I’ve been reading the books of the Minor Prophets (in the Bible) because I tend to forget about them. So I wanted to refresh my mind. Most of the books deal with prophecy and retribution. In fact, the book of Zephaniah was all about God’s judgment against several nations. So I was expecting much the same from the book of Haggai for no other reason than that it came after Zephaniah.
But this little book with its 2 chapters threw me a curve ball.
The book of Haggai
The story opens revealing an incomplete temple in Jerusalem. The children of Israel had started rebuilding the temple but somewhere along the way, progress stalled. So instead of the satisfaction (and pride) of completion, they had a constant reminder of unfulfilled expectations. Kind of like the drip…drip…drip of a leaky faucet.
My gallery wall
It reminds me very much of the gallery wall in my family room. It’s been in a state of not quite done for a while now. I have a legitimate reason why it’s unfinished. I couldn’t find the tools and no one seemed to know where they were. At first, I tried adapting by using Command strips to hang some of the smaller paintings. But I ran out of those as well. So I neatly placed all the remaining paintings at the base of the wall, planning to hang them when I found the tools.
Eventually, I found the tools AND took the extra step of placing them right next to the unhung paintings.
Becoming proactive
I was even proactive and set a date when I would finish it. It was going to be after the holidays with the help of my daughter (unbeknownst to her). Well…my daughter has come and gone and the wall looks precisely as it did the day she arrived.
I look at it every day and know it’s unfinished. I could tell you it doesn’t bother me…it does. But not enough to drive me crazy. Instead, I see it more like a long deep sigh. The kind that comes when you’re tired and just want to relax but there’s still so much left to do.
The change
I’m guessing the Israelites felt the same way about their half-finished temple.
But then one day everything changes…
The message
God sends this message through the prophet Haggai “I am with you, says the LORD.” (Haggai 1:13)
God knew exactly what they were feeling. It was hard work and progress was sooo slow. So the first thing God did was to tell the children of Israel who He was. As a matter of fact, for the entire book of Haggai (and for some of the other books as well) He reminds them He is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Then He lets them know He is with them. In other words, the powerful commander and chief of a vast heavenly army was with them.
That encouragement was all that was needed for them to get back to work.
What I’m learning
But it’s not just a message for the Israelites, it’s for us as well. It’s a reminder not to give up when we’re overwhelmed, afraid or discouraged. Or when we don’t see any progress despite all our effort.
It’s a heavenly cheer from God that we’ve got this! We can do it! Because the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is with us.
I hope this gives you the enthusiasm…the spark…to tackle and complete whatever was started. Or to encourage you to continue what you’re doing.