.

The foundation for the temple had already been laid, however the work came to a halt when the Jews faced challenges coming from their neighbors. Perhaps Zerubbabel was questioning his own ability to manage this effort, and perhaps those around him were also questioning his leadership.

The day of small things refers to the seemingly small beginning of the temple rebuilding. The work had begun, but there was still so much left to do.

It would have been easy to despise what had been accomplished because it appeared incomplete, insignificant, or incapable of becoming something greater. However, perhaps the small things are actually spiritually significant things.

We also see in today’s Scripture an image of two olive trees representing Joshua and Zerubbabel. In Zechariah’s vision, the oil flows from two olive branches which are beside two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves supplying oil to the lampstand.

From themselves emphasizes the continual supply of oil coming from the olive branches. The oil is continually flowing to the lampstand, but the vision raises the question of what is ultimately sustaining this supply.

Joshua and Zerubbabel represent the olive trees, but the oil does not ultimately point to their own power and strength. There is something greater sustaining the work.

6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.

The work of the Lord is not accomplished only by human strength and power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. Yes, Joshua and Zerubbabel are present and participating in the work, but they are not the ultimate source of its power.

The work is sustained by the Spirit of God. Why then do we place all our trust in people, and human efforts, and quench or diminish the work of the Holy Spirit?

It isn’t that the Holy Spirit is a bonus, an extra source of power, but the Holy Spirit is the source of power. In Ephesians 2:18 (NIV), we read,

“For through him (Christ) we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Christ is the way to God, but it is by the one Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit that is our source of power and strength. The day of small things reminds us of what little we can actually do for the Lord without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, perhaps we can accomplish a lot of worldly things, and build a worldly kingdom, but to build the kingdom of God requires the Holy Spirit, or else all we will have to show for it are small things, without seeing that these things can be spiritually significant things.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Zechariah 4