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More Haggai commentaries
Haggai 1:1-15
The command to build God’s house
Haggai 2:1-9
Encouragement to complete the Temple
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Haggai 1:1-15
The command to build God’s house
Haggai 2:1-9
Encouragement to complete the Temple
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Encouragement to complete the Temple
Haggai 2:1–9
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
A mother watched her son begin to drain of energy. He’d lost his desire to get out of bed. She heard the alarm go off through his bedroom door. Apparently he just kept punching the little snooze button on the top. Finally, after 3 or 4 extra rings she walked in and said, &r … More
Firmly committed to build the temple, the people were soon to face some difficult questions. How beautiful would this temple be and how would its glory compare with Solomon’s temple (vv. 1-3)? As work progressed and plans were formed for the new temple, inevitable comparisons were made with Solomon’s glorious structure. The fact that this temple had barely been started may account partially for Haggai’s strong assertion that there was no comparison whatever between this building and Solomon’s. Materials may have been in short supply, and resources seemed to be very limited.
Just as the people of the land had successfully stopped the work some sixteen years earlier, so now it seems that important individuals tried to block the project. However, Haggai says nothing about this opposition, so it may have been only a potential danger in the early months of the work. As an encouragement to the builders it seems that Haggai is reflecting upon David’s charge to Solomon in I Chronicles 28;10, 20 when he says to his son, “Take courage and act because my God is with you” (v. 4). Just as David told Solomon to act with determination in completing the first temple, so the Lord uses th same language to stir the people to carry out the work of rebuilding.
Haggai brings to a climax this section of encouragement by explicitly stating that the later glory of this house would be greater than the former (vv. 5-9). God wanted the temple to be rebuilt, and He had the gold and silver to do it, but he needed willing hands. God has chosen to do his work through people. He provides the resources, but willing hands, like yours and mine must do the work.
Application
I must be person of encouragement, prayer, Bible study, and worship - but eventually I must get out and do what God has in mind for me. He wants to change the world through you and me. He has given us a job to do in the church, at out place of employment and at home.
Haggai 2:1-9 (English Standard Version)
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, "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, '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? 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, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 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. 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. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. 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.'"
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