Haggai: Rebuilding the Temple

Part 3

29^th March 2014

We've seen how, 15 years after God's people returned to Jerusalem, God sent Haggai to remind them that their houses were not more important than His; to tell them that their selfishness was the reason why He'd sent a famine on their land; to urge them to repent; and to assure them that He was with them.

They started to rebuild the temple.

Four weeks later. God gave Haggai another prophecy. It started with these words:

Haggai 2v2-5
"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But 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, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.

It seems there were a few very old men and women who remembered what Solomon's temple had been like before the Chaldeans destroyed it. Then it was one of the splendours of the ancient world. Now it was a pile of rubble. Four weeks after they started work, they must have realised just how huge the rebuilding task was going to be. And already they would have felt discouraged. They could have given up again. But God spoke through Haggai to encourage them to keep going because He was with them, as He had said in the previous prophecy. With God all things are possible.

And English Christians can read the statistics that show a massive decline in church attendance over the last 70 years. We can see buildings that were once places of worship and are now carpet warehouses or nightclubs. We can see our nation's growing contempt for God's law. And we can be discouraged. But God is with us.

You might wonder why Haggai had to prophesy twice that God was with them. But how many times have you and I needed to be reminded that God is with us?

God worked with His people to restore His house then, and He'll do so again. But we need to work. God's word through Haggai is a relevant today as it's ever been.

The prophecy was given to the leaders and to "all you people of the land". Every English Christian has a role to play in rebuilding the English church - God's house - in our land. It can be done because God is with us. Many Christians have been so discouraged that they don't believe their contribution would make any difference. They're wrong. Many Christians have become so discouraged or hurt that they've stopped being involved in His church at all. But we need every one of God's people to engage in God's mission.

Including you.