The year is 520BC. Haggai is writing to a remnant of Judah resettled in Jerusalem after the return from exile 18 years previously. Haggai delivers his prophecy over a period of 4 months and he begins by admonishing them for prioritising the wrong agenda by having their focus on rebuilding their own homes whilst the temple – the home of God - lay in ruins. He speaks to the leaders of the community – Joshua representing the line of priests and Zerubbabel a ‘ruler’ in the line of David. The people respond and the temple rebuilding programme begins.

There is a problem though – this temple looks a mere shadow of the former one. In the next chapter Haggai has to come alongside the community again, this time to speak words of comfort and hope to shattered expectations, disappointment and disillusionment. Two months later and this short book concludes with Haggai turning his attention from the building of the temple they are constructing with their hands, to the presence of God flowing out from the temple. He points to the inner reality of true worship of God which is outworked in repentance, wholeheartedness and especially justice.

We know that we are now called to be the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21). As the new temple we are called to be salt and light: to bring healing, transformation, justice, life, well-being to the communities and lives we touch.

Haggai built with physical stones; we build with living stones. Haggai sees the temple as manned by the professional temple-keepers; we are called to release and empower the priesthood of all believers. Perhaps if Haggai was writing to us today, he would be encouraging us to build our own houses or homes of worship, prayer, service and hospitality because in that way we are restoring the temple into its former glory by inviting the presence of God to flow through us to our families, friends and communities.

Haggai closes with a promise to Zerubbabel which through our faith in Jesus becomes a promise to you and me: ‘I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you.’ (2:23)

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Question:

How does it make you feel to be chosen by the King of Kings? The people were stirred up by the Lord to do something about the temple ruins. What is the Lord stirring in you?

Prayer:

Lord God, than you that You that You call us all to be part of the same Royal Priesthood of believers. We pray that You would bless each of us to be faith and true in our service to you and Your Kingdom. Amen.