
Bible in a Year Series - Day #263 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Haggai 1-2.
After 262 days of my chronological journey through the Bible, it has become abundantly clear that the temple, where God's holy name dwells, is very important to God.
As I was reading about Ezekiel's temple vision a few days ago, and witnessed the foul things that Israel was doing in God's holy temple, I felt great sadness.
We then witnessed God's wrath in the destruction of Jerusalem.
But now we stand with Haggai, seventy years later, with a direct message from God: "rebuilld my house".
"Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD." (Haggai 1:8)
I then began to consider that we are now the house (temple) of the Lord. We are the dwelling place of God's holy name. We now possess the holy of holies.
Then, I considered how I have treated Yahweh's holy house, the dwelling place of His name, over the years. It was as if Ezekiel and his angelic guide were peeking into the temple of my life.
God has used this great depression to make me lie down in green pastures. (Psalm 23)
I don't have this all figured out yet, but I have taken great pleasure this morning in one fact; my 5:00 a.m. rising each morning to be with God (the rebuilding of my house) brings pleasure and glory to God.
I have no idea where my life will be in five years. I kind of feel like the small band of Israelites who have trekked back to the Judean wastelands to rebuild the temple under the Persian King Cyrus' blessing.
I am also quite certain that I am not alone in this great slaughter of the 2008 depression.
Yet another thing is now quite clear to me; this recession is not happenstance. God is the sovereign orchestrator of all things.
His message to us all is clear: rebuild that I might take pleasure, and I will be with you.
"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.’” (Haggai 2:4b-9)
"Be strong, work, I am with you, and I will fill this house with glory!"
What an incredible promise and a source of joy and hope for those of us who still lumber under the weight of our own Jerusalem's destruction.
Wow! This post will be a treasure of mine for the rest of my life.
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