Continuing in the short Bible book of Haggai, after work on the temple had started (see Haggai 1:12-15), another message from God arrived about 4 weeks later. This date of “Year 2, Month 7, Day 21” (see Haggai 1:15-2:3) has been calculated by commentators Hahlen & Ham (cited below, p.258) as October 17, 520 B.C.
Like the first prophecy in the book of Haggai, this one is for Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, but it’s also for the people.
Now, the opening line of this prophecy (see Haggai 2:3) doesn’t sound particularly encouraging at first, with a rhetorical question about how bad off the current state of the temple was, compared to what it used to be. After all, the previous temple that Nebuchadnezzar’s forces had destroyed was the one built in Solomon’s time, which was magnificent. Those who had seen the previous temple would had to have lived for a long time to hear Haggai’s message; however, this verse seems to imply that there wasn’t anyone left in the audience who had seen the previous temple in its glory. I suspect that they had heard plenty of stories, though.
At this point, even with the foundation in place, and a month’s worth of work done, the new temple wasn’t yet much to look at. Even today, when a majestic house is about to be built, it doesn’t look like much when only the footers are poured.
Let’s keep going, though…
But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. 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.’
Haggai 2:4-5 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/hag.2.4-5.NIV
Instead of this prophecy leaving the workers feeling bad about the new temple’s current state, though, we learn that God was encouraging the people with this message. He told them to be strong and to work, but He also reiterated that He was with them. That was a big deal for the Jewish people, and it should be a big deal for us, as well.
In addition, God was using the current state of the temple as a contrast to what they could look forward to in the future. And, isn’t that what we all need sometimes: just to know that things will get better? God told the people (see Haggai 2:6-7) that His glory would fill the temple, and – even in a city that was not yet surrounded by defensive walls – God promised (see Haggai 2:8-9) that He would “grant peace”.
After studying books like Lamentations, it’s great to see God’s love and mercy becoming more apparent here, after He had to discipline His people for a while. If we look carefully, though, God never stopped being loving to His people, even throughout events like, 1) the destruction of Jerusalem, 2) the exile of His people to a foreign land, and 3) terrible conditions that those left in Judah experienced. God is love, but sometimes love (even imperfect love shown by human beings) means taking loving action to teach a lesson or to get someone we love out of a worse situation. If one of my kids were to become addicted to illegal drugs, and my personal efforts and pleas for them to stop weren’t successful, I don’t think that it would be unloving of me to turn them in and force them into the treatment that they needed, while continuing to visit them and support them throughout their recovery,
God never stopped loving His people, even as He disciplined them, and the promise of His presence and His future provision was a message of hope for those who – through God’s plan – were back in their capital city, rebuilding Jerusalem with homes, a new temple, and (eventually) walls. In the same way, if we are in difficult times (whether trials to help our faith grow, or being disciplined so that we will return to God), if we are in “rebuilding” times (following God into the next part of His plan for us), or if we are in times of joy and blessing (when we must remember the source of all good things, God Himself): God’s presence with us is what we should continually seek.
May God’s presence go with you today, and may you be aware of it.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for August 10, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 2 (Nahum-Malachi), by Mark Allen Hahlen and Clay Alan Ham. © 2006 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 