Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Haggai+002

 

Haggai 2 (ESV)

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”

 

REFLECTION:

  • At the Feast of Tabernacles, July 520 BC, Haggai addressed the people for the second time, and the old people among them had fresh memories of the Temple, which had been destroyed 66 years ago. They thought Solomon’s Temple was magnificent, but the new Temple was not as great as before, and many people were discouraged. Haggai then encouraged them with the Word of God, pointing out that the new Temple would be more glorious than before. The most important thing about the Temple is the presence of God. More than 500 years later, Jesus will step into this Temple! Christians should not only reminisce about the glory of the past, but should take the attitude of Paul and strive for the present work in the face of higher goals (cf. Phil. 3:13-16).
  • “Be strong and work, for I am with you.” (4) The people of Judah turned to worship God, and God promised to bless their work. And now is the time to start working. Likewise, we need to pray, read the Bible, worship, and ultimately go out and do what God wants us to do. Our roles in church, family, and work are God’s way of changing the world. Let’s work together now!
  • God wants to rebuild the Temple, and He chooses to do it through people (8-9). Therefore, although He has the resources, He wants the people to voluntarily participate in them. His supply is plentiful, only waiting for people’s participation. Are you willing to be used by God?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I always get discouraged and give up easily; please remind me that You are always by my side to support me and give me courage and will. I am determined to follow You as Your disciple all my life, and to be used by You to fulfill the Great Commission You have given us.

 

HYMN:

Take My Life and Let It Be – youtu.be/kA9zA7O6bH0