Evening, November 26
Go To Morning Reading
“They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
Zechariah 4:10
Small things marked the beginning of the work in the hand of Zerubbabel,
but none might despise it, for the Lord had raised up one who would
persevere until the headstone should be brought forth with shoutings.
The plummet was in good hands. Here is the comfort of every believer
in the Lord Jesus; let the work of grace be ever so small in its beginnings,
the plummet is in good hands , a master builder greater than Solomon has undertaken the raising
of the heavenly temple, and he will not fail nor be discouraged till the topmost pinnacle shall
be raised. If the plummet were in the hand of any merely human being,
we might fear for the building, but the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in Jesus’ hand. The works did not proceed irregularly, and without care, for
the master’s hand carried a good instrument . Had the walls been hurriedly run up without due superintendence,
they might have been out of the perpendicular; but the plummet was
used by the chosen overseer. Jesus is evermore watching the erection
of his spiritual temple, that it may be built securely and well. We
are for haste, but Jesus is for judgment. He will use the plummet,
and that which is out of line must come down, every stone of it. Hence
the failure of many a flattering work, the overthrow of many a glittering
profession. It is not for us to judge the Lord’s church, since Jesus has a steady hand, and a true eye, and can use
the plummet well. Do we not rejoice to see judgment left to him?
The plummet was in active use —it was in the builder’s hand; a sure indication that he meant to push on the work to completion.
O Lord Jesus, how would we indeed be glad if we could see thee at
thy great work. O Zion, the beautiful, thy walls are still in ruins!
Rise, thou glorious Builder, and make her desolations to rejoice at
thy coming.