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Call to Courage, Cleanness, and Confidence

by Paul George  
12/12/2008 / Bible Studies

Haggai 2: 1 23

In chapter two, we have three messages from the word of the Lord by Haggai to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people for their encouragement in restoring the temple; A Call to Courage, A call to Cleanness, A Call to Confidence.

Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people are told the temple they are building will in respect to the spiritual exceed that of Solomon's temple. In the second message, Haggai will assure Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people though their sin in delaying the restoration of the temple had a negative effect on their lives, now that they are restoring the temple the Lord will bless them and give success in what they are doing. In the third message, Haggai assures Zerubbabel that as a reward for his pious zeal and activity, he will be a favorite of heaven and one of the ancestors of Messiah the Prince whose kingdom will be set in the ruins of all opposing powers.

One the last day of the feast of Tabernacles, "the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 'Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn't it in your eyes as nothing?'" (vv 1-3).

It is possible there were among the workers restoring the temple men who saw Solomon's temple in all its glory. They had to admit there would be no comparison between the restored temple and the temple dedicated by Solomon some four hundred and forty years earlier at the feast of Tabernacles (1st Kings 8:2). A similar comparison was made when the foundation of the temple was laid about fifteen years earlier (Ezra 3:8-13).

When comparisons are made we need to remember God's view of what we do is not the same as man's view (Zechariah 8:6; 1st Samuel 16:7). We need to remember when we do something that is pleasing in the sight of God our pride will not let us be satisfied with what we have accomplished unless it meets the standards of those whose abilities exceed ours. This comparison can have a discouraging effect; from the human viewpoint this temple will be inferior to Solomon's temple. But Zerubbabel and Joshua must not let this discourage them. If they are discouraged, it will affect the attitude of the people who are doing their best to restore the temple. We may think our best is not enough, but our best is all the Lord asks of us. If those who are overseeing the restoration project have a good attitude about the project, the worker will have a good attitude. The encouragement needed in the restoration of the temple, in doing the will of the Lord is the advice given to Zerubbabel.

The Lord through Haggai tells Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people of the land: "Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, says Yahweh. Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, says Yahweh, and work, for I am with you,' says Yahweh of Armies" (v 4).
The presence of the Lord overcomes fears, disappointments, and discouragement. When we are in the dark days of life it is the presence of the Lord that turns the night into day. The people who were restoring the temple had hundreds opposing them, but they had the Lord of hosts with them. He will fight for them and intercede for them. If the Lord is for us, who can be against us? The extent of the presence of the Lord is revealed in verse five; "This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. 'Don't be afraid.'"

Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people have nothing to fear. They have the Lord of hosts on their side, His Spirit is abiding in their midst, and He will keep the promises He made when Israel came out of Egypt. Although the Lord has punished them for their transgressions the promises He made when they came out of Egypt were not nullified. The Lord dwells among His people by His Spirit, even though His Spirit is often grieved and provoked to withdraw from them for a season, He is now with them. It was the Spirit of the Lord of hosts that stirred up their spirits to come out of Babylon (Ezra 1:5). It was the Spirit of the Lord of hosts that stirred up the spirits of the people to resume the restoration of the temple (Haggai 1:14). Although the Lord is going to once more shake the heavens and earth, the sea and the dry land (v 6), Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people have nothing to fear. The Lord is going to do what He did when He brought His people out of Egypt. The Lord of hosts is going to do what He did when He brought them out of Egypt to Mount Sinai where He shook the heavens and earth with thunder, lightning and earthquakes. This shall be done again when at the sufferings of Christ, the sun will be darkened, the veil of the temple torn into from top to bottom, the earth will shake and rocks split. Tombs will be opened and many of the saints who have fallen asleep (died) will be raised from their sleep and come out of the tombs after the resurrection of Christ and will enter Jerusalem and appear to many (Matthew 27:51-53).

The Lord said, "I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says Yahweh of Armies. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says Yahweh of Armies; and in this place will I give peace, says Yahweh of Armies" (vv 7-9).

This may be a reference to Zerubbabel's temple and the additions made to it by Herod and the peace the Son will make with the Father on the cross or the peace Christ will bring to the world at His second coming. This is why the people must not be discouraged because this temple will lack the gold, silver, and precious stones that were in Solomon's temple. These were a symbol of the glory that will come to this temple.
In verse eight the Lord of hosts tells the people why they shouldn't let the lack of gold, silver, and precious stones in the temple discourage them.

Note what the Lord said, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine." Who owns all the riches of this world and allows us to use them; the Lord, He placed them in and on this earth when He created the heavens and the earth. He becomes very upset when we misuse them. If we have gold and silver, we must serve and honor God with them, for they are His. He has given them to us for our use, but they remain His. If we do not have gold and silver and we serve and honor God with what we have He will accept us. God does not need our gold and silver, it is already His. He wants our love and what we offer Him is a reflection of that love. The Lord of hosts is telling the people who are giving their best to the Lord, if He wants gold, silver, and precious stones adorning His house He will provide them.

When the Lord looks down on this earth and sees what man is doing with what God freely gave to them, do you think He is smiling and saying well done?

Haggai closes the call to courage, with a promise, "The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former," says Yahweh of Armies; "and in this place will I give peace," says Yahweh of Armies."

Why was it necessary for the temple to be rebuilt? There is a reason that is often overlooked. The Messiah is coming, the Lamb of God is coming, and the great High Priest is coming. It was in the temple Joseph and Mary found Jesus when He was missing for three days. Years later, He will teach and perform miracles in the temple area. He will drive out those who were making His Father's house a den of thieves.

What happened when Jesus was rejected by those He came to seek and save; the Romans destroyed the temple. From the departure of the Messiah to the present there has been no peace in Judah and Jerusalem. But the Lord of hosts said He will establish peace in this place. Who will establish peace in this place? The nations of the world, how can they establish peace in this place when they cannot establish peace among themselves? The One who will establish an everlasting peace in this place is the promised Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Call to Cleanness
Haggai 2:10-19

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of the reign of Darius, Haggai received the second of three messages from the Lord. This message was given to Haggai when the people were working on the restoration of the temple. There were workers whose hearts and hands were unclean. Haggai is sent to the priests for a ruling on the law dealing with the difference between the clean and unclean. He asks the priests two questions, "If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?" The priests answered, "No." Then Haggai asked, "If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?" The priests answered, "It will be unclean" (vv 12-13).

Although Haggai is, a prophet ordained by the Lord, his ministry is speaking to the people for the Lord and give directions concerning the duties to be performed by the civil and religious leaders and all the people in the land. It was the duty of the priest to speak to the Lord on behalf of the people, teach the people the meanings of the ordinances of the Lord and to give them instructions in the observances of the ordinances of the Lord. It is possible Haggai was sent to the priests so that out of their mouths he might judge both the acts of the priests as well as the people whose hearts and hands were unclean.

The questions Haggai asked the priests and their answers laid the foundation for what Haggai is going to reveal to the priest, verse fourteen, Then Haggai answered, "So is this people, and so is this nation before me," says Yahweh; "and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean."

The priest's answer to the first question is based on the interpretation of Leviticus chapter six verse twenty-seven; even though the garment is made a dedicated thing it cannot transmit holiness to other things.

The priests answer to the second question is based on the interpretation of Numbers chapter nineteen verses twenty-two; the touching of a corpse made a person ceremonial unclean. Whatever a ceremonial unclean person touches becomes unclean.

Leviticus chapter six verse twenty-seven and Numbers chapter nineteen verses twenty-two
clearly state pollution is easier transmitted than holiness. It is important people realize living good moral lifestyles is not the way to find favor in God's eyes. They may find favor in the eyes of men. Finding favor in the eyes of the Lord requires a clean heart and hands. Dwelling on the unclean of this life will defile the heart. Touching the unclean things of this life will defile them. Therefore, it is important they keep at a distance from it. When we come into the presence of the Lord, we must have a clean heart and clean hands. The holy eyes of the Lord cannot look on unclean things or tolerate them.

Haggai answers the priests and said, "So is this people, and so is this nation before me," says Yahweh; "and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean" (v 14).

The Lord does not call the people and nation His people and nation. They were unworthy to be called His. They thought their offering sacrifices on the altar would sanctify them and excuse their neglect to build the temple and remove the curse that the neglect has brought upon them. The Lord said their contempt of God's temple would bring pollution upon their lives and their sacrifices. Though they work hard, building the temple and offer costly sacrifices on the altar they will find no comfort in the works of their hands. The impurity of the heart and life make what good a person does unclean and an abomination to the Lord. The reason for the drought and famine was the neglect of restoring the temple. Now that they have returned to the restoring of the temple Haggai tells them:

"Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the temple of Yahweh. Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn't turn to me," says Yahweh. "Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Yahweh's temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day will I bless you" (vv 15-19).

Haggai tells the people to retrace the past and compare what evils came upon them before they began the work of laying the temple upon the foundation that was built when the exiles first came to Jerusalem. Now that they have begun the restoration of the temple, the Lord will bless them. They have suffered the consequence of disobedience now they will enjoy the blessing of obedience. They must be careful not to fall into the indifference that brought the judgment of the Lord upon them.

In the past, the Lord dealt with the people visibly through the weather (17).

While the people were ignoring the restoration of the temple it was foolishness to think the Lord would take care of them. When the Lord was not doing what the people thought He should be doing and what He promised He would do, it should have been a sign they were out of step with the Lord. These people were like many people today. Either they do not see the hand of the Lord in the situation they are in, or they do not see disobedience as the source of the situation. Through Haggai, the Lord wanted the people to see they moved backward when they neglected the restoration of the temple. Now that they are working to restore the temple they will find they will move toward the Lord and not away from Him and He will bless them. When people begin to change their ways the Lord will bless instead of punishing. As they move closer to the Lord, they will find a remarkable change to the better in all their affairs.

Haggai closes his messages a call to cleanness with a question and a promise, "Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day will I bless you" (v 19).

The seed is in the barn, it has not been sown. There are no buds on the fruit trees. There is no fruit on the vines. There is no evidence this crop will be better than the previous crops. However, the Lord says, from this day I will bless you. This will be the best days of your life. On this day you can mark it as the return of your prosperity. You shall recover all your losses. The Lord does not wait to the time of harvest to tell the people they will have a good return on what they have planted and the trees and vines will produce. He tells them in advance.

After assuring the people God will bless them, Haggai delivers his message,

A Call to Confidence

"The Word of Yahweh came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah." This word from the word of the Lord is directed particularly to Zerubbabel, who has thoughts in his head far beyond those of the common people. They are concerned about their grain fields and vineyards. Zerubbabel is concerned about the community and its interests, about the neighboring nations, their governments, and the few and weak exiles and how the predicted changes will effect them. How can he protect his people? He has no army. Through Haggai the Lord tells Zerubbabel it shall be well with him and his people. He will hear of great commotions in the nations. He must not let this surprise him. This universal unrest is to be expected in a world that is like a sea and a wheel, constantly moving and sometimes in a special turbulence. In these instances, the proud oppressors will be broken and brought down. It will not happen through the efforts or strength of man. The Lord said, "I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. In that day, says Yahweh of Armies, will I take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says Yahweh, and will make you as a signet, for I have chosen you, says Yahweh of Armies" (Haggai 2:20-23).:

The Lord will stir-up the hearts of the leaders of the nations and He will use them to bring each other down. The Babylonian Empire was a great kingdom of the earth and it was brought down by the Persians, who will also be brought down. The strength of these kingdoms will be destroyed and only one will remain standing, the kingdom of the Lord.

The kingdoms of this world trust in military strength, but they shall be overthrown and will not be able to attack the people of God. They will not escape the judgments of the Lord. This seems to be a reference to Christ's victory over the powers of darkness, His overthrow of Satan's kingdom. The throne of kingdoms is a reference to the throne of the god of this world. It will be taken from him. In addition, Christ shall put down all the opposing rule, principality, and power.

What a great day that will be.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

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