Thursday 24 September 2009

Background

This passage, which mentions the same Zerubbabel that we readabout on Tuesday, delivers a short, sharp shock to the Israelites'comfortable security in their status and possessions. And it stillpacks a punch for us today.

Haggai the prophet was addressing Zerubbabel, who was the governorof Judah, and Joshua who was the high priest, and was calling forthe work on the second Temple to be completed (this is the buildingwork which King Cyrus had released some of the captive Jews for- Ezra1:1-6).

After the initial work in rebuilding the Temple's foundations hasbeen completed, enthusiam and activity had waned and the communitywere, according to Haggai at least, more interested in buildingtheir own fancy houses and looking to their own well-being. This isunderstandable, given that they had suffered some tough times(drought and an economic downturn for starters). But Haggai didn'thold back in rebuking what he felt were wrong priorities: thepeople should instead prioritise the rebuilding of the Temple as away of honouring God above all else.

To Ponder

When times are hard it can feel intuitive to lookto our own well-being, comfort and security. I know I find itharder to muster the necessary resources (spiritual, financial oremotional) to look out from myself towards others in my own familyand community, let alone to look out towards honouring God. Is thisyour experience too? Perhaps it isn't and you could share it.

Have you had an experience where your priorities- whether spiritual, financial or relational - have beenchallenged? What difference did that make to you?