Are y’all reading through your Bible this year? As you might recall, I mentioned at the first of the year I’d be doing a chronological read-thru with a group on YouVersion. Well, we’re just about done with the prophets–no…I mean we’re just about DONE with these moaning, wailing, whining prophets! Eeee-gad!
Isaiah told us there’d be a remnant saved from destruction and a Savior in the end. Jeremiah predicted the destruction and gave us a play-by-play of it. Ezekiel could have sold tickets to his Broadway enactments of God’s messages to the exiles in Babylon. And after Persia conquered Babylon, King Cyrus gave the remnant–that Isaiah predicted–permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, but Haggai scolds them for building their own homes first–instead of focusing on God’s.
Whew! Did you follow my romp through the prophets? Jesus summed up Haggai’s two chapters in a single verse that can guide our lives during this year of pandemic, riots, and election mayhem.
Haggai’s First Frustration
After seventy years of exile in Babylon (fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy), can you imagine the joy and amazement the Jews felt when King Cyrus of Persia gave permission for a remnant to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and Yahweh’s Temple (fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecies)?
Now, consider this…
YEARS after the remnant returned to Jerusalem, the remnant in Jerusalem hasn’t done what the LORD had literally moved heaven and earth to enable them to do…
This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘These people say, “The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.”’ Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’” Haggai 1:2-4
Those who returned to Jerusalem evidently had time to build their own “paneled houses” but not enough time to rebuild God’s Temple. Why would they delay the restoration of their only method of worship and/or redemption? Could it be…
Jesus Says It In One Verse
You’ve probably already guessed the verse Jesus used to sum up this idea in his Sermon on the Mount:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Is there something you know God has asked you to do, but you’ve been slow to obey? Perhaps you’ve even seen Him move heaven and earth to prepare the way for you to be able to do it. What are you waiting for? Take that first step! Go get your chisel and hammer. Start rebuilding the Temple–and rekindle the relationship with your God that’s been dormant too long.
The People’s Frustration
Some of those in the returning remnant had seen the splendor of Solomon’s temple before its destruction and now witnessed the meager Temple their own hands were rebuilding. Their temple was half the size with a fraction of the grandeur. They didn’t possess the skill or materials Solomon did.
Whether a conscious decision or unconscious defeatism, their broken hearts pulled others into discouragement, making new Temple became “less than” in everyone’s eyes.
So the Lord said:
“‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong…all you people of the land…and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land…I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:3-9
God Inhabits Obedience
Here’s what we find out when Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem YEARS later. The remnant had ceased rebuilding the LORD’s Temple because of severe persecution and adversity. They’d gone back to their homes, their lives, their problems and set aside the commands of God for another time–when they felt more able to cope.
I don’t know about you, but I can relate to that. Sometimes I’d rather reach for the TV remote than for my Bible. I’d rather play a mindless game on my phone than pray. I’d rather watch a movie than listen to/watch a sermon. Why?
Because I’m not sure reading another chapter or listening to another sermon or sending up another prayer makes much difference in the whole scheme of the world’s problems. Can my little contribution really help?
Read It Again:
“‘…and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:7-9 (emphasis mine)
It’s not about what my obedience DOES to the whole project. It’s what my obedience does to my RELATIONSHIP between my Father and me. He inhabits my obedience. The materials and skills are His–and when I offer them all back to Him through my obedience, He instills peace deep down in places nothing else can reach.
THAT’S what happens when we seek His Kingdom first, and the “all else” that’s added is His presence and peace that He promised in Haggai.
Yes, LORD, I’ll take it! Let the rebuilding commence!
