Category: Haggai

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Both David’s heir and the High Priest are addressed. It is their responsibility to build the Temple. What was preventing them? What prevents us from building that spiritual house of the Lord? 1 Peter 2:5 We are both kings and priests to God! Revelation 1:6

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, please break open our hard hearts today and put our stubborn wills to flight, that we might read Your word and understand.

“The latter glory of those house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.”

The glory of God’s house is a truth that pulses bright and clear through the book of Haggai.

Yesterday we read of God’s jealousy for His house (living stones, His people).

Today we read of the later (latter) glory of His house.

What does this mean for us today?

It is that wonderful vision of glory, our great hope!

In Revelation chapter 21 we read,

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Who is the bride?

The holy city, new Jerusalem … God’s house!

King Solomon built a human-hands-made temple that was known throughout all the world for its splendour.

(The latter glory shall be greater than the former.)

Thinking back to our reading through Ezekiel, towards the end of that book, the vision of a temple not made with human hands.

This holy city, the new Jerusalem that we read of in Revelation, where death shall be no more – This is God’s house in all its latter glory, and what a wonderful hope that is for us!

* Merciful Father,

Thank You that we are able to look forward to that day when the glory of Your house will be made clear, a beautiful bride adorned for her husband.

Thank You that there, in the new heavens and the new earth, there will be PEACE.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This is the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Iran rules from Turkey to Egypt to India. The concern of Haggai is for more than bricks and mortar. However, the physical condition of a church building is a good indicator of the congregation’s spiritual condition.

SJA Notes

* God Above, please show us Your wisdom from Your word today.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways.”

We read here today about the jealousy God has for His HOUSE.

Israel asked why God punished them (being very quick to forget the many generations of prophets who warned them of the coming punishment).

God’s answer is clear,

“Why? Declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.”

What is God’s house? We can be reminded that Jesus opened our eyes deeper, that His house is stones that are alive!

We read in Isaiah chapter 28 we read of Jesus,

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: …”

This is our King. The Cornerstone. He is the foundation and the root and the cornerstone of God’s House (His people).

But what of us?

Haggai tells us of the importance for us to take care of God’s house.

In 1 Peter chapter 2 we read,

“… You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, …”

We are living stones, part of God’s house!

So.

What are we doing to take care of God’s house today?

* Gracious Father in Heaven,

Your word is clear – Jesus is the cornerstone of Zion, a living stone rejected by men, but in Your sight chosen and precious.

Thank You that through Jesus we are living stones making up Your house.

Please convict us in our care for Your house Lord God.

Amen.