“Incomparable”
The Minor Prophets, Chronologically • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsThose who remembered Solomon's Temple bemoaned the fact that the foundations of the new temple paled in comparison. God, through Haggai, encouraged them to work, and He would be with them.
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“Incomparable”
Series: The Minor Prophets
Text: Haggai 2:1-23
Introduction: (What?)
It seems that we are plagued with the thought that what we have is always superseded either by what used to be or what someone else has. The media loves to present things as the “best, biggest, latest technology, fastest, etc. As long as we live in “Compare-ville” we will never be satisfied with what we have.
Examination: (What?)
1. Do the best with what you have.
Hag 2:1-3 “On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, (Oct 17) the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people: ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
There are two ruts on opposite sides of the road to a church becoming what God intends it to be. One is the rut of pride, exulting in what was in the past. The other is the rut of depression because what is doesn’t compare well with what was, or what is now in other churches. Either of these ruts can be debilitating to a church. In these first 3 verses God, through Haggai addressed the issue of comparison. In order to deal with depression over the progress of a church the first step is to admit that it exists. God urged those who remembered what was (the Solomonic Temple) not to be discouraged. The Solomonic Temple had taken seven years to build. David had spent his last years gathering the materials for the temple which choice cedar and much silver and gold in the construction. It was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. The Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) was 30 ft. long and the Holy Place was 60 ft. long. The Zerubbabel Temple was smaller and not nearly as exquisite. Those who remembered the temple of Solomon were saddened by the smaller temple.
2. This just in…
Hag 2:4-19 “Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel—this is the Lord’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you—the declaration of the Lord of Armies. This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’ ”
Three times God said, “Be strong”. Once to Zerubbabel, once to Joshua the high priest and once to the people of Israel. It had become evident to them that they could not replicate the magnificence of the temple Solomon had built. They were discouraged from the beginning of the project. To encourage them God reminded them of his promises when he brought them out of Egypt. Even though 900 years had passed, his promises still stood. We need to remember that God never forgets his promises. God is eternal, and so is his word. In Ex 33:14 “And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” God had given them a promise. Though they had strayed from him, he remained faithful to them. God promised them his Spirit as a guarantee and reminder that he would fulfill his promise. That is what the Holy Spirit is to all who believe. He is the guarantee of our eternal salvation. 2 Cor 1:22 “He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.”
The second admonition of the LORD to Haggai and the others was…WORK! Get about the assignment you have been given. There is an old hymn we used to sing that said, “We’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, and we’ll be gathered home.” Jesus said in John 9:4 “We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.” The antidote for depression is…work which comes with the guarantee of success through the Spirit of God. And we’re not just to do “busy work” but rather “the works of Him who sent us”. That work is captured in the Great Commission. Our efforts, our staffing, our planning and our finances are to be directed toward fulfilling the Great Commission.
However, there is still much to happen before the work is finished. In vv 6-9 God told them of things yet to come;
“Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies. “The silver and gold belong to me”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Armies. “I will provide peace in this place”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
This appears to be a reference to the millennial kingdom since there is not scripture that references the second temple as being filled with God’s Shekinah glory as was the case with Solomon’s temple.
The LORD also addressed their economical situation. Knowing that they were in despair because they had no wealth to supply the needed material for the temple he reminded them that “I’ve got all the wealth in the world, and I’ll see to it that this temple will even super-cede that of Solomon.”
This year in our budget we have included funds for an additional staff member. We are not assured that our giving will make up the increase in the budget, but we are assured that, if God is in it, He will supply our need from His limitless store house.
10. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, (Dec. 18, 520 BC) in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai: This is what the LORD of Armies says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling. If a man is carrying consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does it become holy?’ The priests answered, ‘No.’ Then Haggai asked, if someone defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled? The priests answered, ‘It becomes defiled.’ Then Haggai replied, ‘So is this people, and so is the nation before me---this is the LORD’s declaration. And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled. Now from this day on, think carefully: Before one stone was placed on another in the LORD’s temple, what state were you in? When someone came to a grain heap of twenty measures, it only amounted to ten; when one came to the winepress to dip fifty measures from the vat, it only amounted to twenty. I struck you---all the work of your hands---with blight, mildew, and hail, but you didn’t turn to me—this is the LORD’s declaration. From this day on, think carefully; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid; think carefully. Is there still seed left in the granary? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced. But from this day on I will bless you.”
God graphically reminded the Israelites that it was their disobedience that had caused Him to withhold His blessings, their obedience would once again release His blessings. Three times God reminded them to “think carefully” about the object lesson He was giving them.
We must always see the correlation between our obedience to God and His blessings. Even though we may be “doing church”, even our service, tithes and offerings are contaminated by our sin of disobedience. However there is hope. Repentance and return to obedience releases the storehouse of God’s riches. From the moment we seek God’s direction and follow His plan for our church, we will be blessed.
3. The Future is Bright
Hag 2:20-23 “The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword. On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.”
There’s a great day coming bye and bye. The day when Jesus will occupy His throne in Jerusalem in the majestic temple that will far exceed the glory of all other temples. The promise is sealed by God making Zerubbabel his “signet ring” which is a symbol of honor, authority and power afforded to a king. He was to be the official representative of the Messianic line through David. That line had seemed to be interrupted by the Exile, but was now being restored.
Application: (How should I respond to this message?)
As a church we must recognize that it is not up to us to decide our assignment.
We must repent of past disobedience and put all our energies into fulfilling the Great Commission in our area. Then, and only then, can we count on God to provide all that we need to accomplish more than we have ever dreamed.