God's Apathy Recovery Program

I would suggest it’s not exactly like this. All of these possibly are there but it doesn’t take long before discouragement, feelings of defilement, and doubt creep in right?

HOW DO WE RECOVER FROM APATHY?

GOD’S RECOVERY PROGRAM: God’s people grow when God’s promises are believed.

God’s three-fold promise to His People - ORACLES 2-4 (ORACLE 1 was last week)

God, through Haggai’s last three Oracles, gives his people three promises that help them in their recovery from spiritual apathy.

1. I Am With You - Courage to continue - (2:1-9)

Haggai 2:1–9 ESV

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

Verse 1 - This is 3 weeks after the end of ch. 1. 6 weeks after Haggai’s first message

DISCOURAGEMENT DOESN’T take long to set in

Verse 2 - God speaks to all involved - not just the leadership

Verse 3 - Rhetorical question - How many remember the old temple? Take a look at how this is shaping up… Pretty much nothing in comparison right?

Verses 4-5 -

Be Strong 3x ---> Zerubbabel, Joshua, The People

THIS the same language of Joshua 1

Joshua 1:6–7 ESV

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

Reminder of the covenant at Sinai -

TURN TO LEVITICUS 26:12-45

Leviticus 26:12 ESV

12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

Leviticus 26:44–45 ESV

44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.”

My Spirit is in your midst - The covenant at Sinai was all about how Israel could enjoy fellowship with God - IN THEIR MIDST

Fear not!

Why would they be afraid?

Fear that in themselves they did not have what was needed to do the work! (JUST LIKE JOSHUA AND THE NATION PRIOR TO CONQUEST)

After 3 weeks of work I suspect this task was feeling MONUMENTAL!

God continues… I AM IN CONTROL… I HAVE A PLAN

Verses 6-9

Haggai 2:6–9 ESV

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

I’m in control

I WILL SHAKE THINGS UP -

ALL THE NEEDED RESOURCES ARE MINE // I WILL PROVIDE)

SIDE NOTE: POSSIBLY A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION (OR DOUBLE) - Some translate this as “Desire of the nations” referring to the Messiah.

“Fill this house with glory” - Jesus?

I think this was something they saw in their time but I have no problem with an interpretation that would see the messiah here.

Here’s what I mean...

ILLUS: BIFF - Back to the Future - Incredibly satisfying to see the tables flipped on this bully!

HAMAN (IN ESTHER)

Ezra 5 - 6 - Tattenai’s letter to Darius & the reply - Darius commands them to take the tribute owed to him and give it to the effort to build this temple! LOL

Ezra 6:8–9 ESV

8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. 9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail,

I have a plan

I WILL FILL THIS HOUSE WITH GLORY // Physical splendor (Yes, to some degree…)

LATTER GREATER THAN THE FORMER // Something more? Probably!

Matthew 12:6 ESV

6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

IN THIS PLACE… I will give peace - (Prince of Peace? New heaven / new earth?)

HERE’S THE COOL THING FOR THE JEWS HEARING THIS… GOD WAS SAYING...

You have a part to play in that plan! - This actual building needed to be built! It was going to play a part in Jesus’ ministry.

HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TODAY?

In what ways does that discouragement keep you from obeying God?

APPLICATION:

Have you recently repented from sin but are finding it difficult to “stick with it”?

Does the damage that was caused by your hurtful speech seem irreparable?

Does that constant temptation seem like it’s not worth fighting any more?

Has your decision to do the right thing made things harder for you? Opposition, rejection, no shortcuts...

GOD IS WITH YOU!

Be Strong - Have courage! - Continue to trust God / Follow Him - God has a plan that is greater than you can imagine. Our “vapor” of a life is just a small part of it but IT”S A PART OF IT!!!

GOD’S GOT THIS!!

PROMISE #2 - READ VS 10-19

2. I Will Bless You - Forgiveness & Blessing - (2:10-19)

Haggai 2:10–19 ESV

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’ ” The priests answered and said, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” 14 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. 15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

VERSE 10 - 2 months later (December)

VERSES 11-13 - A question regarding the Torah -

Holy meat - Can’t pass that holiness on

Defiled person - everything they touch is defiled

VERSE 14 - A correlation - The people are defiled

Their work and their worship are infected w/ sin and not acceptable

NOT ENOUGH TO EARN GOD’S BLESSING!!!

NOTE: “These People” - Signifies the broken relationship

The issue here was that there were rituals for dealing with outward uncleanness, (Time passing, ceremonial washing etc.) but there was no remedy for the inner and pervasive defilement that was true of Israel. Their only hope was for God to freely accept them - The promise of blessing implies that God did just that.

IN SPITE OF ALL THAT....

God blesses them…

Haggai 2:15–19 ESV

15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

VERSE 15 - “Consider: From this day forward”

VERSE 16 - Remember how things went when you were pleasing self?

VERSE 17 - Not Good

VERSE 18-19 - Mark your calendars… Even though you don’t see the blessing yet, I WILL BLESS YOU.

NOTE: Blessing typically was acknowledged by fruitfulness - God points out that there was no harvest yet, Still… They were to consider themselves blessed and trust in the provision of God.

December would have been the end of the planting season - hope for a bountiful harvest would have been in the hearts of the people - but no promises.

God keeps his covenant promise based on HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS not Theirs - Forgiveness.

Ephesians 2:1–8 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Why did God bless them?

The work they had done? no… deflied

Their righteousness? no… defiled

THE ANSWER: Their faith. Like we saw in ch. 1 - they turned from their sin and believed God. Faith.

APPLICATION:

Part of what leads to apathy and discouragement in our walk with God is the realization that we’re not worthy. Guess what… Your worth has nothing to do with what you bring to the equation.

ILLUS: Ralphie & the fruit basket he brings his teacher

That’s the whole point! THAT’S WHY WE NEED JESUS!!!

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

How does one experience this kind of forgiveness and blessing from God?

- Faith, the kind of Faith that produces fruit.

NOTE ON BLESSING - Don’t misunderstand the word of God here - Scripture does NOT teach that if we go along with God’s plan then he will give us the blessings we think we need. NO!

God does provide but his blessings are not always material. These blessings that God was implying was what the people NEEDED - they had already been chasing what they WANTED. That didn’t work out so well.

In what areas do you sense your unworthiness before God?

What promises of God speak to your worth in Christ? Are you believing them?

God promises to be with His people, he promises to forgive/bless His people, Haggai delivers one last promise. A promise of Hope.

3. I have Chosen You - Hope for the future - (2:20-23)

Haggai 2:20–23 ESV

20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

Verse 20 - Same month as the third oracle (December)

Verse 21 - Direct to Zerubbabel (See vs. 23 - “I will take YOU”)

Verse 22 - God’s sovereignty on display again

Verse 23 -

“On that day” - When is this? Has this already happened? Is this future?

“My servant” - Same language for a Davidic King (Messiah speech?)

NOTE: Not referred to as “governor” or “prince”

Also Isaiah’s favorite term for the Messiah.

“Signet ring” - Symbol of authority (See Joseph) //

compare [Z] to Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah (rejected signet ring sent to Babylon) - Grandfather to Zerubbabel.

Jeremiah 22:24–27 ESV

24 “As I live, declares the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off 25 and give you into the hand of those who seek your life, into the hand of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 I will hurl you and the mother who bore you into another country, where you were not born, and there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they will long to return, there they shall not return.”

Jeremiah 22:30 ESV

30 Thus says the Lord: “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.”

“I have chosen you” - God’s sovereign choice

The DAVIDIC COVENANT “RESTORED?”

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

I believe the people would have heard this and understood the significance. And that would give them HOPE!! Any doubt that God’s plan had been thwarted should have been washed away as they looked to the promise made to David of an eternal Kingdom.

Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary b. Zerubbabel, Chosen and Precious (2:20–23)

It is natural to assume that Haggai (and Zechariah) expected this new age to dawn in their own time as a result of the upheavals at the beginning of the reign of Darius. As time passed, and Zerubbabel was not honoured as had been expected, the messianic hopes were transferred to his descendants. As the writer to the Hebrews realized there was an important principle, amply illustrated in the Old Testament story, in the deferment of the promise (Heb. 11:13).

Was this “Oracle” just for Zerubbabel? Why write it down for all to read if it was?

We have a similar promise!

John 15:15–19 ESV

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Sometimes living in a world that hates God doesn’t really “feel” good. It can make us doubt that God is in control. DON’T!

What circumstances in the world or in your life cause you to doubt God’s plan?

What specifically are you doubting or tempted to doubt?

APPLICATION:

For the jews living in Jerusalem during Haggai’s ministry there was little physical “comfort”. Opposition, economic failure, pressure, shame, and exposure were every day realities. But to see the line of David restored would have lifted their eyes from their circumstances and pointed them to the promise of God. God’s chosen nation, lead by God’s chosen man had much to look forward to.

How about you?

Are your circumstances causing you to doubt God’s goodness?

Are you tempted to give up?

Yes, God sometimes calls us to times of trial (sometimes that trial is our own doing!) but for the believer.... the one chosen by God… CONSIDER the words of Paul in Colossians

Colossians 3:1–12 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

This is the response to being Chosen by God.... Lives that reflect His character.

CONCLUSION:

What should we take from all this?

God’s got this!!! - His sovereignty is a promise in and of itself! We can trust in that.

We’re all in recovery - Be Strong! Be courageous! - God will supply what is necessary to see victory over Apathy

We’re in this together! - Help each other, remind each other, COME TOGETHER!

This.... all this around us.... isn’t the end. TRUST GOD to handle the outcome.