10/16/2019 SMALL BEGINNINGS
Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the LORD rejoice to see the work begin…. [Living Bible translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
Zechariah was a Hebrew prophet who prophesied to the Jewish people during the reign of King Darius, one of the famous Persian kings. Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. Zechariah was GOD’s spokesman delivering GOD’s messages. After the people had returned from exile in Babylon, one of GOD’s messages was for a man named Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was part of the first wave of Jewish captives who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. After returning to Jerusalem, which was now under Persian rule, King Darius appointed Zerubbabel governor of Judah. After his appointment, Zerubbabel began to rebuild the Temple.
The original temple had been built by King Solomon. It was THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, and it had been magnificent. It was a symbol of the greatness of the Jewish people during the height of their power as a nation. When Solomon built the original temple, he had used only the best. Gold and other precious metals were used liberally during the construction. King Solomon had the power and wealth to enlist an army of skilled craftsmen and carpenters throughout the land. Solomon had built the temple when the people were many, great and strong. Now a broken people, literally former slaves, had returned. They were just a remnant. They were few and they were weak. The head of the “building committee” was not a king, but only Zerubbabel, a mere governor, who had been appointed by a Persian King.
Some of those who returned were “stuck in the past,” remembering “the way things used to be,” probably did not participate or participated “half-heartedly” in the building. They likely spread negativity, too fixated on what the builders didn’t have. Those who constantly complained about the current state of affairs under Persian rule probably stayed away also. Perhaps they thought Zerubbabel was just a Persian “puppet.” Others may have been too busy building their own homes and couldn’t find the time to build GOD’s house. The rumor may have spread that this was a “losing” project causing others to “find something better to do.” So, when Zerubbabel began to rebuild the temple just a “few” showed up.
GOD, however, sent an encouraging WORD, by way of Zechariah to Zerubbabel, that: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts—you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.” GOD told Zechariah to tell Zerubbabel (and the people): “Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the Lord rejoice to see the work begin.…”