Zacarias 4
G. Campbell Morgan · Citado em PreceptAustin
Zacarias 4
Morgan - Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.—Zech. 4.6 In this chapter we have the fifth vision. It is that of the golden candlestick. To the devout Hebrew its signification was patent. In the Holy Place, just outside the Holiest of all, there stood. the golden lampstand, a perpetual symbol of the function of the nation in the purpose of God; as the table of shewbread was a symbol of its fellowship with Him. The nation was created to be a centre of light to all the nations. In the visions granted to Zechariah, this, then, was a representation of ideal Israel. It fittingly followed that of the priest, cleansed, and so prepared for the fulfilment of the priestly office. The whole vision was intended to show that the nation could only fulfil that function as it was in direct and maintained communion with God. Not by her. might or power among the nations could she reveal the truth about God; but only by the life illuminated and energized by His Spirit. Zerubbabel and Joshua stood symbolically for the offices of king and priest, merged in Messiah; through submission to Whose authority, and appropriation of Whose mediatorial work, a perpetual supply of that Spirit can be received. The vision is beautifully pictorial, and full of illumination. The principles apply to the Church equally with Israel. Not by might and power, of money or of organization, can she witness to her Lord; but only by His Spirit. A full supply of that Spirit is ever at her disposal through Him, Who is the one King-Priest. (Borrow Life applications from every chapter of the Bible) There are times when God calls us to the simple. The mundane. The ordinary. Our willingness to do those things may well qualify us for greater service later on. Scripture reminds us not to despise “the day of small things” (see Zechariah 4:10). Larry Richards - Seven channels to the light” Zech. 4:1–14. This fifth vision teaches dependence on God’s Spirit, the resource who enables us to live holy lives while we await the Promised One’s appearance. The vision was directed to Zerubbabel, the governor who was also of David’s line. Even though, in that “day of small things,” Judea seemed completely insignificant and powerless, the Lord reminded the governor that progress is made, “Not by might nor by power, but by My spirit” (v. 6). This is one of those Old Testament verses that we would each do well to remember. In all we do, we are to rely not on our own might or power, but on the Spirit of God. If we serve in His strength, nothing that we do for the Lord will be a “small thing.” God will use even the smallest in a great way. For who has despised the day of small things? (Zech. 4:10 NKJV). Warren
Zacarias 4
Morgan - We think bigger is better, but the Bible tells us to despise not the day of small things. “Little is much when God is in it; Labor not for wealth or fame. There’s a crown, and you can win it, When you go in Jesus’ name.” Edward Payson, a nineteenth-century preacher in Portland, Maine, had but one hearer one stormy Sunday. Payson preached his sermon, however, as carefully as though the building had been thronged. Later his solitary listener called on him. “I was led to the Savior through that service,”he said. “For whenever you talked about sin and salvation, I glanced around to see to whom you referred, but since there was no one there but me, I had no alternative but to lay every word to my own heart and conscience!” James Smith notes that Elijah "Prayed Successfully. "Behold there ariseth a little cloud, . . . and there was a great rain" (1Ki 18:44, 45). Let us take heed when the little cloud appears that we do not despise the day of small things (Zech. 4:10). God's "little cloud" can be made broad enough to cover the whole sky and to meet all our need. The few loaves and small fishes are sufficient in His hands to satisfy the cravings of a multitude. Elijah asked, believing that he would receive, and he did have (Mark 11:24), and God was glorified In so answering. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:15). Seeing that it is the chief desire of the Son to glorify the Father in answering our prayers, surely this is one of the most powerful of all reasons why we should "ask in prayer, believing that we will receive what we ask. David Jeremiah - THE GREAT MULTIPLIER Who has despised the day of small things? Zechariah 4:10 In 1912, Dr. Russell Conwell, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia, had a young student in Sunday school named Hattie May Wiatt. The church was crowded, and one day Dr. Conwell told Hattie May that he would love to have buildings large enough for everyone to attend. When Hattie May became ill and died, Rev. Conwell was asked to preach the funeral. The girl’s mother told him Hattie May had been saving her money to help build a bigger church. Hattie’s purse contained coins amounting to fifty-seven cents. Taking the coins to the bank, Conwell exchanged them for fifty-seven pennies, which he put on display and “sold.” With the proceeds, a nearby house was purchased for a children’s wing for the church. Inspired by Hattie’s story, more money came in, and out of her fifty-seven cents eventually came the buildings of Temple Baptist Church, Temple University, and Good Samaritan Hospital. Perhaps you feel your gifts, your time, your talents, and your efforts are too small to make a difference. But have you ever given them to God completely and asked Him to bless them richly? He’s the Great Mathematician, and He can take our words of witness, our undertakings, and our gifts and multiply them beyond anything we can ask or imagine. (Morning and Evening) Robert Neighbor - “He first findeth his own brother Simon, … and he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:41, 42.) He first went and sought him, To Jesus he brought him: ‘Twas Andrew brought Peter that day; When Jesus hailed Peter, He then detailed Peter, And called him to service that day. O Andrew, remember, Keep glowing that ember, Let memory cherish that day; Thank God for the story Of Peter, his glory, And think how you brought him that day. When Christ gives His blessing, The faithful confessing, The Lord will remember that day, When you sought your brother. And, you brought your brother, He’ll bless you for that wondrous day. Andrew first found his brother, Peter. Little did Andrew realize the far-reaching results of that day’s work. However, in after years as Peter was pressing his way to greater and greater achievements for God, Andrew must have found great satisfaction in knowing that he had led his brother to Christ. Perhaps Andrew never felt that he would become a joint-partaker in Peter’s rewards for service. None of us ever know what lies hidden away in any act of service. A seemingly insignificant deed may start waves of blessing that shall reach the shores of eternity. Let no one despise the day of small things. ‘Twas just a little light, And yet, it blessed a pilgrim groping in the night; ‘Twas just a little word, And yet it carried comfort unto one who heard; ‘Twas just a little deed, And yet it gave assistance to a soul in need; So let us fill our time With little things, that God may turn to things sublime. Robert Neighbor - “Who hath despised the day of small things?” (Zech. 4:10.) The trivial tasks, the common-place, Oft prove uncommon in their power; The little things you daily face, And do with gentleness and grace, Yield fragrance like a flower. Then, watch with care the little things, For they may lead to greater, The common-place, the smatterings, The trivials, and scatterings Well done, will bless you later. Too many of us are looking for something big to do. We want to live in the lime-light. We want to be found faithful in much. Have we forgotten that the stepping stones to our large successes, are the faithful accomplishment of the small and seemingly insignificant trifles which are the general run in our lives? He who does each little thing well, will find some bigger thing awaiting ere the end of his day. If the common-place things are well wrought, the heart and mind will be prepared to meet and conquer in the uncommon things. Our Lord was as faithful as “Jesus, the carpenter,” as He was as “Christ, the preacher.” He was as faithful at Nazareth, as He was at Gethsemane, or Calvary. He was as faithful on earth as He was in heaven. Let us learn to be faithful even as He was faithful. Let us do well all that we do; What say you? And then, ere ends the coming day, A greater task you may assay, A task which God puts in your way, As your due. If in small things you should do well, And excel, The Lord will then guide you along To do the “big thing” with a song, And you, among the great and strong Soon will dwell. Prophets to the Discouraged The messages of Haggai and Zechariah were specifically given to encourage those whose work seemed small in their own eyes. “How does [your work for the Lord] look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong … and work. For I am with you … I will fill this house with glory …” (Haggai 2:2–3, 7, NIV). “Who despises the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10, NIV). We both walk and work by faith, seeing in this life only a small fraction of our results. We are doing more good than we know.* Ian Paisley - The Tiny Day "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" Zechariah 4:10 The Day Defined "the day of small things" Here we have the world's estimate of the day of our labour for Christ and His church—a tiny day with tiny things devoid of greatness and glory. Aye and sometimes in our faithlessness we are overcome with the same deceptive assessment. The Day Despised "Who hath despised" The religious world despises the labours of the true servant of God. They slander them as Tobiah of old and the other opponents of faithful Nehemiah. They mock our work, deride our efforts and scorn our building. The Day Developed "They shall rejoice for they shall see" As this tiny day wears on we shall see the plummet in the hand of our greater Zerubbabel and we shall hear the shouting—Grace, Grace unto it The day of small things is the day of precious things, and will be the day of great things. Small things Zech. 4:10 It is the little words you speak, the little thoughts you think, the little things you do or leave undone, the little moments you waste or use wisely, the little temptations which you yield to or overcome—the little things of every day that are making or marring your future life. Herbert Lockyer - Faith may be only as a grain of mustard seed, but the tiny seed will grow. The day of small things must not be despised. Through continual yieldedness to the Spirit, the soul is not sluggish growing in grace and knowledge. The keynote of Hebrews is "Let us go on;" plus altra—"onward still!" must ever be our ideal. The trickle must become a torrent. "Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase" (Job 8:7). The tragedy is that so many of the saved never get beyond the trickle (CONTRAST Jn 7:37-39+). They have just enough grace to keep them alive and get them into heaven. Life they have, but not life more abundant. (John 10:10) Valley of Vision - MORTIFICATION O divine Lawgiver, I take shame to myself for open violations to thy law, for my secret faults, my omissions of duty, my unprofitable attendance upon means of grace, my carnality in worshipping thee, and all the sins of my holy things. My iniquities are increased over my head: My trespasses are known in the heavens, and there Christ is gone also, my Advocate with the Father, my propitiation for sins, and I hear his word of peace. At present it is a day of small things with me, I have light enough to see my darkness, sensibility enough to feel the hardness of my heart, spirituality enough to mourn my want of a heavenly mind; but I might have had more, I ought to have had more, I have never been straitened in thee, thou hast always placed before me an infinite fullness, and I have not taken it. I confess and bewail my deficiencies and backslidings: I mourn my numberless failures, my incorrigibility under rebukes, my want of profiting under ordinances of mercy, my neglect of opportunities for usefulness. It is not with me as in months past; O recall me to thyself, and enable me to feel my first love. May my improvements correspond with my privileges, May my will accept the decisions of my judgement, my choice be that which conscience approves, and may I never condemn myself in the things I allow! The Right Start The great revival under Jonathan Edwards, in the eighteenth century, began with his famous call to prayer. The marvelous work of grace among the Indians under Brainerd had its origin in the days and nights that Brainerd spent before God in prayer for an enduement of power from on high for his work. The great revival of 1859 in the United States began in prayer and was carried on by prayer more than anything else. "Most revivals," writes Dr. Cuyler, "have humble beginnings, and the fire starts in a few warm hearts. Never despise the day of small things. During my own long ministry nearly every work of grace had a small beginning... a humble meeting in a private home... a group gathered for Bible study by Mr. Moody in our mission chapel... a meeting of young people in my home." —Alliance Weekly Pay Attention to Little Things! For who hath despised the day of small things? - Zechariah 4:10 That well-known Christian, Horatius Bonar, once aptly re-marked: "It is well to remember that a holy life is made up of a number of small things: little words, not eloquent speeches and sermons; little deeds, not miracles and battles. These, not one great heroic act of mighty martyrdom, make up most Christian lives. So, too, the avoidance of little evils, little sins, little follies, and small indiscretions and indulgences of the flesh, will go far to make up at least the negative side of a holy life." I have read somewhere that the merchants of Panama, to be secure from fire, build (heir houses on wooden piles driven deep into the sand beneath the water of rivers and lakes. Soon, how-ever, a minute species of the madrepore, which are miscroscopic in size, begin to do their destructive work unseen by human eyes. They bore, saw, and eat away until the strong posts undergirding the homes become completely honeycombed. Then on some windy day when the sea dashes against such dwellings, they crumple and fall because the weakened pilings cannot stand the strain. In a similar fashion sin honeycombs a man's character, and when the testing days come, he may fall before the onslaughts of temptation. God often uses foolish things, The base things and the small, To bring to naught the mighty ones, So men can't boast at all. —Roberta Beck F. Whitfield -- They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel Zech. 4:10 It is joy to the Christian to know that the plummet is now in the hands of our great Zerubbabel, and that when He comes forth, the world’s misrule shall be over. The false standards and false estimates of men shall be swept away. The standards of “expediency,” of “conscience,” of “every man thinking as he likes, if he is only sincere”—these, and all similar refuges of lies shall be like a spider’s web. The measure of all things will be Christ, and Christ the Measurer of all things. How everything will be reversed! What a turning upside down of all that now exists! Blessed day, and longed for—the world’s great jubilee, the earth’s long-looked-for Sabbath, groaning creation’s joy, and nature’s calm repose! Who would not cry, “Come, Lord Jesus, and end this troubled dream! Shatter the shadows of the long, dark night of sin and sorrow, sighing and tears, despair and death!” John Butler - Despising Smallness “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.” (Zechariah 4:10) EVERY age despises “small things.” At the time of this verse, the work on rebuilding the Temple was being ridiculed. Progress had been slow and the small efforts were laughed at by the enemy. But God promised the Temple would be rebuilt. Our day also despises “small things.” In marketing we have the “giant” and “blockbuster” sales. In sports we have the “Super” bowl.” If it is not big, it does not seem to count in our age. But that is not a good philosophy, and God’s children need to stop despising “small things.” We need to stop despising small things in purity. Small sins should not be despised, for they can cause big trouble. Small sins are seeds of big sins which can ruin our lives. We need to stop despising small things in prayer. Some times we do not pray for things because they do not seem big enough to bring to God. But if these things bother you, they need to be brought to the Lord in prayer. He does not despise small things. We need to stop despising small things in progress. Are you discouraged because progress in some area of your life is slow? Do not despise the small progress. Instead thank God for it. And make sure the progress continues. If progress continues, though it is small, it will soon be big progress. We need to stop despising small things in our performance. Little duties need to be done faithfully just as well as big duties. Small opportunities need to be attended to just as well as big opportunities. We need to stop despising small things in piety. Small churches are not necessarily bad churches and big churches are not necessarily good churches. Christ was born in the small town of Bethlehem. When He went to the big city of Jerusalem, He did not stay there overnight but stayed in the small town of nearby Bethany. Piety to the world is a small and unimportant thing, but God does not despise it. C H