Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Haggai1-2
Saturday:
Sunday:
Haggai’s second message is marked by the characteristic phrase, the word of the Lord came.” Following God takes courage. Fifteen years earlier, this same group had been forced to shut down work on the temple because of opposition from enemies and slanderous accusations made against them to the Persian authorities. In this book God calmed their fears by assuring them that their efforts would be successful because of His greatness and power.
Solomon’s temple was truly a wonder of the ancient world. Available to King Solomon was an immeasurable cache of gold, silver, fine stone, marble, and other valuable materials for its construction. It took almost two hundred thousand workmen approximately seven years to build. Perched high on Mount Moriah, the temple was an impressive sight. Now the whole nation consisted of only a little group of fifty thousand returnees with very limited resources. To returnees who had seen Solomon’s magnificent temple the new structure seemed like nothing. As a matter of fact, when the foundation was laid about sixteen years earlier, they wept while others shouted for joy.
How could such a small group do such a great work? Three times, to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people, God proclaimed, “Be strong. They could accomplish the task because God was with them.” Yes, the work was too great for them but not for God.
In verse 8 God reminded the little band of Israelites, possibly discouraged because their building was so inferior to Solomon’s, that all the wealth (silver, gold) of the universe was at His disposal. He would ensure that His temple was properly adorned. Neither should they feel that their task was insignificant. Eventually, the glory of their temple would surpass that of the former house, the temple destroyed by the Babylonians. By the time it was completed, Herod’s temple (not really a third but a continuation of the second temple) was a larger complex and in many ways grander than Solomon’s. Moreover, the second temple was afforded more honor because it was graced by the presence of God, the incarnate Jesus Christ.
God reminds us today that He doesn’t need anyone, but that He in His sovereignty and grace, has chosen to use us and let us participate. God doesn’t need a great number, but He chooses to use individuals that are completely surrendered to Him.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to remember that you and me are a majority when I am walking in your will.
- Lord, please help me to never get discouraged in the work, when I am working for you in your plan.
- Lord, please help me to live completely surrendered to your word and will as I grow to love you each day.
Political
- Representative Nate Shannon – District 25 – Warren
- Representative Jason Sheppard – District 56 – Temperence
- Senator Mike Shirkey – District 16 – Clarklake