Turning A Minor Prophet Haggai 1:1-3,9,13-15 / 2:1-9
“GOD'S HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT”
We've been making our way through the Minor Prophets, chronologically, and today it's Haggai - God's Home Improvement Prophet. Some of us could use a little help there. I heard of one guy who walked into the living room carrying his Mr. Handy Fix-it Kit, a bunch of tools and his handy-doody Clueless Carpenter Manuel: 'I'm all set to start my weekend home improvement project!'
His wife holding her 'Mr. Handy Repair Kit' and smart phone, replied: 'And I'm set to call 911!'
That could be me and Claudia. In browsing the Home Improvement Books at the library she found one that seemed to be written for me: 'If it ain't broke don't try and fix it!' Coulda happened!
When I purchased my Mr. Handy Repair Kit it came with some instructions: 'Be forewarned – some anger, frustration & destruction is expected.' I relate to a cartoon that features a wide-eyed wife and husband, standing beside a hole in the wall and an unnatural disaster. He says, “I thought I'd try my hand at a little home improvement. It's the 'improvement' part that seems to be the challenge.'
Meet Haggai – the Bible's Home Improvement Guy! He's the first of the final three of the minor prophets. He and Zechariah are mentioned in the book of Ezra, who writes: “The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. Then Zerubabbel & Joshua set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.” (Ezra 5:1-2)
Here's a couple of fun facts. Zerubabbel the governor Ezra mentions, and who Haggai repeated-ly name drops throughout his book, is actually not only a descendant of David but a an ancestor of Jesus, evident in the genealogy Matthew provides at the beginning of his gospel. “After the exile to Babylon: Joconiah was the father of Shealtiel, who was the father of Zerubabbel.” (Matthew 1:14)
That's pretty cool. And like the prophets before him, Haggai's name holds symbolic meaning. In Hebrew it means, 'Festal' or 'Festival'. That's not only because he was born during one of the Jews' high festivals but because Haggai's ministry was all about reclaiming festive corporate worship.
He also seems to be a bit right brained. Not only is he meticulous in his instructions to God's people but he's the most time specific of any Biblical author. Repeatedly he identifies events down to the precise day as heard in his opening: “In the second year of King Darius of Persia, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai...” (Haggai 1:1)
That is, this took place on August 29th, 520 BC. That's pretty specific!
With his precise dating, and in conjunction with the other prophets and the book of Ezra, we can map everything we read about here on a timeline as follows:
In 586 BC Judah's capital, Jerusalem, and her temple are destroyed; Babylonian exile begins.
In 538 BC, following Persia's defeat of Babylon, King Cyrus releases Jewish exiles to rebuild.
From 538-520 BC, following a brief rebuilding campaign, the temple rebuilding project lapses.
From 520-516 BC, inspired and led by the prophets, H & Z, the Jerusalem temple is rebuilt.
So as Haggai's book begins, the rebuilding of the Jersualem temple has remained unfinished for 18 years, and God is not pleased. Through the prophet Haggai, God asks a pressing question: “Is there time for you to be living in your remodeled houses while my house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4)
-2-
In response to their lethargic inaction Haggai provides three foundational building blocks – three ways he motivates them to move from their comfy chairs to the construction lair. The first is this: “Give careful thought to your ways!” he repeatedly challenges them. (Haggai 1:5, 7; 2:15)
Why might that be? Because what we think or believe about something has a direct influence on our behavior. Paul speaks to this centuries later when he writes to the church in Corinth: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up againt the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Haggai must've been well aware of what they were thinking because of the things he heard them saying: “These people say, 'The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house.'” (Haggai 1:2) They were, in effect, putting it off – or to put it another way, they'd been procrastinating.
Why? Well, for any number of reasons. Neighboring nations were complaining and gossiping about their possible malicious intent for rebuilding, making them anxious. Haggai notes that God's people complained about not having enough food or people or money. He mentions bad weather and that was hard work. What's more, they were clearly more focused on their individual needs then on the corporate good. It's a common pretension, even today. As God declares thru Haggai: “My house remains a ruin while each of you is busy with your own house.” (Haggai 1:9)
It would seem they had lots of reasons to procrastinate. Don't we all? I mean, I know that procrastinating is a bad habit so I decided this week that one of these days I'm going get a round tuit.
After all, if I applied myself as much as I procrastinated – like Wow! That would be amazing – and exhausting – so I took a nap. When I awoke, I thought: 'I should be working on my sermon today, but the way I see it, playing in the sun is a lot more important.' I told myself how I'm learning skills out there that I can apply throughout the rest of my life. ...Such as rationalizing and procrastinating!
We need to be careful about what we're thinking!
So the next day I kept a log: 10 am, lulled about; 11 am, diddle daddled; 1 pm lingered a bit;
5 pm, lollygagged; 7 pm, moseyed around and 10 pm, lounged, lazied and doodled.
Did you know that procrastinating is so common and such a problem for so many of us that psychologists have identified six clear stages of procrastination? Stage 1: False Security. 'This isn't due yet! I can still relax!' Stage 2: Laziness. 'Maybe I should get started... Naw!' Stage 3: Excuses. 'I'm too busy right now. I'm remodeling!' Stage 4: Denial. 'I still have time. I work best under pressure any who.' Stage 5: Panic. 'Aaah! I'll never procrastinate again!' Stage 6: Repeat stages 1-6.
1st: “Give careful thought to your ways!” (Haggai 1:5, 7) Pay attention to what thoughts keep you from doing God's will. “Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 10:5)
2nd: “But now be strong!” (Haggai 2:4) Three times in one verse Haggai repeats his call to action – first, to the two leaders he's identified, the governor and high priest, Zerubbabel and to Joshua, and then to the faith community: 'Be strong!' Resist the inclination for procrastination.
To encourage them he reminds them of an ancient truth. Do you know what it is? It's deeply profound but it's precisely what we're quick to forget when the work is hard, tedious, scary or simply inconvient. This is what he says: “'Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work! For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear or give up!'” (Haggai 2:4-5)
-3-
He reminds them of how their story is part of the ancient biblical story, how God promised His people through Moses how he would be and was with them as He personally and powerfully led them out of Egypt, thru one miracle after another. Likewise we are reminded here how our stories are part of that larger story as well. We are reminded that God is with us too - how the Spirit of our risen Lord fills us with supernatural experiences of his leading and of his love for us. Just recently one of you told me how you had a powerful experience of His love for you during Sunday morning worship! Knowing he is with us, we can be strong, and do the work of the Lord – be that helping maintain the building, or cooking meals for our Alpha guests, or cleaning, or praying over and for one another. In such ways we build one another up and become strong!
It's so cool that one of their religious leaders, their high priest at the time, was named Joshua because the Joshua who was Moses' protege is repeatedly told: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you! I will never leave nor forsake you so be strong and very courageous!” (Joshua 1:5-6)
So 1st: “Give careful thought to your ways!” 'Hold captive every thought!' (Haggai 1:5, 7)
2nd: “'Be strong, all of you, and work! For I am with you,' declares the Lord!” (Haggai 1:4)
And 3rd: “Dare to believe! Greater things are yet in store for you!”
This is where Haggai dons his powerful prophetic hat, as it were, and points their focus forward and gives them a little glimpse, an enigmatic vision, of how their faithfulness and their working together, is part of God's grander vision for them and all of God's people!
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth... I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come...! And in this place, this very temple, I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:6-7, 9)
What is it that the nations desire most? What is it that deep down we all hope for? Is it not to be at peace with ourselves, with God and with one another? This is exactly what the Messiah brings. As Isaiah foretold: “Every warrior's boot used in battle...will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Ever-lasting Father, Prince of Peace. For the greatness of his kingdom and his peace will have no end!”
(Isaiah 9:5-7)
Haggai is connecting some vital dots here! He's urging the people to rebuild the temple not because worship is limited to the temple but because God has long made his personal, powerful presence be known and experienced specifically in the temple. “The Lord is in his holy temple!”
(Habakkuk 2:20)
By rebuilding it God's people were being invited to be a part of something larger than any one single individual. Together, working side by side, they were part of God's grander story, a story in which the longlasting desire of all the nations would ultimately be realized. For one, the Messiah himself would study God's word and worship in this man made temple but even more profoundly, he himself would bring God's presence to life, in his flesh and blood, as he would be the new temple!
Several authors of the New Testament confirm this, none more clearly than John in his book of Revelation: “I did not see a temple in the city because the Lamb is its temple, nor does the city need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the Lamb of God is it's lamp, and the nations will flock to it!”
(Revelation 21:22-24)
Haggai encourages us not to procrastinate or isolate ourselves but to work together for God is with us. Gathering for worship together provides God the space and the place to do profound things in us and thru us and in this way we both discover and embody what the nations most desire – peace!
-4-
Haggai urges God's people to dare to believe! Greater things lie yet ahead!
So 1st: “Give careful thought to your ways!” 'Hold captive every thought!' (Haggai 1:5, 7)
2nd: “'Be strong, all of you, and work! For I am with you,' declares the Lord!” (Haggai 1:4)
And 3rd: “Dare to believe! Greater things are yet in store for you!”