“Return to me.” It sounds like something one of the prophets would say on behalf of the LORD of Hosts — and it is. This morning it’s Zechariah who’s the conduit for God’s call to His people to repent.

But what I take note of is that the call is not to those who were in rebellion during the days of the monarchy before God’s discipline and the exile. Nor is it directed to those in Babylon who were left to process God’s discipline during 70 years of exile. Instead, it is directed to those who, 20 years or so after the exile, have returned to Judah to rebuild the temple. To those we might consider to be “the obedient ones.” The first to leave the bleak rivers of Babylon and embark on a mission to restore the glory of God in Jerusalem. It’s to these saints that the LORD through the prophet says, “Return to Me . . . and I will return to you” (Zech. 1:3).

Huh? How come? Aren’t these the good guys? Aren’t they doing the right work? What’s this return and repent stuff?

Well, first there’s no one good (Rom. 3:12). But yeah, they were working on good stuff. However, years of hard work, constant opposition, and relatively little to show for it was causing these post-exiles to become somewhat discouraged and thus a little distracted. The work on God’s house had stalled. Their hands had found other stuff to do which resulted in more immediate benefits — like building their own houses (see Haggai). Basically, they were struggling to keep on keepin’ on.

Cue the prophet. Send in a guy to stir things up. To recast the vision and do so with a whole bunch of weird visions. Visions not only of the immediate future, but of the far distant future as well. Cue the prophet, because that’s what’s needed to encourage faithfulness in the day of small things.

Then the word of the LORD came to me: “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. For who despises the day of small things? These seven eyes of the LORD, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the ceremonial stone in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

(Zechariah 4:8-10 CSB)

Noodle on it a bit and you can kind of get why it may have been easy for the remnant who returned to look at what they were doing and conclude that theirs was the day of small things. Even though the temple had begun to be rebuilt, though some rejoiced at what was rising from the ruins, others wept to see that what was taking shape was but a shadow of its former glory (Ez. 3:12). This was no Solomon building program. What’s more, locals in leadership who feared the Jews return to the land opposed the building program and sought to subvert the work (Ez. 4:1-2). When that didn’t work, they out-and-out got in the faces of the returned remnant and “discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid” (Ez. 4:4). So, what’s the point, they may have thought? Faithful obedience seems useless. Maybe it makes more sense to live our best lives now and not keep banging our heads against a wall (aka the temple wall).

So, what’s the remedy for discouragement in the day of small things? Like I said, cue the prophet and repaint the big picture. Shift the focus from the work on earth to the purposes and promises from heaven. Expand the vision from what they’re trying to get done this week and turn their gaze upon the work God has said He would do in a coming day. Or, as Paul writes to the Colossians, the Corinthians, and the Romans:

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

(Colossians 3:1-2 CSB)

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(2Corinthians 4:16-18 CSB)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

(Romans 8:18 CSB)

The big picture is the counterbalance for the day of small things. Heavenly insights, the antidote for feelings of habitual insignificance. God’s promises, the offset for today’s pressures and problems. Remembering what the Father has purposed and His power to accomplish it, the energy boost which keeps us faithful.

Praise God for the day of small things. For in them we get to build as we wait for the day of His return.

By His grace. For His glory.