In this last chapter of the prophesy, we see three revelations/oracles that the Lord gave Haggai. These revelations are all intended to be a Word of encouragement to the people. Remember the context. About a month before, having heard God's Word about the temple that still lay in ruins 16 years after the reconstruction was started, the people responded to the prophet and set themselves to the task of rebuilding. In the midst of doing the task...a number of things "come up" among the people that God addresses through the prophet. There is a "now and later" element to the promises that God makes...which is typical of prophesy.
In Hag 2:1-5, Haggai receives a word that is intended for Zerubbabel (the civil government leader), Joshua (the spiritual leader/priest), and the people. No element of society is excluded. Three questions are asked by God. You can interpret the questions in one of two ways: God is complaining that the work they are doing is lacking in comparison to Solomon's Temple (destroyed in 586 BC); or, God is bringing to the surface something that is in the hearts of the people. The latter is the preferred interpretation.
Hag 2:3, "Who is living that remembers Solomon's temple? Is this one shaping up like that? Does this one pale in comparison?" Perhaps...as God surfaces these questions, he is turning the light on to that which is in the hearts of the people. Perhaps some were working diligently with what they perceived as limited resources and were think or saying among themselves...our very best is falling short of the way things used to be.
Some today are stuck comparing to the past in this way. They remember the days of "bus ministry" and tent revivals and the "sawdust trail." They compare what God is doing in the present with these moments of nostalgia. Somehow...they become disheartened. Why? Because God is doing something new...or is it because God isn't doing something the way "they" prefer?
The people had a real concern. "Will God be pleased with what we do since it is not comparable to what Solomon's work looked like." The answer is an EMPHATIC: YES! How do we know?
God declared three times, "Take courage. I am with you. My Spirit is abiding (present tense). D0 not fear." (Hag 2:4-5). In other words, they were doing what God desired for them to do. He was not comparing them against a previous generation (for the good or bad). He was looking at their heart.
As I said yesterday, God does not need a building to meet in. The temple was a place of meeting demonstrating the commitment of the people and the glory of God to the nations (those outside of God's family). During the Exodus wanderings, this was accomplished in a tent. In Solomon's era, it was a grand temple. Now, in the days following Babylonian captivity and in the Persian Empire...it is the work these people are doing. But the picture does not stop there. There is a foreshadowing of the era/age to come when the glory of God will dwell in a new way. When all of the nations will bring offerings of silver and gold to God (Hag 2:7-9). In that day, the glory of God will shine brighter than ever before. This is a picture of the coming Kingdom of God to be established on earth as it is in heaven.
Hag 2:10-14, God uses two questions of the priest to make a point. "Can something unholy be made holy, simply by "touching" something holy?" Answer- No (Hag 2:11-12). Can something holy be made unholy, by touching something that is unclean?" Answer- Yes (Hag 2:13). This illustrates that God's people must live as holy people. They must separate themselves from the sin in the world that taints them. (The world will not become holy by coming in contact with Christians, but Christians can become unholy by embracing the world.) In Hag 2:15-17, God reminds them that the judgment that had experienced was due to their unholy living. In Hag 2:18-19, God promised that "from this day forward" they will experience blessing. Why? Because they had separated themselves from pursuing the world's systems and values and consecrated themselves to doing the will of God. Because of their obedience, the judgment they had experienced was now to cease...from this day forward.
With Christ, it is the same today. We live (as do all people) separated from God in judgment because we choose sin over the will of God. When we yield our lives to Christ, this judgment is rolled away from us and from this day forward, as long as we remain yielded under His leadership, we experience God's blessings and favor.
Hag 2:20-23 is a Messianic prophesy. God promises that through this people and through Zerubbabel, He will establish this great kingdom of His. It will triumph over all other kingdoms and military powers. And, Zerubbabel will be like a "signet ring," a symbol of the King's authority in doing so.
Proverbs 21:13 is the takeaway today. As I thought of this proverb, it reminded me that we are called to be a giving people. We cannot in clear conscience store up for ourselves treasures on earth while the work of God [the church and mercy ministries/missions] goes unfunded. To do so...is to not recognize the need or to recognize it and close our ears to it. The latter puts us in a place of need (God's righteous judgment) without anyone (God) to provide for us.
NOW...for those following along, I am going to move to Genesis for the next 50 days. Tomorrow is chapter 1. Why? Because I am teaching a class on Genesis at the Baptist College of Florida beginning in January and want to spend some time in devotional reading from the book. Hope you will join me there.
Grace,
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3 comments:
Haven't commented in a while but here goes... I feel so rusty.
There is a lot of information in this little chapter but my question is I understand what you are saying about not being in the world but I find it is very hard to do this. Such a fine line between being in the world and not of the world. Seems like the lost are not interested in Christians because they can not 'relate' to us. We do not have the same things in common. Sometimes they think I am better than them or I do not understand what they are going through. It is tough, I feel stretched sometimes. I feel like Satan uses this obstancle in my life to pull me away from God.
Welcome back. Thanks for the comments. Her's a thought...just to clairfy what I was saying.
I would say that we are to be "in the world" but to not be "of the world." Obviously the "how" of that varies with different people. I am personally a big proponent of integrating my life with folks who are in the world. I volunteer with scouting, the school...have served on boards that were secular by design...even ran for public office a few years back. This is part of being in the world. I invest in the stock market, have friends because I like them (whether they are Christians or not), and read a lot of stuff that has more to do with business, leadership, politics, and history than most people I know. This is part of being in the world.
To be "of the world" as it is distinctive from what I described is put ones trust in the systems of the world. I do not believe we need to "embrace" the systems of this world as though there were hope in them for us. I am not trusting in the wisdom of the Federal Reserve to provide for my family. I am not trusting in the Sheriff of Escambia County to keep me safe. I do not trust the media, the educators, or the public library to provide me wisdom. Does that make me weird? ABSOLUTELY. I am as weird as they come. I happen to believe that God will provide, protect, and make me wise. I write a check to God through the local church long before I write a check to American Express of ECUA...or my mortgage company. I happen to believe that by doing so...I am demonstrating my faith in God and my trust in Him to take care of the other things in life. DO some of my friends find that difficult to relate to? YES...as well as many in my church (grin), some of my own family, and most of my unchurched friends. The most forgiving of these are my unchurched firends. They don't try to justify why they don't do it. They are weird too about things...so they assume that I am too.
Sure...our conduct, at times, makes it difficult for "outsiders" to relate. What outsiders want to see is if there is something so "good" about what we have with God...that they are willing to not focus on our "weird-ness" and get to the core of what is attractive.
Do they sometimes look at us and think that we think we are better than them? Yes...adn so do some of my "churched" friends (grin). Here is something that will set you free: Do you think you are better than them? Do you act like you are better than them? If not...then it is their problem and they should seek help. You and I are not responsible for what and how people think. We are only responsible for the ammunition we give them to think about.
If the "outsider" friends (or the non-growing Christians) in our lives get offended at our love and at our humble obedience to Christ...we are ina good group of select people...like Jesus. They wanted to kill Him...and did...only to be disappointed and discover that they couldn't escape Him that easily. He prayed for them anyway!
Not sure if it helps...just what I was thinking last night when I read your comment and could remember this morning when I tried to wake up.
Be blessed. DO something cool for Jesus today.
Grace,
Whee, "in the world but not of it" is such a fun subject.
If I might, I'll take a swing at it. I'm fully convinced it is all about attitude and outlook. I'm not that much different than the people I know who are unsaved in my actions, but my motivations are often far different. I say "often", because sometimes, I still do the right thing with the wrong attitude which makes me "in the world".
I notice the results are also.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
(Matthew 26:53-54)
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
(John 18:36)
John 17 is also interesting to read about this subject. I haven't looked at it in quite this light, I think I'll have to go over that one.
The attitude about death is a good example for me. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Today is a good day to die and yesterday was a better one since to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. A Christian rock group has a line in one of their songs: "You gotta get Life and you'll be better off dead." This is not a call to seek death, but like a good soldier and Christ Himself, to perform faithfully the duties given to us by our Superior without flinching until He gives us our rest.
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