Haggai Chapter 2: verses 3-5 (NLT)
‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’
When King Solomon first built the Temple for God in Jerusalem, it was a magnificent sight, which many from other people from other places and countries came to marvel at. But because of their sins, the land was invaded, the people exiled and the Temple left destroyed and desolate. So for those who returned to Jerusalem who had seen the Temple in all of it’s splendour, it must have been a heartbreaking sight. Yet I find these verses very encouraging. Those who had once more resolved to follow God were told by the Lord Himself that He would be with them, and that they should therefore get to work on the restoration of the Temple.
Sometimes, particularly for people who start out on their Christian journey with great promise, any mistakes or change of direction may seem like the plans and promises are in ruins. Not so, if we resolve to pick ourselves up and follow God’s commands, we will find the Lord is with us to encourage us, and if we are obedient, to restore the ground we have lost, and fulfil the promises He has given to us in the past.
Dear Lord,
I am grateful for Your mercy and encouragement that allows us to put right the things we know we should not have done, Your forgiveness and our desire to be obedient means that Your plans can still be fulfilled. Help me not to take that mercy and forgiveness for granted, and to resolve in my heart to do as You ask. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.