In 586 B.C., Jerusalem was destroyed and most of its citizens taken to Babylon. In the years following, the people were in exile in Babylon and began to return in 535 B.C. In 520 B.C., the people laid the foundation for the rebuilt temple, but become discouraged and quit. Enter Haggai . . .
The prophet posed this question: “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (1:4) Eventually, the people heeded his preaching: “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, ‘I am with you, declares the Lord’” (1:12,13).
How blessed is the people who can say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way” (Psalm 46:1-2). The temple was not only for God, it was also for the people. Indeed, it was there that God received the worship of his people. But it was also there that the people got to meet with God and witness all that pointed them ultimately to Messiah, their savior. At the temple and in our Messiah, God is with us!
O God, our Help in ages past,
our Hope for years to come,
our Shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal Home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is Thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure. –Isaac Watts (1719)
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