EmmDev 2023-02-08 [Renovations (Revisited)] Don't delay!

Don't delay!

So the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai as follows: Is it right for you to live in paneled houses while my temple is in ruins? (Haggai1:3-4)

The book of Haggai (tucked away at the back of the Old Testament) is a great example of dynamite in a small package! It was written after the expectant Jews returned from exile in Babylon with dreams of all God's promises coming true. This did not happen:- their crops failed, bandits attacked them, and a sense of gloom pervaded the land.

The prophet Haggai prescribes the cure for the downward spiral of defeat and failure that they experienced: Rebuild the temple.

This sounds like strange advice! Jeremiah had taught them not to make an idol of the temple and now Haggai is promoting the temple again! But if one reads more carefully, the issue is not the temple, but their misplaced priorities. The temple represented their focus on God, but they were concentrating on building their own houses and kingdoms first. They were living in paneled houses! Not just any old house, but luxurious, comfortable, well-established houses and in contrast the temple was in ruins.

The lesson is obvious. God wants to build a temple in you and me. What are our priorities? What are we chasing after? Some of the temporal things we chase after are just that: - temporary! Are other areas of your life paneled and ostentatious whilst the temple of our relationship with God is looking tatty?

What do you need to do?

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