The Need for Gospel: Tenacity

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord . Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord . Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, 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. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.'" On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?'" The priests answered and said, "No." Then Haggai said, "If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?" The priests answered and said, "It does become unclean." Then Haggai answered and said, "So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord , and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord , how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord . Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord 's temple was laid, consider: Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you." The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord , and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts." - Haggai 2:1‭-‬23 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Haggai prophesized to the generation that returned from exile. He spoke to them to turn from building their own houses and dedicate themselves to the Lord.

The first several messages of Haggai were of rebuke. The people responded by turning to God. They started working on a temple for God. But after weeks, the work was progressing slowly. The people were discouraged. So then God gives them a message of reassurance. Be strong; be courageous; take heart.

To do anything of spiritual significance, we need perseverance and tenacity. We cannot serve based purely on our personal expectations, desires, and feelings. We will desert our commitments and abandon godly convictions.

A promise

God empowers us by his presence. He is the God that parts seas. The one who brought Israel out of Egypt. We may not be enough, but God is enough. He has all the resources and ability to complete the work.

A principle

Do not repudiate small beginnings. The temple was as nothing to the Israelites. But God works through unimpressive and inconsequential looking tasks. The temple they were building did not measure up to the prior temple built by Solomon. But God works through this little temple... to foreshadow the greater temple, Jesus, who opens the way to God and greater glory and peace than any temple the people would build.

A perspective

The leader of this building project was Zerubbabel. And he was discouraged with this work. How can one who leads in spiritual work persevere? They must know that God is behind this work. God will see this through to completion, so we can work hard. Zerubbabel was reassured that God has chosen him. He needed not fear the political realities, the enemies around then, and the unknown circumstances that lie ahead. He was important to God and he promises to make him like a signet ring. A valuable symbol of power that was always heals close at hand. We as sons and daughters of God through Christ can claim this same promise.