“For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
— Zechariah 4:10
This verse has stirred my heart for years. I return to it often—especially in seasons of discouragement, waiting, or when the work seems too small to matter. But lately, I've been thinking more deeply about it. I want to explore the scene behind it—the historical story of exile and return, the fragile hope of restoration, and the quiet power of seeing the right person with the right tool in hand.
To fully grasp what’s going on in Zechariah 4:10, it helps to walk through the history that brought us here.
The Story Behind the Plumb Line: Return and Restoration
In 586 BC, Jerusalem fell. The Babylonians destroyed the temple, razed the walls, and carried off Judah's people into exile. But God was not done with His people. Through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, He promised a return, a rebuilding, and a restoration.
Fast-forward to 538 BC: the Persian king Cyrus the Great, stirred by the Spirit of God, issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1–4). This is the first wave of returnees, led by Zerubbabel (a descendant of David, appointed governor) and Joshua the High Priest.
Their mission: rebuild the temple of God in a city still in ruins.
But it wasn't easy.
The foundation is laid, but opposition quickly halts the project. For 16 years, the site sits silent. The people grow distracted, discouraged, and disillusioned. “Small things,” they might have called it. Little progress. No glory. Nothing worth shouting about.
But then—God raises up Haggai and Zechariah, two prophets who speak life and urgency back into the remnant.
A New Sight: The Plumb Line and the Spirit
In a series of visions, Zechariah sees a lampstand and two olive trees—images of divine supply and partnership. Then comes this striking image:
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
— Zechariah 4:6–7
And then, the moment that gives me chills:
“…They shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
— Zechariah 4:10
Why rejoice at this?
Because the right leader now holds the right tool. It means something is finally going to happen. The work of rebuilding will be aligned, grounded, and guided—not by guesswork or human ambition, but by a plumb line and the Spirit of God.
What Is a Plumb Line?
A plumb line is an ancient building tool—a simple weight on a string that uses gravity to establish true vertical. Just as a compass finds magnetic north, a plumb line helps a builder establish a perfect 90-degree line, ensuring a straight wall and a solid structure. You can’t build without fixed standards. Our eyes deceive. We need truth to align our work.
And in the hands of Zerubbabel—God’s chosen governor and restorer—it becomes a symbol of hope. People aren’t rejoicing over the tool alone. They’re rejoicing because the work will now proceed rightly, under the hand of a faithful leader and by the Spirit of the living God.
Coaches and Leaders: You Hold the Plumb Line
This is where I want to speak directly to coaches, mentors, and teachers—those who build lives, not walls.
You hold the plumb line.
Your athletes, your students, your team—they rejoice when they see you lead with fixed standards and faithful love. You mentor not just by discipline, but by aligning that discipline with truth. You hold the whistle not as a symbol of power, but as a plumb line—a reminder of what’s right, what’s straight, and what’s possible through the Spirit of God.
You may feel like what you’re doing is small. Early mornings, film sessions, character talks, quiet prayers. But these are not “small things” to God.
If you're holding that plumb line with faithfulness and humility—your work matters eternally.
And What About the Mountain?
Don’t miss this: there’s still a “great mountain” in front of Zerubbabel—massive obstacles. But the Word says:
“Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.” (Zech. 4:7)
The mountain will fall. The top stone will be set. The project will be completed—not by might, nor by power, but by God's Spirit.
So coaches, teachers, mentors—pick up the plumb line again. Let your young men and women see it in your hand. Lead with clarity, consistency, and love. And let them rejoice—not just because of what you're doing—but because of what God is doing through you.
Historical Markers and Scripture Trail
Here’s a brief guide to place all this in context:
| Year | Event | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| 586 BC | Temple destroyed, exile begins | 2 Kings 25 |
| 538 BC | Cyrus’s decree; Zerubbabel & Joshua return | Ezra 1–2 |
| 536 BC | Temple foundation laid | Ezra 3 |
| 520 BC | Haggai & Zechariah begin prophesying | Haggai 1–2; Zech. 1–8 |
| 516 BC | Temple completed | Ezra 6:14–15 |
| 458 BC | Ezra returns with the Law | Ezra 7–10 |
| 445 BC | Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls | Nehemiah 1–6 |
| 430s BC | Final reforms (Nehemiah, Malachi) | Neh. 13; Malachi 1–4 |
A whisper from a prophet. A remnant holding tools. A plumb line in a governor’s hand.
A whistle in a coach’s hand.
A lesson. A prayer. A practice done with excellence.
Don't despise the day of small things.
God is still building.
And the world will rejoice when they see His Spirit working through you.
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