#50a - Haggai - What Freedom Reveals?
After a generation or two of captivity in Babylon, the Jews were set free to go back to Judah and Jerusalem. They went home with the intention to rebuild the glorious city the Babylonians had destroyed. Pestered by local opposition Nehemiah led them to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. With the wall completed they felt a safe and growing prosperity. In their enthusiasm they revealed the true attitude of their hearts. In this context, God, through the prophet Haggai says: “These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” (1:2) It could be said that God was most concerned about getting His “House” (The Temple) built in Jerusalem. But it seems that His greater concern is for the hearts of His people. Like virtually every command of God, material issues are secondary to the spiritual issues. Their focus on building houses for themselves revealed their self-focused lives.
Our self-focused lives have a false contentment in self-satisfying, present circumstances. Our self-focused lives have a false discontent, complaining that the present is not as good as the past. “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former gory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” (2:3) They built the new House in haste with only superficial discontent with the outcome.
Our self-focused lives suffer the consequences of false expectations. “Work, for I am with you declares the LORD of hosts…” (2:4) They worked thinking that their work would bring the Glory of God to His House. They did not build a “Glorious House.” Additionally, Our self-focused lives suffer the consequences of unnecessary and false fear. “My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.” (2:5) Were they afraid of missing out on the material blessings they felt their obedience deserved, or were they afraid of missing out on the spiritual blessing of knowing God was with them no matter what happened?
In the next verses there follows, what should be the familiar Old Testament refrain. In response to the self-focus of His people, God says “I will….” “Yet (in spite of the fact you don’t really deserve it) once more… I will shake the heavens,… I will shake the nations, … I will fill this house with glory.” (2:6,7) It is God not the building that gives it “glory.” “And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.” (2:9) Then, in spite the people being a defiled people, “Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.” (2:14)
amazingly God says “But from this day on I will bless you.” (2:19) God’s blessings are never in payment for our good deeds, but profoundly the grace of His faithfulness to His promises.
The little book ends with a mysterious promise: “On that day, (when I shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow the throne of kingdoms, destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, overthrow the chariots and their riders, the horses and their riders go down by the sword of his brother) On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, (here it is again) “I will” take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like the signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” (2:20-23) When is “that day?” A day of God’s universal judgment and blessing under the rule of a Messianic King of Israel, i.e. David > Zerubbable > Jesus. A day we have yet to see, but the day in which we still confidently hope, not because our faithfulness deserves it (it does not) but because the God who has promised is Himself, perfectly faithful.
Watch Bible Project video about Haggai
Our self-focused lives have a false contentment in self-satisfying, present circumstances. Our self-focused lives have a false discontent, complaining that the present is not as good as the past. “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former gory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” (2:3) They built the new House in haste with only superficial discontent with the outcome.
Our self-focused lives suffer the consequences of false expectations. “Work, for I am with you declares the LORD of hosts…” (2:4) They worked thinking that their work would bring the Glory of God to His House. They did not build a “Glorious House.” Additionally, Our self-focused lives suffer the consequences of unnecessary and false fear. “My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.” (2:5) Were they afraid of missing out on the material blessings they felt their obedience deserved, or were they afraid of missing out on the spiritual blessing of knowing God was with them no matter what happened?
In the next verses there follows, what should be the familiar Old Testament refrain. In response to the self-focus of His people, God says “I will….” “Yet (in spite of the fact you don’t really deserve it) once more… I will shake the heavens,… I will shake the nations, … I will fill this house with glory.” (2:6,7) It is God not the building that gives it “glory.” “And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.” (2:9) Then, in spite the people being a defiled people, “Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.” (2:14)
amazingly God says “But from this day on I will bless you.” (2:19) God’s blessings are never in payment for our good deeds, but profoundly the grace of His faithfulness to His promises.
The little book ends with a mysterious promise: “On that day, (when I shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow the throne of kingdoms, destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, overthrow the chariots and their riders, the horses and their riders go down by the sword of his brother) On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, (here it is again) “I will” take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like the signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” (2:20-23) When is “that day?” A day of God’s universal judgment and blessing under the rule of a Messianic King of Israel, i.e. David > Zerubbable > Jesus. A day we have yet to see, but the day in which we still confidently hope, not because our faithfulness deserves it (it does not) but because the God who has promised is Himself, perfectly faithful.
Watch Bible Project video about Haggai