Ryrie titled this Call to Courage in the Lord.
The chapter opens on the final day of the feast of tabernacles, which was supposed to be a joyous celebration of remembrance and harvest. This year the harvest was pretty paltry.
In this moment, the word came from the Lord through Haggai. The word was directed to Zerubbabel (the governmental leader), Jeshua (the spiritual leader/high priest), and the remnant.
The Lord asks who was around to see the old Temple and asked how it was compared to the sad, new, small Temple. "Does it not seem like nothing in comparison?"
But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:4
- He tell the government to take courage, Zerubbabel.
- Separately, He tells the spiritual leader to take courage, Jeshua.
- And again, separately He tells the remnant to take courage.
- And how does he want them to show their courage? Work. Go do what I sent you to do, everyone.
- Courage is action, not some mental fortitude, but enough faith in God to do what you've been sent to do and let the cards fall where they may. Results belong to God alone.
Everyone was discouraged form the small Temple, slim harvest, and being surrounded by opposition. That's a tough spot to be in. Draining and demotivating. But God says take courage and work. What a simple formula for fighting depression and anxiety. Get up and walk, in faith, and let God be the Wind in your sails. "For I am with you." What a promise.
As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ Haggai 2:5
He is a covenant God. Look at His argument for them to take courage and work...the promise He made when Israel came from Egypt. He uses the pronoun "you", not "they". He's not referring to a promise He made to a people many centuries before, but the promise He made to "you". That's covenant. He knew the time and era that each of us will be living in and He placed us there. His promises, Jesus' promises, are meant for each of us personally.
"My Spirit is abiding in your midst"
Come on!
His Spirit is abiding IN US.
"do not fear!’"
Do.
Not.
Fear.
His
Spirit
abides
in
us!
Come on, now.
Don't let this lesson pass by as from a tiny book at the end of the old testament. Don't let the words of another prophet become ordinary. Hear it personally and let it penetrate deeply into your heart.
My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’
He goes on to give them a glimpse of the future for which their work will lay the foundation. Ina a little while He will . . .
- shake the heaven, the earth, the seas, and the dry ground.
- shake the nations, whose wealth will flow to Israel.
- fill the Temple with Glory.
...says the Lord of hosts. (His military moniker.)
In verse 8, He makes it clear that the silver is His and the gold is His. All wealth belongs to the Lord. We'd all be well served to remember that.
And here is the glorious promise the people can hold toght to when we need to remember to be of good courage and work...
‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:9
Better days are coming. Glory, greatness, and peace will be found in the coming Temple. Hallelujah and Amen.
His promises are yes and amen.
A few months later, when the people were looking for the new rain for the next harvest, the word or the Lord came again through Haggai. He asks the priest for a ruling. If holy meat comes into contact with clothes, bread, or any other food or wine, does the other stuff become holy by that contact?
The answer was, "no".
Then he asked is something unclean touches one of these other items, does it become unclean?
The answer is "yes".
So, sanctification is not contagious, but defilement is. Health is not contagious, but disease is. That may seem unfair or illogical; but it is a truth you have to make peace with. Holiness comes from the Lord and happens on a one-on-one basis. Where the fall made death and destruction the order of things. The prince of the air gets to rule until Jesus comes back; but until then, holiness must be found in the lord alone.
And these people had chosen poorly. they were expending their efforts on themselves and wondering why the were fighting mold, mildew, hail, and failed harvest.
When we're sick and things are going poorly, we have to ask if God is trying to get our attention. Not always, sometimes it's a Job situation and only God knows why. But sometimes it's our coach, trainer, teacher, Father trying to get us back on the holy track.
But God.
He's also a God of abundant grace and mercy. We can come back and back and back again. He was giving these people that chance. Now that they prioritized the Temple foundation and forward progress, he promised blessing.
How beautiful.
I struggle with my repeated failures. Failures that have very concrete worldly consequences. But I faith that my coach, trainer, teacher, Father, my Rabbi, will help me. For His name's sake.
In verse 20, the word of the Lord came again via Haggai. He says again to Zerubbabel, "I am going to shake the earth." He promises to overthrow thrones, kingdoms, power, nations, chariots and their riders, and horses and their riders. He promises they will all go down by the swords of one another.
Evil will lose, and by the sword of other eveil.
God is in charge of results.
Our job is do not fear and go do the work He assigned to us. Gifted us. Promised us. His yoke is light.
He ends the chapter by promising to make Zerubbabel like a signet ring. "For I have chosen you." Thus promise from the Lord of hosts. What an honor. I imagine that ceremony is coming for us all to see.
That's it. That's Haggai. Two chapters, but two very convicting and inspiring chapters.
Prioritize the work of the Lord. Do not fear. Go do what I have assigned and equipped you to do. You will be blessed.
Amen.
Next up in chronological order is Haggai's compatriot, Zechariah.