Last week, we worked through Haggai 1. In that chapter, Yahweh challenges his people to stop, and think, about their struggle to prosper. All of you have had times in your life, probably, where you've worked like a dog, and had nothing to show for it. And there's few things more frustrating, than when that happens. If you work hard, you should reap the fruit of that hard work, right?
And then, Yahweh went on in Haggai 1 to talk about why life was hard for them. "You are struggling because you are neglecting my house. All you are thinking about is yourself."
Let's reread 1:1-11:
(1) In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zurubbavel son of Shaltiel, governor of Judah, and to Yehoshua son of Yehotsadak the high priest, saying,
(2) "Thus said Yahweh of Armies, saying,
"This people has said,
'The time has not yet come-- the time for the house of Yahweh to be built,"
(3) and the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying,
(4) "The time is it for you, yourselves, to rest in your paneled houses,
while this house is in ruins?"
(5) And so then, Thus Yahweh of Armies has said,
"Consider in your hearts concerning your roads/ways:
(6) You have sown much,
and you have brought in little.
Eating,
and there is no abundance/satisfaction.
Drinking,
and there is no merriment/drunkenness.
Wearing clothes,
and there isn't warmth for him,
and the one earning wages, earns wages to a bag with holes."
(7) Thus Yahweh of Armies has said,
"Consider in your hearts concerning your roads/ways."
(8) Go up to the mountain to gather wood,
and build the house,
and I shall be pleased with it,
and I shall be glorified," Yahweh said.
(9) Expecting much,
and LOOK! A little,
and when you gathered to the house,
I blew on it, because of what? --utterance of Yahweh.
Because of my house, that it is in ruins,
while you are rushing/running, each man to his house.
(10) Because of these things, over/concerning you the heavens have withheld dew,
while the earth has withheld its crops,
(11) and I have called for ruins/drought on the land and on the mountains and on the garden and on the new wine and on the olive oil and on all that the earth brings forth and on the human and on the cattle and on all the toil of the hands,
Then, in verses 12-15, we read about the response of the leaders, and the people, to Haggai's words. Will they heed Haggai's words? Will they do what Israelites seldom did, and obey one of God's prophets?:
(12) And Zerubbavel son of Shaltiel obeyed, with Yehoshua son of Yehotzadak the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, the voice of Yahweh their God/Elohim and the words of Haggai the prophet,
just as Yahweh their God/Elohim had sent him,
and the people feared before the face/presence of Yahweh,
(13) and Haggai the messenger of Yahweh spoke with the message of Yahweh to the people, saying,
"I am with you." --utterance of Yahweh,
(14) and Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbavel son of Shaltiel governor of Judah, and the spirit of Yehoshua son of Yehotzadak the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people,
and they came/gathered,
and they did work on the house of Yahweh of Armies their Elohim/God (15) on the 24th day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
So that's chapter 1. We read chapter 1, and we are pleased. What we are seeing here is a picture of how life was supposed to look in the OT. When you stumble, and sin, God sends a prophet to challenge you, and to let you know what He thinks of you. And hopefully, you, as God's people, respond by returning to God.
Our passage for this week, Haggai 2, is addressed to the people about a month later than chapter 1-- after a month of working on God's house.
Before we start reading chapter 2, try to picture this month. Picture the leaders and the people working together to rebuild God's house. How far do you think you could get, with a few hundred people (or more) helping? What do you suppose it looked like?
By the time you work on any house project, however big, for a month, you're going to have a pretty good idea of what the final product will look like.
My father-in-law is handy. He can look at something that's broken, and understand how it's been designed, and know how to fix it. He has the right tools to fix it, and he actually knows how to use those tools.
He can also build things from scratch. He made my sister-in-law a movable island for her kitchen. It's beautiful; it works perfectly in its place. When he built that, it was a big project. We'd go over to visit them, and we'd see it slowly coming together in the garage. At every step of the way, you could see the progress, and potential. You could tell, pretty quickly, that this would be a nice (and useful) piece of furniture.
Other people are far less handy. I can walk around my house, and I can tell where I paid to have a professional contractor come in and fix things, or remodel things, and where I "fixed" things. I try not to have a complex about it, but my father-in-law could probably walk around the house, and point at things, and say, "I'm guessing Garrett did that, and that, and that." I certainly can.
It's not that I don't know how to work hard, or long, on something. My effort is usually not the problem. But sometimes, it's not enough to work hard on something. Sometimes, you have to have two other things: (1) skill, and (2) quality materials. And when you're lacking either one of those things, the end result may look like something I built.
At this point in the book of Haggai, the people have been working hard on rebuilding God's house for about a month. A month is plenty of time, usually, to get a sense of what the finished product will look like.
And that, basically, is the problem. Everyone who looks at this temple going up, isn't really satisfied with it. It's not what people wanted it to be; it's not good enough. And when you're building for God, that puts an entirely different spin on it, right?
Lots of times around the house, I tell myself, "It's not perfect, but it's good enough." I'll finish a job, and then, cringing, try to use it, and hope it holds/works.
But when you're building for God, you assume that there are expectations, right? God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Yahweh is the glorious God, enthroned above. God has high expectations for his people. If I'm a Judean, looking at this house going up, I'm disappointed in it. And if I'm disappointed, what does God think about it?
Moms, imagine that it's Mother's Day. Your kids have worked hard making homemade cards, possibly with your husband's "help." They've drawn pictures on them, and written a little note. Maybe the card even used glue, and buttons, and lace, and anything else your child could find that wasn't nailed down.
When the time comes to celebrate you, your children grab their cards and race to give them to you. They all know that you will love their card. You'll ooh and ah over it, and admire the pictures and buttons and lace.
But one of your kids hangs back. She knows that some of her pictures are a little messy. The paper has a small tear in the corner. Her handwriting is sloppy. And she's scared to give it to you, because she thinks you'll be disappointed in it-- and in her.
A month into this building project, everyone involved in building the temple is getting discouraged. And those few people who remember what Solomon's temple used to look like, are having a really hard time of it.
Our verses today give God's reaction to all of this. What does God think about his new house? Is it good enough? Is He angry about how it looks?
Verse 1-3
(1) In the seventh month, on the 21st day of the month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying,
(2) "Speak, please, to Zerubbavel son of Shaltiel governor of Judah, and to Yehoshua son of Yehotzadaq the
high priest and to the remnant of the people, saying,
(3) "Who among you remains,
who has seen this house in its first/former glory?,
And how do you see it now?
Is it not as nothing in your eyes?,
Sometimes, "back in the old days," things actually were better (ignoring Ecclesiastes 7:10):
(1) Kids used to be able to talk to each other in full sentences, in person, and look at each other (and not their phones) while they talk.
(2) Jeans came without holes in them-- holes were something you had to earn.
(3) Appliances were built to last.
(4) More TV shows were safe for kids.
(5) In older houses, builders put extra detail, and time, and money into things that they never do now. My in-laws' house has beautiful woodwork in it-- stairs, railings, the trim work around the edges. There's built-in decorative bookcases.
Even in my own house, built in the late 50s, the kitchen cabinets are made of a higher quality of wood than most modern houses. Underneath the carpets, there's beautiful hardwood throughout the upstairs.
When you walk into a house built back then, you immediately recognize it. People who value good craftsmanship, will pay extra for houses like that. And if/when they remodel parts of them, they will do so in a way that respects the "glory" of the older parts, and keeps them.
Yahweh begins chapter 2 by acknowledging the situation here. His new house is not as good as it was, "back in the old days."
But it's important to catch his tone. He, very nicely, very politely, requests that Haggai speak to everyone involved in this building project. God is not angry. He's not in a bad mood about all of this. Instead, He's kind. He says "please."
Now, this kindness doesn't mean He's glossing over the reality of what his new house looks like, in comparison with the one Solomon built. At this point, it's been (roughly?) 67 years since the temple was destroyed, which means that there will be a few people (but probably only a few) in the community who remember what it used to look like. And they can tell people about "back in the day, when they were kids," what God's house used to be. And what it should be.
Yahweh knows what the builders think of this house. They know that when they see it, they think it's "nothing." They think it's a cheap, poor, substitute. And everyone knows that since Yahweh is a glorious God, He deserves a glorious house (1 Kings 8:13).
I say this, but what is "glory"? "Glory" is one of those words we throw around, and we pretend we know what it means, but... we kind of don't. Let's turn to Psalm 49:16-17, where it talks about a rich man's glory:
"(16) May you not be afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases,
(17) because when he dies, he won't take any of it.
It will not go down after him-- his glory."
"Glory" is the outward manifestation, that you are a big deal. Picture a Hollywood actress going out for a red carpet event. She's rocking it-- she's got the hair, the makeup, the jewelry, the dress, the high heels, the limousine, the chauffeur. All of those things are her glory-- they are the external evidence, that she is incredibly powerful and important. What glory is, really, is your bling.
Now, God, is a glorious God. The heavens declare that He is glorious. He is the one enthroned above, worshipped by seraphim. And when you try to picture that in your head, or when you go outside and look at the heavens, you understand, God is glorious. And since that's true, God should live in a house with some serious bling. You should be able tell, when you go to visit God, that He is a big deal, because his house is a big deal. His house should put everyone else's house to shame. And the people know that this house they are building, doesn't really reflect what God is actually like.
So when Yahweh looks at his new house, does He view it the same way as they do? Is it time for some demo work? What will He tell the people? Verse 4-5:
(4) And so then, be strong, Zerubbavel --utterance of Yahweh,
and be strong, Yehoshua son of Yehotzadaq the high priest,
and be strong, all the people of the land --utterance of Yahweh,
and work/do,
for I [am] with you --utterance of Yahweh of Armies,
(5) In accordance with the word that I cut with you, when you came out from Egypt,
my Spirit stands in your midst.
May you not be afraid.
Yahweh calls for them, first of all, to be strong. This is a call for internal strength-- a strength of will. Don't give in to discouragement. Don't tell yourself that this isn't worth it-- that you are wasting your time.
Yahweh calls for them, second, to work. Finish this thing out. Yahweh isn't going to ask you to tear this thing down, and do it over, and "do it right." Work!
Then, Yahweh gives them two pieces of encouragement. First, He says, "I am with you." There is nothing more encouraging, in all of Scripture, than this. To have God reassure you, that He is with you.
The second piece of encouragement Yahweh gives, is that God is still keeping his promise: His Spirit stands in their midst.
Probably, Yahweh/Haggai here is referring to Exodus 29:45-46:
(45) And I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel,
and I will be for them as an Elohim/God,
(46) and they will know that I [am] Yahweh, their Elohim/God,
who brought them from the land of Egypt so that I would dwell in their midst.
I -- Yahweh-- [am] their Elohim/God.
Here, Yahweh says that He brought them out from Egypt, why? Yahweh rescued them, SO THAT He would live in their midst and be their God.
Haggai reassures the people that none of this has changed. What Yahweh most wants, still, is to live with his people-- with people who are committed to Him. Yahweh is still determined to be their God, and make this work.
And for this reason (reading the two lines in Haggai 2:5 as parallel to each other), Haggai says in verse 5 that they don't need to be afraid. Yahweh isn't getting ready to pack his bags and leave the people because the temple doesn't meet his expectations. He's not going to check into a different hotel down the street. He is still with you. His Spirit is still in your midst.
Haggai continues, in verse 6:
(6) For thus Yahweh of Armies has said:
"Again, in a little while, I am causing to shake the heavens, and the earth, and the seas, and the dry
land,
(7) and I shall cause to shake all the nations,
and they shall bring the desirable things of all the nations,
and I shall fill this house with glory-- Yahweh of Armies has said.
(8) To/for me the silver [is],
and to/for me the gold [is] --utterance of Yahweh of Armies.
(9) Greater shall be the glory of this latter house than the first, Yahweh of Armies has said,
while through this place, I shall give peace/prosperity --utterance of Yahweh of Armies.
Yahweh says, the day is coming when He will bring his own bling. He will tip the heavens and the earth, and the nations, upside down, and shake them, and empty out their pockets of silver and gold. It all belongs to him. God will take his people's hard work, and run with it. He will make this house more glorious than the first one. It's true that a glorious God deserves a glorious house-- but He will bring the glory.
In verse 9, Yahweh ends this section by making another promise to the people. When you look at this temple, know that this building will be an instrument of peace, and prosperity. To put this in NT (Johannine) type language, the temple will be God's grace to his people. It will be a place you pray toward, to seek forgiveness. To seek protection from your enemies. To praise God for his power, and love, and mercy, and kindness. It will be the place that enables you to live in peace, and prosperity, with God.
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For those of you who are committed to serving God-- you who have been crucified with Christ, and joined to him in baptism, and who now live for Him-- there will be times in your life when you will be discouraged. You'll look at what you're accomplishing for God-- what your hard work is producing-- and you'll hang your head. You understand that God is a glorious God, and He deserves service that brings him glory. And you look at what your hands have contributed to that, and you want to cry. It's so inadequate. And you know who feels this more strongly than everyone, probably? Pastors. Pastors look at their service toward the flock God has given them, and all they can pray is, "God, I'm sorry." They are like the little kid with the bad Mother's Day card. They know lots of other people have served God, with far more skill. They know that God deserves better than what they've given. And they worry about what God thinks about them.
But we all feel this way sometimes. Jesus has given each of us a ministry to build up God's new house-- the church. We all serve God somehow, either inside these walls, or outside in our community. And we look at ourselves, knowing our limitations, and we get discouraged. We wonder, is this something that God will even use? Is God angry with me? Is God going to abandon me? I wish my ministry looked less like my house, and more like my father-in-law's.
If you find yourself feeling this way, let Haggai's words encourage you:
(1) Discouragement is inevitable. But how you respond to it, is entirely up to you. Haggai calls you to be strong, and fight this feeling, and overcome it. "Be strong." "Work." Or, in Paul's words, "we must not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up" (Galatians 6:9). You don't need to be a slave to discouragement. You can choose how you respond to these feelings.
(2) Know that you serve a kind God. When you serve God, you don't need to do so, fearing a lightning bolt from heaven. God knows your limitations. You serve a God who is kind, and understanding, and gentle. You serve a God who says "please." He knows your hearts. He know you are doing the best you can. And He is pleased with what you've done-- it's something He can use, to do great things for his name, and kingdom.
Actually, let me just pause here. All of us have limitations. There are areas of our service to God, that look like my house. If it's not that serious, in the big picture, we may laugh about how badly something bombed. Or, if it's more serious, we may find ourselves worrying about what God thinks. Or, we may bitterly regret handling a situation like we did. You're going to mess up, badly, at times. Your service to God, is sometimes going to look like my house.
As you grow in your walk with God, you will hopefully become more skilled/wise in ministry ("wisdom" in OT thought is "skill in living"). Old pastors don't make the same mistakes, sometimes, as new pastors. Older lights for Jesus, sometimes shine brighter than newer lights. And God knows all of this. God knows your limitations. God is kind, and patient, and He knows that you are doing the best you can. And He knows you are working to become more wise/skilled. So don't be afraid of God. This brings us to my third point:
(3) In your service to God, know that your first and your best is good enough. God can take your service, and use it to do great things. God can bring the glory. God can bring the fruit. All of this is not just up to you-- God is with you. God's Spirit is with you, and in you. The Spirit is your "partner" (2 Corinthians 13:14). So don't be scared of God. And understand: you are not alone. You have this church; you have God.
In my church lately, I've never heard so many people sound so discouraged about everything (with one notable exception). People think there's no point to anything. They don't want to volunteer in the church for anything. No one cares about anything. Everyone has grown weary of doing the good-- we are all just spinning our wheels.
Some of that-- but not all-- is covid-related. Some of it, arguably, is the result of destructive theology (free grace theology) that's floating around the church. Some of it, maybe, is the church not understanding that Jesus has given each of us a grace/ministry. But whatever the cause, understand that this discouragement is something you can fight. You don't have to accept this, in yourself, or in others.
So if, or when you find yourself feeling discouraged about church, and about your specific ministry, remember Haggai 1.
"Be strong. Work. Know that God is with you. God's Spirit is in your midst." Know that you serve a kind and understanding God, who is able to use your service to do great things.
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Hans Wolff quote (Haggai, page 84):
Anyone who, in everyday participation in God’s work on earth, despairs because of the futility of what he does, may find in Haggai’s third discourse a paradigm for overcoming despondency: for Haggai teaches himself not to despise “the day of small things” (Zech. 4:10*).
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Scrap I chose not to fit in:
We maybe look at the church-- the people-- as a whole, and we get discouraged. What have we really accomplished?
And maybe this discouragement, for us, is a good thing. We know that we've been busy doing everything else in life. We live in paneled houses-- we've put a lot of time, and energy, and money, into ourselves. We "rush home" at the end of each day. But God? There hasn't been any margin left for Him. He gets what little remnant we can't make use of.
So we may look at the church, and be discouraged, rightly. This is not a church that shines like a light in its community like it should. This is not a church that lives as holy to God-- it's compromised itself in a million ways, serving the works of the flesh. This is not the kind of church that God's Spirit can fill with glory, so that we shine like stars. And what's true of the church, is true specifically of me.
What do we want to be, really? How badly do we want God to use us?
But if you've been faithful, and done what you can, both in the community, and in the church, in equipping God's holy ones for a work of service (Eph. 4), then this is a passage you should take comfort in. God sees your hard work; He sees your commitment to him. And He will take that commitment, and service, and run with it.
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Translation:
(1) In the seventh month, on the 21st day of the month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying,
(2) "Speak, please , to Zerubbavel son of Shaltiel governor of Judah, and to Yehoshua son of Yehotzadaq the high priest and to the remnant of the people, saying,
(3) "Who among you remains,
who has seen the this house in its first/former glory?,
And how do you see it now?
Is it not as nothing in your eyes?,
(4) And so then, be strong, Zerubbavel --utterance of Yahweh,
and be strong, Yehoshua son of Yehotzadaq the high priest,
and be strong, all the people of the land --utterance of Yahweh,
and work/do,
for I [am] with you --utterance of Yahweh of Armies,
(5) In accordance with the word that I cut with you, when you came out from Egypt,
my Spirit stands in your midst.
May you not be afraid.
(6) For thus Yahweh of Armies has said:
"Again, in a little while, I am causing to shake the heavens, and the earth, and the seas, and the dry
land,
(7) and I shall cause to shake all the nations,
and they shall bring the desirable things of all the nations,
and I shall fill this house with glory-- Yahweh of Armies has said.
(8) To/for me the silver [is],
and to/for me the gold [is] --utterance of Yahweh of Armies.
(9) Greater shall be the glory of this latter house than the first, Yahweh of Armies has said,
while through this place, I shall give peace/prosperity --utterance of Yahweh of Armies.
