Day 263 – Zechariah 1-4

Talking Points

• Zechariah prophesies God’s message in the same time and context as his contemporary, Haggai. Like Haggai, he encourages God’s people to finish the rebuilding of the temple they had begun years earlier.
• Zechariah unfolds a great truth: People and prophets pass away, yet the Word of God stands. The people are told the Word of God spoken to previous generations has not changed, but is still valid in their day.
• God’s message through Zechariah is no different from any other time — repent and return to Him. He implores the nation not to be hardhearted and rebellious like its fathers who had ignored the His Word. God is not only leading a physical renewal of the city of Jerusalem, but, more importantly, a spiritual renewal in the hearts of His people.
• God encourages the nation greatly by telling of His coming punishment of the enemies of Judah. Jerusalem will be restored and blessed once again with prosperity. Zerubbabel is told that, in the power and provision of God Himself, the temple will be finished. The promise of the coming Messiah, who will “remove the iniquity of the land in one day” (Zechariah 3:9) is most encouraging. Praise the Lord who never leaves His people without hope!

Thoughts

When a project seems hard, complicated, or just plain dreadful, I have a wise friend who always cheerfully offers the advice, “Just get started, take the first step.” It’s always worked! A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.

In our verses today, the nation of Judah has started big yet faltered in the attempt to rebuild the temple. What began in contagious enthusiasm has stalled out in neglectful apathy. With the foundation laid, construction has now woefully halted.

God’s answer sounded a lot like, “Just get started; take the first step.” He says, “For who has despised the day of small things?” (4:10). The people liked the big steps, the steps that were deemed important. They cheered the rebuilding of the altar and the resetting of the foundation. However, they had grown neglectful of the small days — the ones that would require mundane diligence and steadfast commitment. The truth is, most times those are the days that matter most. Those are the days when, even if unseen, the difference is made. Honestly, those are the days when God works.

It is no different in our Christian walks! We love the big steps. You know, the ones we celebrate, the ones everyone sees? Yet, progress is made in the small, steady steps — time consistently invested in God’s Word, moments quietly spent in prayer, and days faithfully practicing obedience, even if never seen.

In our walks with the Lord, may we cheer loudly in the big steps, and may we walk faithfully in the small ones. May God be greatly glorified in both!