Haggai 2:1-23

Discouragement is a dangerous thing.  The rebuilding of the temple had begun.  Times were far different from the building of the original temple in the days of Solomon.  At that time Israel was united and at the height of its power and prosperity.  Now Israel was divided and returning from captivity to a destroyed land and under the authority of a pagan king.  This new building was not nearly as large and ornate as the original temple.  The leaders and the older people who had seen the original version were likely very discouraged by what they were able to do.  It is in this context that Haggai delivers three messages from God in order to encourage the people.  When we are discouraged we can start to think that our efforts are worthless and be tempted to just give up.  These messages are important for us to keep in mind.    

YOU ARE BUILDING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD: When the people began to compare the new temple with the old temple they were unimpressed.  The new temple was much smaller and the structure was not covered in gold, silver and bronze like the original temple had been.  God assures them that this new temple, though unimpressive by human standards, would be more significant in spiritual standards than the original.  The original temple was a symbol of the coming Messiah; this new temple would have the Messiah walk its halls.  This more modest temple would actually have a greater glory and more prominent place in God’s story of redemption.  We are easily impressed by gold, silver, glitz and glitter.  God owns all the gold and silver in the world and is not impressed by our structures.  God is every bit as glorified by the body of believers meeting to worship Him under a tree in the Amazon rain forest as he is by the body of believers gathering for worship in the most impressive cathedral known to man.  The size of our church or the beauty of the building is meaningless to the Lord.  He will bless us with His presence when His glory is our priority and worship is our activity. 

YOU WILL HAVE BLESSINGS FOR OBEDIENCE TO GOD: The people have been suffering under crop failure for many seasons.  Their sinfulness had contaminated the entire nation and they were all suffering under those consequences.  Haggai illustrates the contaminate qualities of sin by using the Old Testament Law.  A holy object does not make an unclean object holy when it touches it; however and unclean object will defile a holy object unclean when it touches it.  Sin has a contaminating quality.  This is why the nation was suffering so.  However, now that the nation had consecrated itself to God; He was about to give them great blessings.  They had laid the foundation to the temple and now God would bless them.  They had already sown their crops and there was no indication that this crop would yield a greater harvest than any of the others.  The barns were empty but God is promising that due to their obedience, they were about to experience a time of great prosperity and blessing.  We must guard our hearts from being contaminated by sin and understand that God’s blessings are poured out on those who live in obedience to Him.

YOU MUST KEEP BELIEVING IN THE PROMISES OF GOD: The people felt as if they were powerless because all that they were doing was under the authority and provision of a foreign and pagan king.  Haggai assures them that this will not always be the case.  He promises that one day Israel will once again be a powerful nation and that other nations would be under the leadership of Israel’s King.  Zeruabbabel, their current political leader is said to represent the coming Messiah who will reign over all of the nations of the world.  This is the promise of God ever since the days of Abraham.  Many things have happened that may have led the people to think that God’s promises would not be fulfilled.  Haggai assures them that God is still in charge and that His plan will come to fruition.  As we look around us it can be easy to become discouraged in the face of the godless culture in which we live.  Evil seems to prosper and godliness is mocked or even punished.  We must keep on believing the promises of God!  He is returning and He will establish His kingdom and all of the promises of His Word will be fulfilled.  Those who trust Christ will reign with Him for all of eternity completely free from sin.  This is our blessed hope and His promises can be a great encouragement to us in the face of difficulty.