(An audio recording of the sermon will be uploaded here after the Sunday service.)
Today we’ll continue reading the Book of Haggai. In my previous message, the main verse was “Give careful thought to your ways.” Haggai challenged his people. To build the temple of God. To learn from mistakes, to trust in God, to take the first step, and so on. That was the challenge from God we read about previously.
Today’s message is Part 2 on the book of Haggai. Before, we read about how the people of Israel were miraculously able to return to Jerusalem, but they gave up rebuilding the temple of God and forgot their mission. For that reason, Haggai exhorted them to consider their ways, to realize their mission again, to rebuild the temple, and to become a people who worship God. They gave up the reconstruction for 18 years, which was a very long time, but when they realized the emptiness of a life without God, they started to rebuild the temple again. We are reading again from chapter 2, but this time we will focus on verse 4, which is “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you.” And verse 5 goes on to say, “And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”
May today’s message help us to be a people who worship God. Even if we face various kinds of attacks, let us be strong and work without fear. For God is with us. I hope you will embrace this challenge. In this way, let us experience the abundance of God’s grace and live faithfully as worshippers.
With that, let us read from Haggai chapter 2. After those 18 years, Haggai’s people began to rebuild the temple again. But they were worried that it would be inferior to the original temple. They had that kind of fear. This is expressed at the end of 2:3, which says, “Does it not seem to you like nothing?” Some people lamented that compared to the first temple built during the time of King Solomon, this one was “like nothing”. And yet, the first temple that once shone with glory no longer exists. The glory of the old temple may have remained the memories of the older generation, but longing for the past did nothing to improve the current situation. To such people, God says in verse 4, “‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Also, the phrase “Does it not seem to you like nothing?” refers to the people’s economic concerns. They were worried about resources. Isn’t that right? They had begun constructing the temple but they lacked money and worried that the result might be a shabby building. They were worried about that. To such people, God said this. Verse 8: “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” And in verse 9: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace’.” Looking at our church, we are by no means a group of wealthy people. But we faithfully gather on Fridays or Sundays to worship the Lord. And I believe we each offer our gifts to God with gratitude. I believe He receives our worship and blesses us abundantly. God says this to us: The silver is mine and the gold is mine; I am the God who made all things. I can make the world move and I can make this temple glorious. Friends, one day the treasures of the nations will be brought into the temple of God. Our church may be small, but I hope we can see ourselves as part of the larger, global church. Let us be good stewards of the time, talents, and things that we have been given, and live with awareness of the great potential we possess.
Haggai delivers this word of God to the people: “Be strong, all you people of the land, and work. For I am with you.” But in our context, we are not building the temple of the Old Testament. God has already established a new temple and a new form of worship through Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for us. He knows very well how difficult human life is and how weak we are, and so He came to live with us.
Next week, we celebrate Easter. On the Friday before Easter Sunday, we specially remember the Cross of Jesus. Friends, he was nailed to the Cross, suffered, and carried our sins so that we might be forgiven. He was buried and descended to hell, where he declared to the people of the Old Testament that he has fulfilled the prophecies. He spoke to them of the coming new age, and he rose again on Sunday morning. And so we celebrate his rising on Easter. Matthew 11:12 said that “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence.” What does that mean, “subjected to violence”? When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he was greeted by the crowd, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” But those same people crucified him only a few days later. What a change of heart. The heart of man is full of fickleness. The kingdom of heaven was subjected to violence. Even now Satan rages upon the earth. Yet God resolved to save humanity and allowed his Son to be nailed to the Cross. Jesus endured the agony of the Cross. Not only that, but he also experienced separation from God the Father. Taking our sins upon himself, he received God’s judgment. Matthew 27:45 says about that time: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.” I believe the darkness showed that separation between Jesus and his Father. And then Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and breathed his last (27:46). The kingdom of heaven was subjected to violence. But God’s plan remained unchanged. He allowed his beloved Son to be crucified for human sins, so that we could be pardoned. And he gives eternal life to those who believe in him. God’s plan moves forward and is not shaken.
God has a great plan of election, and it is by his grace that we live today. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” God chose us, pardoned us, and desires to live with us for eternity. I believe in this good news. Every day, I pray: Jesus, thank you for your Cross. Jesus, I want to live with you. Enable me to give glory back to you through my life.
Haggai’s message of “Be strong and work, for I am with you” is also for us. Let us stand firm and establish a life of worshipping the Lord Jesus. Let us also embrace God’s word in verse 9: “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace’.” When we gather with other believers, offer praise to God, and turn our ears to his Word, Jesus is in our midst. I pray we will continue to be a people that gives thanks for the forgiveness of sins, that praises God with our lips, that takes joy in our salvation, and rejoices in God’s grace. It is no longer the Old Testament era; worship that is truly alive is taking place right now.
Haggai 2:18-19 says this: “From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. ‘From this day on I will bless you.’” Indeed, we lay a foundation, offer our worship, and wait quietly for God’s timing. It takes time for anything to bear fruit. The book of Haggai concludes with a promise of God’s grace. Even if there has been no fruit, be sure to sow the seeds. Stand firm in your faith and take up your work. Let us see with eyes of faith and look forward to God’s blessing.
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