The prophet Haggai, his work being prophetic of this time, is concerned with the rebuilding of the temple of worship. Remember that previous prophets had spoken of a defiling and subsequent desolation of the temple. We have refered severally to the draught in the land as a result when not a famine of food but of the word, of love, of joy, of peace visits the earth. We have also refered to the replacement of the sacrifices of God with an abomination, iniquity. After a season has passed after these occurrences, the temple must be rebuilt. This is the calling of the prophet Haggai.
The work of Haggai comes after both Israel to the North and Judah to the South had been taken captive. So were the treasures of the temple. A decree would later proceed from Cyrus the Median King, that paved way for the reconstruction of the City of Jerusalem. A portion of the children of Israel returned for this purpose. The rest remained in the land of captivity. So did Jerusalem, though the occupiers would be in their Godly heritage. As Haggai is sent to the returnees, they had rebuilt the city, and refurbished their own repossessed houses(Haggai 1:4.)
Being still subject to the Medo-Persian empire, Jerusalem did not know it was feasible for them to reconstruct the destroyed and desolate temple, and that God woul honour it on dedication to His worship. The prophet comes to tell Jerusalem, in our case the sons of peace, the sons of God fulfil this calling, important in the preparation of the people for a coming age when the Messiah is about to be revealed. At the coming of Christ, the reign of power had moved from Media/Persia, to Greeks, and to Romans. It is the Romans that oversaw the birth of the new age. This is significant for our time. We should not wait to feel good to do good.
We should start making preparations for the coming age by rebuilding the temple of God. Now we do not worship in a building with animal sacrifices. We worship in spirit and truth. We worship with righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit. We worship with love, patience, longsuffering, godliness, hope, faith. We should not wait for these to flow, being that the world holds us captive. Rather do good without getting weary, and we are rebuilding the temple that has been wasted. We are raising up the walls, moulding vessels and preparing for its priesthood, to offer sacrifices well pleasing to God.
I would liken this prophetic season of preparation to the calling of John the baptist, said to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. His ministry preceded Christ. His mantra was "...prepare the way, for the Kingdom of God is coming..." John was preparing for the new order that Christ introduced in simplicity: love the lord your God...love your neighbour as your self. This is the principle from which all the law and the prophets hang. Christ opened up the law, having been a foreshadowing of what was to come. Within the laws hid love, joy, justice, mercy, peace, patience, righteousness, godliness, truth, among other gifts offered out of the spirits of men as opposed to the flesh. This was the new order introduced by Christ. These are also the same areas under attack by the principalities, powers and rulers of this age(Ephesians 6:12). This is the simplicity behind which the power of God is hidden.
We are in a season of captivity as a generation, under the powers of this age. Like Israel, there is therefore not much glory to adorn the temple (Haggai 2:3.) God understands this too, but assures that in His sight, it is not an issue. He is about to shake the heavens, the earth and the sea (Haggai 2:6.) This is where the requisite glory for the completion of the house is coming from (remember how God spoiled Egypt for the treasures that adorned the first temple in the wilderness. He gave favour to Israel before Egypt that whatever they asked, of their precious things, they were given.) The prophet Haggai prepares the nation for this work of God. God says that the glory of the later temple shall superceed that of the former(solomons temple) (Haggai 2:7-9.) That it did. Also note the interesting way in which this promise of God was fulfilled. The same is true for our time too. While the temple may be desolate, it is time to rebuild, and to wait for God
to glorify it. He will when he spoils the gathered nations. The coming glory will be greater, the temple more glorious. This is the restoration of worship we have seen in many prophets, the restoration of peace, joy and perfect love upon the land. The restoration of His temple, a house we all are part of. Rebuild the desolate temple, Haggai says to our generation.
The work of Haggai comes after both Israel to the North and Judah to the South had been taken captive. So were the treasures of the temple. A decree would later proceed from Cyrus the Median King, that paved way for the reconstruction of the City of Jerusalem. A portion of the children of Israel returned for this purpose. The rest remained in the land of captivity. So did Jerusalem, though the occupiers would be in their Godly heritage. As Haggai is sent to the returnees, they had rebuilt the city, and refurbished their own repossessed houses(Haggai 1:4.)
Being still subject to the Medo-Persian empire, Jerusalem did not know it was feasible for them to reconstruct the destroyed and desolate temple, and that God woul honour it on dedication to His worship. The prophet comes to tell Jerusalem, in our case the sons of peace, the sons of God fulfil this calling, important in the preparation of the people for a coming age when the Messiah is about to be revealed. At the coming of Christ, the reign of power had moved from Media/Persia, to Greeks, and to Romans. It is the Romans that oversaw the birth of the new age. This is significant for our time. We should not wait to feel good to do good.
We should start making preparations for the coming age by rebuilding the temple of God. Now we do not worship in a building with animal sacrifices. We worship in spirit and truth. We worship with righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit. We worship with love, patience, longsuffering, godliness, hope, faith. We should not wait for these to flow, being that the world holds us captive. Rather do good without getting weary, and we are rebuilding the temple that has been wasted. We are raising up the walls, moulding vessels and preparing for its priesthood, to offer sacrifices well pleasing to God.
I would liken this prophetic season of preparation to the calling of John the baptist, said to come in the spirit and power of Elijah. His ministry preceded Christ. His mantra was "...prepare the way, for the Kingdom of God is coming..." John was preparing for the new order that Christ introduced in simplicity: love the lord your God...love your neighbour as your self. This is the principle from which all the law and the prophets hang. Christ opened up the law, having been a foreshadowing of what was to come. Within the laws hid love, joy, justice, mercy, peace, patience, righteousness, godliness, truth, among other gifts offered out of the spirits of men as opposed to the flesh. This was the new order introduced by Christ. These are also the same areas under attack by the principalities, powers and rulers of this age(Ephesians 6:12). This is the simplicity behind which the power of God is hidden.
We are in a season of captivity as a generation, under the powers of this age. Like Israel, there is therefore not much glory to adorn the temple (Haggai 2:3.) God understands this too, but assures that in His sight, it is not an issue. He is about to shake the heavens, the earth and the sea (Haggai 2:6.) This is where the requisite glory for the completion of the house is coming from (remember how God spoiled Egypt for the treasures that adorned the first temple in the wilderness. He gave favour to Israel before Egypt that whatever they asked, of their precious things, they were given.) The prophet Haggai prepares the nation for this work of God. God says that the glory of the later temple shall superceed that of the former(solomons temple) (Haggai 2:7-9.) That it did. Also note the interesting way in which this promise of God was fulfilled. The same is true for our time too. While the temple may be desolate, it is time to rebuild, and to wait for God
to glorify it. He will when he spoils the gathered nations. The coming glory will be greater, the temple more glorious. This is the restoration of worship we have seen in many prophets, the restoration of peace, joy and perfect love upon the land. The restoration of His temple, a house we all are part of. Rebuild the desolate temple, Haggai says to our generation.
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