1. The Discouraged Builders...
"On the twenty-first day of the seventh month..." Nearly 4 weeks have gone by since they re-started work on the temple. They began enthusiastically and with real joy. Again, the Lord has something to say to them through Haggai (v.2). He asks them a question..."Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem like nothing?"
The question is rhetorical - clearly there were some who remembered the old temple and its glory and splendour. And they were obviously feeling discouraged. All they had now was a pile of rubble, they little to build with and they were only a small remnant in the face of overwhelming odds. And they're partly to blame. Maybe they're destined to always bear the consequences of their disobedience.
We, too, can grow discouraged, by the situation we face. Perhaps you remember better days, days when people came to church in greater numbers, when invitations to meetings were accepted not rejected. You look around and feel depressed.
Perhaps you remember days when things were better with you. May you've become conscious in a deeper way of your own sin & failure and perhaps you're gripped by the fear that you may have permanently robbed yourself of the blessing of God.
Perhaps, like the discouraged people of Haggai's day, we need a word from God. What message dis the Lord have for his people? What message does he have for us?
2. The God of Grace
The first thing he does is to exhort them to carry on with the work. The reality of the situation is not denied. Yes, it does look bad in comparison with former times. Yes, it is partly their own fault. Yes, they are only a small group of people. But that's no reason to give up! They must ALL be strong and work".
- We need courage too: courage to face our foes, courage to face our past, courage to face an uncertain future.
- We must work too: there is work to do in the building of a spiritual temple, there is work to do on our own souls, there is work to do in serving the Lord in our daily living.
But the kind of courage and energy urged on the people are not self-generated. They are to be courageous and energetic in the work on this basis: "'I am with you' says the LORD Almighty".
The assurance of his presence is to be the catalyst that moves, encourages and cheers them. One with God is a majority! The LORD of Hosts, the God with all power and all resources at his command has promised to be with them and is confirming that promise unequivocally.
Had they gone beyond his blessing? No! This is what he had covenanted with them when they came out of Egypt. His promises stood! His grace was triumphant! And his promise to be with us and to help us and to bless us stands, sealed by the blood of Jesus. If we've wandered, we need to repent; but we need not fear his willingness to take us up and use us for his glory and honour.
The Lord is with us. Jesus is with us, always, even to the end of the age! Can we not therefore get on with the work, with courage, with energy, with zeal, with expectancy?
