01 01-12 - god bless us, every one! (for web)

God Bless Us, Every One! Haggai 1-2

George Patton’s “Weather Prayer” Training Letter No 5“This Army needs the assurance and the faith that God is with us. With prayer we cannot fail.”

We can’t appreciate how the people of the OTthought of the presence of their God • Bringing the Ark into battle – 1 Sam 4Nor can we appreciate how they perceived theloss of God’s presence • Psalm 74:1-8

Psalm 74:1-8O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why doesyour anger smoke against the sheep of yourpasture? 2 Remember your congregation, whichyou have purchased of old, which you haveredeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 3Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; theenemy has destroyed everything in thesanctuary!

Psalm 74:1-8Your foes have roared in the midst of yourmeeting place; they set up their own signs forsigns. 5 They were like those who swing axes in aforest of trees. 6 And all its carved wood theybroke down with hatchets and hammers. 7 Theyset your sanctuary on fire; they profaned thedwelling place of your name, bringing it down tothe ground. 8 They said to themselves, "We willutterly subdue them"; they burned all themeeting places of God in the land.

The Time of the Return• Time period – 538 B.C. – 433 B.C.• People – Kings (Persian) • Cyrus (539-530 B.C.) • Darius (522-486 B.C.) • Xerxes/Ahasuerus (485-464 B.C.) • Artaxerxes (464-423 B.C.) – Leaders (early) – 538 – 516 B.C. • Zerubbabel (governor) Rebuilding • Joshua (priest) the Temple • Haggai & Zechariah (prophets) – Leaders (late) – 458 – 433 B.C. • Nehemiah (governor) Rebuilding • Ezra (priest & scribe) the Walls • Malachi (prophet)

Ezra Setting for Haggai• 1:1-5 – God had given control to Cyrus to accomplish His purposes – God remembers His word, and begins to fulfill it – God stirs the spirit of men (Cyrus & the exiles) – God acts for His glory (“The house of the LORD”) – “May God’s presence be with His people” – v. 3• 3:1-6 – The altar is rebuilt, but not the temple• 3:8-11 – The foundation of the temple is laid• 3:12-13 – Mixed reaction to the laying of the foundation of the temple• 4:24 – 5:2, 24 – Temple building is frustrated and stopped

Ezra 5:1-2Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah theson of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews whowere in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name ofthe God of Israel who was over them. 2 ThenZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshuathe son of Jozadak arose and began torebuild the house of God that is inJerusalem, and the prophets of God werewith them, supporting them.

The Book of Haggai• 2 Evidences of God’s blessing – The people had returned to the Land – The people were dwelling in the Land (18 yrs) But…“You looked for much & it came to little” vs. 9, 5-6• 2 Divine Activities – “Thus says the LORD of hosts”

Percentages of verses in bookscontaining the phrase, “LORD of hosts”• Malachi (43.6%) • Habakkuk (1.8%)• Haggai (31.6%) • Micah (1.0%)• Zechariah (21.8%) • 2 Samuel (0.9%)• Amos (6.1%) • Psalms (0.7%)• Jeremiah (5.9%) • 1 Samuel (0.6%)• Isaiah (4.7%) • Hosea (0.5%)• Nahum (4.3%) First used in 1 Sam 1, the term not only• Zephaniah (3.8%) refers to, but signals the activity of God

The Book of Haggai• 2 Evidences of God’s blessing • 2 Motivations – 1:8 – The people had returned to the Land – God’s pleasure (favor) – The people were dwelling in the Land (18 yrs) – God’s glory (weighty) But…“You looked for much & it came to little”• 2 Divine Activities – “Thus says the LORD of hosts” • 2 Responses – 1:12 – Drought, blight, mildew & hail – 1:11 / 2:17 – They obeyed command – Dispersing the products of their labors – They feared consequen. “It was I who did these things to you!” But…“Is it not as nothing?” This came at the end of the• 2 Problems – 2:10-14 summer harvest, and just – The people are unclean before planting their – Their works (what they touch) are unclean Thewinter crops –busy were people were they They say “it is not time”… & dwell in paneled houses about all other aspectsobeyed. busy, but still they of worship – cf. Ezr 3:4-6a• 2 Solutions …except obedience to their – Consider your ways – 1:7 primary mission – Build the house – 1:8

“The Day of Small Things”• Hag 2:3 – Is it not as nothing in your eyes?• Ezra 3:10-12 – And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple . . . many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy• Zech 4:10 – Who has despised the day of small things?• Hag 2:9 – The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts

The Book of Haggai• 2 Evidences of God’s blessing • 2 Motivations – 1:8 – The people had returned to the Land – God’s pleasure (favor) – The people were dwelling in the Land (18 yrs) – God’s glory (weighty) But…“You looked for much & it came to little”• 2 Divine Activities – “Thus says the LORD of hosts” • 2 Responses – 1:12 – Drought, blight, mildew & hail – 1:11 / 2:17 – They obeyed command – Dispersing the products of their labors – They feared consequen. “It was I who did these things to you!” But…“Is it not as nothing?”• 2 Problems – 2:10-14 • 1 Encouragement – The people are unclean – I am with you – 1:13 – Their works (what they touch) are unclean – My Spirit remains – 2:5 They say “it is not time”… & dwell in paneled houses cf. Zech 4:6 (present tense)• 2 Solutions • 2 Results – Consider your ways – 1:7 – I will bless you – 2:19 – Build the house – 1:8 – I will use you – v.23

Result of God’s BlessingEzra 6:7-12 – Decree by King Darius• Let the work on this house of God alone• You shall provide what is needed – “day by day” – “without fail”• Do not alter this edict (upon pain of death!)• Let it be accomplished with all diligenceEzra 6:13-16• They built & prospered• They finished their building by the decree of the God of Israel – And by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes• They celebrated the dedication of the temple with joy

Text: Haggai Height of Conflict: Reversal: Haggai & Zechariah prophesy to The leaders & people obey & fear the LORD their God (Ezra, Zechariah) God’s people in the name of the The prophets convince them of God’s presence God of Israel – the LORD of hosts The LORD stirs their spirits to accomplish the workConflict Intensifies: Resolution Begins:Altar is rebuiltFoundation of Temple is laid The people come to work on the house of the LORD“People of the land” discourage “people of Judah” The work is despised as “the day of small things”Work on the house of God in Jerusalem is stopped Renewed promise of presence, glory & shalom Driving Conflict:People settle into working on their own housesGod strikes the land, the people, and their labors God’s presence with His people Conflict Unravels: accomplishes His Conflict Builds: program Haggai’s explan. & promise of God’s blessing God stirs up the spirits of His people …as opposed to… Zech.’s visions & promise of God’s presence God’s people return to the Land God’s people accomplishing a program to secure God’s presenceSetting: Occasioning Event: Conflict Resolved: Outcome: 538 B.C. Cyrus’ decree: Letter from Darius The LORD’s temple in Jerusalem securing provisions is finished (in exile) Rebuild the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem & forbidding prevention

“Zechariah stresses that God’s presence willcreate the conditions necessary to reconstructthe temple rather than requiring the temple’sreconstruction as a precondition for his return.” Hartle, James A. “The Literary Unity of Zechariah,” The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35:2 (June 1992): 150.

So, what does this have to do with us as we enter 2012?• The people had lost sight of their primary objective – “Build the house” – Instead, they were busy making their lives comfortable – What is our primary objective? • “Going into all the world, make disciples…” • “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” • “For to me, to live is Christ…” • “But grow in the grace & knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” – What are we busy about (honestly)? – What have we planned to be busy about this year?

So, what does this have to do with us as we enter 2012?• The people had lost sight of their primary objective• As a result, their labors were being frustrated• God was never far away – He had not turned away from them, but was waiting for them to turn back to Him, and to put Him first• It’s not that God doesn’t care about the regular stuff of life; but He can’t bless us if that’s what we are primarily concerned about• While God had a program for them to accomplish, He wasn’t waiting for them to do it for Him, but instead, He wanted them to do it with Him

And lest we think this doesn’t apply to us in this dispensation . . .

But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousnessAnd all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:33

What does “putting God first” look like for you in 2012?• Restarting family devotions• Restarting personal devotions• Asking God to change the way you pray – from blessing your comforts to changing your heart• Being more bold in witnessing• Being more committed in church attendance or church membership• Bible memorization• Etc.

But, as we put God first this year May God bless us, every one, in 2012!

01 01-12 - god bless us, every one! (for web)

by ryweberg on Jan 20, 2012

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01 01-12 - god bless us, every one! (for web) — Presentation Transcript