The Little Things

The year was about 520 B.C. and Zerubbabel was feeling very discouraged.  It had been more than fifteen years since the work on the new Temple had come to a disheartening halt.  The work had begun with great hope when a remnant of the Children of Israel, who had been held captive in Babylon, was granted permission by King Cyrus to return to Judah to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.

            Zerubbabel was the man in charge of the construction.  The first project was not the rebuilding of the city walls but rather the building of the Temple.  The altar was completed first, followed by a time of celebration and worship of the Lord. 

            The next order of business was the laying of the foundation for the Temple.  It too was quickly completed, followed by another celebration.  Then the problems began.  There were enemies from without who tried to stop the construction work causing fear among the people.  Even more discouraging for Zerubbabel, some of the older men began complaining about the size and design of the Temple.  They remembered the magnificence of the Temple Solomon had build and thought this a poor second.  Progress on the building slowed until finally the work was abandoned altogether.   Years passed and a sense of hopelessness settled over Zerubbabel.

            Enter the prophet Zechariah.  The Lord sent him to encourage poor Zerubbabel.  He had a message from the Lord: “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it.  Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.  Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”  Zechariah 4:9-10 (NAS)

            The work was taken up again and the Temple completed in four years.  It did not match the splendor and glory of Solomon’s Temple, but it was pleasing to the Lord.  It was just as He wanted it to be.

            I am so encouraged by Zerubbabel’s story.  How often I have felt that I have not done anything “big” enough for the Lord.  I look at the accomplishments of others and then at my small service and feel as though it cannot possibly measure up.

            The people around Zerubbabel were critical of the smallness of the work, but the Lord was well pleased.  The Word says  He “rejoiced to see the work begin.”  By simply taking the plumb line in his hand and beginning the work Zerubbable was blessing the heart of Almighty God.

            God asks us to be faithful to the work He calls us to do.  Size and grandeur have little to do with it.  He looks at the heart.  Our obedience and willingness to do what He has required of us causes Him to rejoice.  He will take the little that we offer and make of it something of eternal value.

In His Love,

Linda

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