An autumn morning on the temple site: the new walls of the second temple a few courses high, scaffolds of rough poles lashed with rope, and two small booths of leafy branches and palm fronds on the rubble nearby, under a calm pale sky.

The latter glory

Haggai 2

Does what you are building for God look small next to what came before?

23 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1Build the houseConsider your ways, and the people obey
2:1–9The latter gloryBe strong and work: I am with youChapter 2
2:10–19From this dayA defiled people, and a blessing
2:20–23My signet ringZerubbabel chosen

The Coming Glory of God’s House

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying:

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God

God

“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’

God

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,

declares the LORD.

Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak,

the high priest.

And be strong, all you people of the land,

declares the LORD.

God

Work! For I am with you,

declares the LORD of Hosts.

Haggai 2:4

God

This is the promise I made to you

when you came out of Egypt.

And My Spirit remains among you;

do not be afraid.”

Reflect

What work for God have you set down because it looked small? What would ‘be strong and work’ mean for you this week?

God

God

I will shake all the nations,

and they will come with all their treasures,

and I will fill this house with glory,

says the LORD of Hosts.

The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,

declares the LORD of Hosts.

God

A clear late-winter morning: the finished second temple, a plain flat-roofed stone house with closed cedar doors and the altar of rough stones before it, as builders lower the last ropes and carry away scaffolding poles and the elders and two prophets stand together looking up at it, under a calm pale sky.

The latter glory of this house

will be greater than the former,

says the LORD of Hosts.

And in this place I will provide peace,

declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Question

Quick question

Look back at verse 3 before you answer.

What had the oldest people seen that made the new house look like nothing?

Blessings for a Defiled People

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying,

God

“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling.

Haggai

If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests.

Haggai

So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?”

The priests

“Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

Haggai

Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.

Holiness doesn’t spread; defilement does

Whiteboard

Nearness to holy things could not make them clean; their uncleanness spoiled all they offered. Only God’s word could turn it, and He did.

God

God

Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty.

God

Close on a terraced wheat field after a storm: stalks yellowed with blight and gray with mildew, some beaten flat, small white hailstones melting between them on the dark wet earth.

I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.

God

Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully:

God

An early-winter courtyard in Judah: an open mud-brick storeroom with one empty clay seed jar on its side, and beyond it a bare grapevine on a trellis, a leafless fig, a pomegranate and a gray olive tree, none with fruit, over freshly plowed ground.

Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”

Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring

For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to Haggai, saying,

God

“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:

God

God

I will overturn royal thrones

and destroy the power

of the kingdoms of the nations.

I will overturn chariots and their riders;

horses and their riders will fall,

each by the sword of his brother.

God

Close in soft window light: a heavy gold ring set with a dark oval seal stone, its carved face turned down, resting on a fold of deep-blue wool on a cedar table beside a small lump of pressed clay with a plain blurred impression.

On that day,

declares the LORD of Hosts,

I will take you, My servant,

Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,

declares the LORD,

and I will make you like My signet ring,

for I have chosen you,

declares the LORD of Hosts.”

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

LORD of Hosts, the silver and the gold are Yours, and so am I. When my work looks small, make me strong. Thank You that Your Spirit remains among us and that You keep every promise. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Haggai 2

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A verse to carry with you

Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.

Haggai 2:4

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