Overview of Day 269: The Day of Small Things (2026)
In this episode of Bible in a Year, Father Mike Schmitz walks through Ezra 5–6, Zechariah 4–6, and Proverbs 20:8–11, focusing on the rebuilding of the Temple, Zechariah’s visions of hope and holiness, and the wisdom that a person’s actions reveal what is in the heart. The central theme is encouragement: God’s work often begins in small, overlooked steps, but He faithfully brings it to completion.
Readings Covered
Ezra 5–6
- The rebuilding of the Temple resumes after being restarted by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.
- Local officials question the Jews’ authority to rebuild, prompting an official review.
- A search of the royal archives confirms that Cyrus had indeed authorized the rebuilding and even funded it.
- Darius then reinforces Cyrus’s decree and orders support for the project.
- The Temple is completed, dedicated with joy, and the exiles celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Zechariah 4–6
- Zechariah receives visions including:
- A lampstand and two olive trees: a picture of God’s Spirit empowering the work.
- A flying scroll: representing judgment against theft and false swearing.
- A woman in an ephah: symbolizing wickedness being removed.
- Four chariots: God’s sovereign activity across the earth.
- The section ends with the symbolic crowning of Joshua the high priest, pointing to the coming Branch and a future harmony of priesthood and kingship.
Proverbs 20:8–11
- A righteous ruler discerns evil.
- No one can claim complete moral purity.
- Dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord.
- A child’s behavior reveals character.
Main Themes and Takeaways
1. God works through “small things”
Father Mike highlights Zechariah’s line about not despising “the day of small things.” The Temple’s restoration took years, paperwork, persistence, and seemingly minor steps—but those small acts were part of God’s larger plan.
2. Faithfulness includes details
The discovery of Cyrus’s decree depended on records, archives, and bureaucracy. Father Mike reflects on how even tedious, hidden, administrative work can be crucial in God’s providence.
3. The Temple rebuild shows God’s faithfulness
What had been halted is resumed, protected, funded, and completed. The completion under Darius confirms that God can move the hearts of kings and sustain long-delayed promises.
4. Zechariah points beyond the moment to Christ
The crowning of Joshua the high priest foreshadows Jesus:
- Joshua / Yeshua is the same name as Jesus.
- The image combines priestly and kingly authority.
- Father Mike sees this as a sign of the coming Messiah who is both high priest and king.
5. Actions reveal the heart
From Proverbs, Father Mike emphasizes that what people do often reveals what they truly believe or value. Speech and conduct are outward signs of inward reality.
Notable Reflections from Father Mike
- “We can’t lose our faith the way we lose our car keys. We either give it away or let it decay because we don’t use it.”
- The “day of small things” is a reminder that most spiritual growth is gradual and often unimpressive in the moment.
- Even obscure or technical work matters in God’s plan when it serves justice, truth, and worship.
Closing Prayer Emphasis
Father Mike ends by thanking God for:
- speaking through Scripture,
- guiding the rebuilding of His people,
- and helping listeners begin each day with praise and thanksgiving.
He encourages the audience to continue praying, trusting, and growing together in God’s word.