The Rebuilding

Intro

Imagine your home. Coming back to a home that is gone. Possessions are gone. Reality for many. Don and Marie. Maybe, this sermon is only for them. But much for us consider.

Main Idea: There’s hope in the aftermath

Post exile. Babylonian exile for 70 years. Looking at the carnage of their home. Nothing looks the same. Temple has been destroyed. No place to worship. Their fear: God’s not present with them. Grieving. Mourning. Wondering where God is.

Truth #1: God is with us (1-5)

Exp. The date given here is significant. Verse 1. Festival of Booths. They lived in booths (tents) like those leaving Egypt. Also, anniversary of the dedication of Temple. Very personal.

Ill. Like if you lost your house on the anniversary of the purchase.

Exp. Verse 2-3. Zerubbabel is line of David. Fulfillment of promise. He led them back. Akin to Moses and Joshua. Who remembers the Temple? They wept.

Ezra 3:12–13

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Ill. You can’t drive through places, hear stories without getting emotional. This is our home, and its destroyed in many places.

Exp. Here’s the exhortation. Verse 4. Tells them all to be strong. How are they able to be strong? God is with them. But no temple? God is not housed in temples made by man. We don’t need a place to have God. We don’t need security to have God. Our hope is that we have God. Our hope is that God holds us. Verse 5. So much allusion to leaving Egypt. Leaving exile. Going to promised land. I have not forgotten my covenant. Do not fear.

Christ - In Christ, God’s presence was with us. He didn’t need a temple, but instead he made our bodies the temple. Israelites’ hope was not in the buildings, it was in God. So is ours. The rebuilding of the temple was never enough. Jesus’ resurrection was enough.

App.

Be strong. He doesn’t say to not weep. Being strong is to not be shaken. Strength is not yours, but in God. Taking away phone, wifi, water, and electricity. People lost their minds.

Do not fear. We are not alone. God is with you. He always was. Taking away these major things revealed whether or not you were with God.

Truth #2: God will bring peace (6-9)

Exp. One major struggle is foreign nations who wanted to take control. Verse 6-7. Pointed back to Egypt. Now goes back to creation. It all responds to him. Nations will do his will. I will fill this house with glory. Not meaning treasures, he means himself. He said glory. Not associated with wealth, but of God. Verse 8. All money and treasures belong to God already. Verse 9. The later glory of the temple will be better than before. The Solomonic Temple was the greatest in their eyes. He would give them peace. How can God build something better than what we are used to? Peace was not in provisions, but in God’s presence. Had nothing to do with the building, but with their God.

Ill. Middle of the storm, Christian wanted to be with me. The house wasn’t his security, but laying in bed with me. He slept the whole night. Was a false peace. God’s presence is our peace. Lack of peace = lack of presence.

Arg. God tells Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people to be strong and to not fear because he is with them.

Genesis 28:15

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Exodus 33:14

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Joshua 1:5

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Isaiah 41:10

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 28:19–20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Christ - Jesus is the bringer of peace because is God present with his people. Isaiah calls him the Prince of Peace. Brings peace through his blood.

App. What do we do?

Acknowledge the turmoil. Guys, we are in it. No need to pretend we aren’t going through this.

Give him everything. Anxieties. Fears. We give it to him because he is with us.

Philippians 4:5–7

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Seek peace from God. Do not seek it elsewhere.

Bow your heads, let’s pray for peace that comes from God.