Even So... (Haggai 2:1-9)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Memories often fail at remembering what exactly happened.
Power Rangers-
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people:
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
4 Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel—this is the Lord’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you—the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
5 This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’ ”
6 For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies.
8 “The silver and gold belong to me”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
9 “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Armies. “I will provide peace in this place”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
Past
Past
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people:
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
This message from Haggai was given on October 17th, 520bc. That is about a month and a half after the first message was given.
Last Regular Day of the Feast of Tabernacles:
7th day. The people would gather together and it’s likely in this setting Haggai prophesied this message of hope for the people.
Down turned eyes, and heads cast down because this temple won’t be like the last temple… it won’t be as glorious. The gold shimmering from the city.
10 When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed.
11 They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.
12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully.
13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.
There is in all of us a tendency to villify or glorify the past.
We just need to go back… we just need to get back to the good ol days, when whatever version of the good ol days you have is what you long for…
But the truth is we can’t go back to those days.
God has us here… now for a purpose.
I don’t want to go back to… it was terrible!!!
The past has a purpose its meant to teach us, and its meant to remind us that it’s past, but God’s promises to these people in the past are still true!
That temple by Solomon was glorious built with the greats treasures from around the world, but that temple is gone.
But the promise that temple reminded the peopel, that God dwells with us is true. That the true glory of the temple wasn’t in the golden temple, but the presence of God.
This is the key understanding!
The presence of God is the key!
This impacts our present.
Present
Present
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
4 Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel—this is the Lord’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you—the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
5 This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’ ”
The people repented at the message of Haggai from God.
They begin rebuilding the temple, only to quickly become demoralized because they realize this temple isn’t anything compared to the previous one.
How does God do?
Does he flood them with wealth to make this temple fancier?
Does he scold them for idolizing the past?
Does He rub in in their face? Thats right the only one was nicer and its because of your sin that it is in shambles and this temple won’t be nearly as immaculate.
What does God do?
God gives the truth… yes it looks like nothing in comparison.
But I love what he says next… this is what I have been thinking about this week...
Even so…
Yes this temple isn’t as good as the old one.
Yes you don’t have the funds to make it nicer.
Yes its demoralizing.
Yes you repented.
Yes it’s as bad as you think it is… even so keep going.
Your situation that you find yourself in… shouldn’t change what the Lord has called you to.
3 times God through Haggai tells the people (once to Zerbubabel, once to Joshua, and once to the remnant)
Even so… Be Strong.
Even so… Be Strong.
Even so… Be Strong.
Keep going… lift up your heads.
WORK!
This isn’t a works based salvation idea, this is God saying the most important thing about the temple isn’t the color of the paint or carpet, but the presence of the Lord.
I am with you- WORK.
So often in the bible you have God’s people praying and GOd answering their prayers by calling them to get to work.
Do not fear- has a continuous aspect to it… so it’s meant to be taken like STOP being afraid.
This isn’t the first time the Isrealites have heard this kind of encouragement.
Moses to Israel and Joshua as they enter the promised land.
6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
7 Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their ancestors. You will enable them to take possession of it.
Joshua as he is leading the people to conquer Canaan
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance.
7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.
8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all the enemies you fight.”
David to Solomon at the building of the frist temple
20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for the service of the Lord’s house is finished.
30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people. This is the declaration of the Lord God.
27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 For I will be with you—this is the Lord’s declaration— to save you! I will bring destruction on all the nations where I have scattered you; however, I will not bring destruction on you. I will discipline you justly, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Even So…
Whatever your present circumstances look like.
Maybe you are doing what you want to be doing in life.
Maybe you are not.
Maybe you have everything you could ever want.
Maybe you are longing for more.
Maybe you love your scheudle
Maybe you hate your schedule.
Whereever you are at in this moment… even so be strong in the Lord.
All of those verses were written to a group of people, God’s gathered people.
Reminding us that the even so isn’t meant to be taken individually ONLY… it’s meant to be applied to a church.
Past Remindes us of God’s contiued covenant.
The continued covenant reminds us in the present to lean into God’s presence even so…
But what about the future?
Future
Future
6 For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies.
8 “The silver and gold belong to me”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
9 “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Armies. “I will provide peace in this place”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
When Jesus was born where did the Shepherds go?
Not the Temple.
When JEsus dies what happened in the temple?
The curtain was torn?
When we become beleivers what happens?
God dwells inside of us...
Jesus said I will tear down this temple and build it new in 3 days.
What was he talking about?
The presence of God.
Gospel is Jesus in my place.
Men’s Conference
Identity- In Christ
Joy- In Christ
Death/life- in Christ.
God put you here now… rest in the promises of teh covenant made in the past… still true today… and will bring fullfilled hope in the futre.
Conclusion
Conclusion