The spirit of _Zerubbabel_, and of _Joshua_, and the spirits of all the remnant of the people were stirred up, and they immediately came, disregarding, as it were, their own private buildings, “and did work in the house of the LORD of Hosts their GOD.” For a while, they proceeded with vigour; the foundation of the house is laid, and the superstructure raised to some considerable height: but whether this fit of hot zeal soon cooled, as is too common, or the people were discouraged by the false representations of their enemies, which perhaps met with too favourable a reception at the court of _Darius_; it so happened, that the hearts of the magistrates and ministers of the people waxed faint; and an awful chasm intervened, between the finishing and laying the foundation of this promising and glorious work.
Upon this, another prophet, even _Zechariah_, (who with _Haggai_ had been joint sufferer in the captivity) is sent to lift up the hands that hang down, to strengthen the feeble knees, and by the foregoing instructive vision, to reanimate _Joshua_ and the people in general, and the heart of _Zerubbabel_, the son of _Shealtiel_, in particular, maugre all discouragements, either from inveterate enemies, or from timid unstable friends, or all other obstacles whatsoever. If _Haggai_ thunders, _Zechariah_’s message is as lightening. “This is the word of the LORD unto _Zerubbabel_, saying, Not by might, nor by power, (not by barely human power or policy) but by my spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts: Who art thou, O great mountain? (thou _Sanballat_ and thy associates, who have been so long crying out, what mean these feeble _Jews_? however great, formidable, and seemingly insurmountable) before _Zerubbabel_ thou shalt (not only be lowered and rendered more accessible, but) become a plain;” thy very opposition shall, in the end, promote the work, and help to expedite that very building, which thou intendest to put a stop to, and destroy.
And lest _Zerubbabel_, through unbelief and outward opposition, or for want of more bodily strength, should think this would be a work of time, and that he should not live to see it compleated in his days, “The word of the LORD came to _Zechariah_, saying, The hands of _Zerubbabel_ have laid the foundation of this house; his hands also shall finish it, and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Grace! grace! unto it: a double acclamation, to shew, that out of the abundance of their hearts, their mouth spake; and this with shoutings and crying from all quarters. Even their enemies should see the hand and providence of GOD in the beginning, continuance, and ending of this seemingly improbable and impracticable work; so that they should be constrained to cry, “Grace unto it,” and wish both the work and the builders much prosperity: But as for its friends, they should be so transported with heart-felt joy in the reflection upon the signal providences which had attended them through the whole process, that they would shout and cry, “Grace, grace unto it:” or, This is nothing but the LORD’s doing; GOD prosper and bless this work more and more, and make it a place where his free grace and glory may be abundantly displayed. Then by a beautiful and pungent sarcasm, turning to the insulting enemies, he utters the spirited interrogation in my text, “Who hath despised the day of small things?” Who are you, that vauntingly said, what can these feeble _Jews_ do, pretending to lay the foundation of a house which they never will have money, or strength, or power to finish? Or, who are you, O timorous, short-sighted, doubting, though well-meaning people, who, through unbelief, were discouraged at the small beginnings and feebleness of the attempt to build a second temple? And, because you thought it could not come up to the magnificence of the first, therefore were discouraged from so much as beginning to build a second at all?
A close instructive question this; a question, implying, that whenever GOD intends to bring about any great thing, he generally begins with a day of small things.