{"id":272,"date":"2023-03-20T20:16:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T20:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/?p=272"},"modified":"2023-03-20T20:16:48","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T20:16:48","slug":"it-is-building-time-pt-3-my-house-filled-with-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/?p=272","title":{"rendered":"It is Building Time, Pt. 3 – My House Filled With Glory<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Haggai 2: 1-9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About three weeks passed between the day of Haggai\u2019s first prophetic message and the work of rebuilding the temple began on September 24, 520 B.C. (Haggai 1:15). Given the deplorable conditions in the land and the scarcity of tools and materials, it is quite amazing that they were able to get going in just 23 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After working for almost a month, God sent a second message through Haggai\u2019s lips. It occurred on October 21st<\/sup>. As we shall soon see, the tone and content of this second word is much different from the initial one. Since it is unclear as to the time and place of Haggai\u2019s speaking, we may offer some possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us suppose that it was mid-day and they were busy at the jobsite. Much of the rubble and charred timbers may still have remained scattered about. The cleanup portion of the project must have been extremely difficult and required lots of time and energy. Then, too, there likely was heavy emotional distress hovering over them \u2013 this was the house of God, the heart of the faith of their fathers and here it lay like a trash heap. So sad; so sad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or let\u2019s suppose it was late in the day and the work had ceased. The laborers were weary; the sun was setting; and they were about to return home for rest. As they surveyed the day\u2019s progress, it might have appeared that so little had been accomplished. It looked just like that yesterday, the day before and the day before that \u2026. so, what\u2019s the use?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps, in either case, Haggai stood there with them at the jobsite. He could see it in their eyes, in the sweat on their brow, and in the groaning of their voices \u2013 while God saw it also in the anguish of their hearts. They really wanted to get this job done, but it seemed doomed to fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, the Lord directed Haggai to speak to the governor, the high priest, and all the people, \u201cWho is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?\u201d (Haggai 2:3).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sixty-six years had passed since the temple had been destroyed, but there may have been some among these who actually saw that great temple which King Solomon had built and could recall its splendor and majesty. Then, too, others standing before Haggai may have heard, many times, their fathers and grandfathers paint such vivid word-pictures of that temple that they could actually say, \u201cI have seen it\u201d.  In either case, they were compelled to agree with the painful comparison between the ghastly ruins that lay before them (as it now is) and the temple in its former glory (as it once was).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it was like a \u201cmole hill to a mountain\u201d, or \u201ca drop of water in the ocean\u201d, or \u201ca David to a Goliath\u201d. But that is just the point!! God is challenging them with a daunting task, a seemingly impossible undertaking. The work would certainly not be easy. Jesus warned His hearers, \u201cBecause narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it\u201d (Matthew 7:14).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was then that Haggai spoke the word they all needed to hear. He said, \u201cYet be strong, Zerubbabel \u2026 be strong, Joshua \u2026. Be strong, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work; for I am with you says the Lord of hosts\u201d (Haggai 2:4). <\/em>The term,\u201cbe strong\u201d is \u201ckhaw-zak\u201d which primarily means to fasten upon, to seize. In the vernacular, it would be, \u201cHold on tight, for I am with you\u201d. Likewise, the presence of the Lord makes all the difference. You may recall that Moses understood this when he was leading the Israelites toward the Promised Land and God was reluctant to go with them because of their disobedience, \u201cIf Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here\u201d (Exodus 3:15). <\/em>In like manner, as Jesus was about to ascend into heaven and send His disciples into all the world, He strengthened them thusly, \u201cI am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:20).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon hearing these words, their courage was bolstered \u2026 and further when he reminded them of the Lord\u2019s covenant promise to those coming out of Egypt nearly 700 years ago, \u201cMy Spirit remains among you; do not fear\u201d (Haggai 2:5).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We may pause here to be reminded; the building of the temple of our souls and bodies is not an easy task. The devastation brought about by our own sins, the wiles of the devil, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:11, 12), has left us \u201cin ruins\u201d. We may remember how our lives once were in the innocence of childhood or when we first believed. We may wonder if we can recover that state of faith and joy we once knew and, if so, how we will get there. Haggai\u2019s second message is clearly, \u201cYes, you can because God is with you. Be strong, hold on tight and do not be afraid\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is as He told them, \u201cI will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land \u2026\u201d (Haggai 2:6).<\/em> The Lord will stop at nothing to help us as we work to remove the rubble in our broken lives and repair the damage to our temples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, what a promise! \u201cI will fill this temple with glory, says the Lord of hosts\u201d (Haggai 2:7). <\/em>Never mind what it looks like to you now, this temple is going to be quite different soon. In fact, \u201cthe glory of this latter temple <\/em>(which they were building) shall be greater than the former \u2026 and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts\u201d (Haggai 2:9).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Paul carried this word to the church in Corinth, \u201cBut we all \u2026. beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord\u201d (II Corinthians 3:18).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking your patience, it seems appropriate, at this point, to insert a few thoughts on this familiar word, \u201cglory\u201d. When the Lord said, \u201cI will fill this temple with glory\u201d, <\/em>what were they to expect? One can only wish that we could grasp this, but surely it is beyond our comprehension. So, we must reach for as much as we can bear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it appears in Haggai\u2019s writing, the word is \u201ckaw-bode\u201d, which speaks of splendor, abundance, and honor. In the New Testament, the word is \u201cdoxa\u201d which expresses dignity, honor, praise, and worship. In both languages, there is the sense of a visible manifestation or showing forth. It is, therefore, associated with a display of radiance, light or brilliance. One writer notes that \u201cit is the manifestation of the divine attributes and perfections\u201d (such as love, grace, power, wisdom, peace, joy, etc.) (William Smith \u2013 Bible Dictionary). Those who were eyewitnesses of the glory of God could see but could not fully take it in; they could perceive but not fully understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, just to think that this glory of God is, in some measure, imparted to us, to fill our souls, minds and hearts (our temple), must bring us to our knees as to Moses in the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:35) and to the disciples on Mt. Tabor (Matthew 17:2). Yes, \u201cChrist in us, the hope of glory\u201d (Colossians 1:27).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This message of encouragement and promise was just what the people needed in that hour to keep them going. Knowing that the Lord was with them, and their work would be pleasing to Him, they could now \u201crun and not be weary, they could walk and not faint\u201d (Isaiah 40: 31).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you and I continue our work of rebuilding our temples, even in the face of adversaries and spiritual warfare, let us hold fast to these words from the Apostle Paul: \u201cTherefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord\u201d (I Corinthians 15:58).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is building time, My people; it is building time\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fr. Andrew<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Haggai 2: 1-9 About three weeks passed between the day of Haggai\u2019s first prophetic message and the work of rebuilding the temple began on September 24, 520 B.C. (Haggai 1:15). Given the deplorable conditions in the land and the scarcity of tools and materials, it is quite amazing that they were able to get going […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=272"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":273,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272\/revisions\/273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openingtheoldwells.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}