Thoughts for the Day

In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai. Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we go back to 520 BCE to the Prophet Haggai. (See also '2021 Thoughts' - press 'Ezra' and 'Nehemiah' above!). It's now 18 years after the people's return from exile in Babylon, but things are not going well. Humbled by their capture and exile, and the destruction of Jerusalem, they had returned with permission from King Cyrus to rebuild God's Temple, but come up against such opposition that they give up. The prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, as well as the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, all deal with this period and with issues facing the people of Judah. Haggai's prophecy first goes to the two leaders, to Zerubbabel and Joshua, the governor and the high priest.

God's messenger criticises the people for their lack of enthusiasm to rebuild the 'Lord's house', though they have built their own. This is understandable, for there has been considerable opposition from those who moved in to claim the ruined Jerusalem. They have continually frustrated the returnees' plans by appealing to subsequent Kings and whipping up local opposition. Not until the Persian King Darius appears is fresh permission given, and by now those who first returned are short of food, water, and clothing. There is no reason for the Temple not to be built, except that after 18 years of opposition they have given up trying.

Haggai invites the two leaders to be creative and build something innovative for the worship of God, that He 'may be honoured'. After all, the selfish way they have been living all these years has not worked, so perhaps it is time to get their priorities right and turn to God!

Father God,
sometimes we are so wrapped
up in our own troubles
that it is hard to see
the wood for the trees.
Help us to see more clearly,
to return to You,
and see that only You
can sort out the problems
and set us on a new course.
Amen.