Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 409
IMMERSED IN HAGGAI
bc . The exiles had returned to Judea nearly twenty
years earlier and had enthusiastically begun the work of rebuilding
the Temple. However, they had been forced to stop construction after
the Temple foundation was completed because their opponents complained to the ruler of the Persian Empire. But now there was a new
ruler, Darius, and his policies allowed the rebuilding to continue.
Still, the people claimed, “The time has not yet come to rebuild the
house of the Lord .” They had become so involved in building their own
luxurious homes that they were neglecting the Lord ’s house.
So God sent the prophet Haggai to deliver a series of messages to
the exiles. Haggai explained to the people that since they were so interested in material things, God had been trying to get their attention
through drought, blight, mildew, and hail. “You hoped for rich harvests,
but they were poor. . . . Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the
Lord .”
THE YEAR WAS 520
Challenged and inspired by Haggai’s words, Zerubbabel (the governor)
and Jeshua (the high priest) led the people to resume reconstruction of
the Temple. In words that echo God’s encouragement to Joshua when
ancient Israel was about to enter the Promised Land, Zerubbabel and
Jeshua are told to be strong and to complete the task. Israel is being
renewed and God’s Spirit is with them, just like when the Lord brought
the people out of Egypt. Over the next few months, God gave Haggai
three more messages to encourage them in this project.
Even though the rebuilt Temple would be very modest compared to
the one Solomon had commissioned, God promises that “the future
glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory.” For Israel, the
Temple was the focal point of God’s special presence among them.
They knew that, ultimately, blessings and peace could come to them
only when he lived among them.
In Israel’s story, monarchy and Temple always belong together. So
God also sent one more reassuring message through Haggai, keeping
his promise of a lasting dynasty through King David. This assurance
seemed to be in jeopardy when Jeremiah, at the height of the people’s
resistance to his warnings, said that King Jehoiachin would never return
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