Today's message we will look into the book of Haggai chapter 2 and starting in verse 1.
2 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying,
2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
The focus of this message is in bold print and underlined on the scripture. Now be strong. First, we should look at the historical timeline of where Haggai fits in the Bible. Haggai only has 2 chapters, a relatively short book. He is considered one of the Bible's minor prophets. The historical setting dates it around 520 BC before the temple has been rebuilt in Jerusalem. Haggai was among the remnant of people who had been taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for 70 years along with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree for the Israelites to return to their home after Persia overtook Babylon.
Now Be Strong This message was given to Haggai by GOD and directed toward the Governor of Judah, the high priest, and the remnant of people returning to their home. God is addressing the mindset of woe and nostalgia among the people who were thinking on what was instead of looking forward to what they were going back to work on. With the promise, there is an expectation. Our choices in life will lead us to some places, but God himself will lead us to an unfamiliar place that is meant to try and build up our character.
There were 60,000 Jews who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, yet this was an estimated 20% of the people who had been taken into captivity only 70 years before.Mankind will always try to limit and control his environment, so when a mindset starts to change, it takes time for the progress to occur.
In verse 3 GOD asks who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?How do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? How man views his past and his future are works of fiction. Anything you remember from your past is usually wrong. Since man always values the center and the spotlight of
life, recollections or nostalgia places you in that center and spot. The hero of the memory you created. In reality, you may not have been the hero or even the villain of the memory. It is our carnal nature to make all things about us.
The questions in verse 3 lead you to Now Be Strong GOD is not working on those outside of the remnant in much like today he's working on sanctifying his people and not the world. He gives those who have fallen astray or the curious a clue, a nudge, a look. They have the decision to hear his voice and answer his call. GOD is and will always be satisfied with obedience from his people. When you get up after you have fallen and try again while maintaining his focus and understanding that GOD made that and allowed you to go through that situation you were in.
Now Be Strong because it will be hard to change your mindset and thought process. A trait shared among all men is rebellion. The people of Israel had it among them in the scripture and despite more resources, scripture, and knowledge of what God desires of us, we have that rebellious spirit alive and well among us. Be strong, have courage, and move your feet. When you are truly committed to searching his face and drawing near to God, he will show you things about your character that are faulty or deficient that you can either ignore and push past. You could recognize that deficiency and work on repairing that under his guidance.
One of God's greatest gifts he wants to give to you today is his peace. Our carnal self will always be dissatisfied with things regardless where we are or how much we have obtained in life. You must understand the difference between peaceable and passable. God's peace is truly worth something.
In the book of Ezra the scripture moves ahead back to Jerusalem and the rebuild of the temple.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
In that beautiful moment of praise to the Lord among the people, those who had seen the first house wept with a loud voice so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the weeping. How different is this from someone you know who is always reminiscing of times gone by to an era that they perceive good when it never was. From those who think the best is behind us or look for the absolute worst and most dire of possible future scenarios instead of what God may have showed them today or revealed to them of their character. Now be strong brothers and sisters, be of good courage and trust in the Lord.
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