Get To Work

For 11/7/2010

Beginning in 539 BCE the Babylonian exiles began to return to Jerusalem with high hopes and enthusiasm. When they arrived the economic conditions, destroyed temple and threats from local enemies confronted them. In the midst of all of this a second temple was constructed but it was a poor semblance of the grandeur of Solomon’s temple. In the midst of the depression and disappointment the prophet Haggai confronts the Governor Zerrubbable, grandson of the last Jewish king, with prophesy calling for the construction of a temple fit for worship. When finished it would be fit to honor God and restore the proper feasts and religious practices. The very short book of Haggai contains only five oracles all clearly dated between August 29 and December 18, 520 BC

· Think of a time when you were struggling with disappointment whether health, financial, relationship or spiritual. What were some things that got you headed back in the right direction? What did you need in order to deal constructively with hard times? Now read Haggai’s prophecy for the down in the mouth Israelite refugees:

Haggai 1:14-15 This is how God got Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people moving— got them working on the Temple of God-of-the-Angel-Armies. This happened on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

Haggai 2:1-3 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of God came through the prophet Haggai: "Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the people: 'Is there anyone here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much, right?

4-5"'So get to work, Zerubbabel!'—God is speaking. "'Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!' "'Get to work, all you people!'—God is speaking. "'Yes, get to work! For I am with you.' The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! 'Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I'm living and breathing among you right now. Don't be timid. Don't hold back.' …

9'This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.' Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies."

· What motivated this back to work movement that Haggai took to and urged up Zerubbabel? What makes the initiation of this project different than something that Zerubbabbel might have initiated on his own? Why might God have wanted the temple reworked and rebuilt? Did God want a magnificent edifice or was something else behind this project?

· What might have been some of the challenges that the Israelites faced in building a new temple that was worthy of the grandeur of the first? What attitudes, skills, financial limitations might have existed as well as challenges of restoring livable conditions.

· In addition to being a wonderful building the temple represented much more to the people as Solomon declared and prayed in these selections from Solomon’s prayer 1 Kings 8:

Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? … Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, "My Name will be honored there," and listen to the prayers that I pray at this place.

When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that's prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, hearts penetrated by the disaster, hands and arms thrown out to this Temple for help, Listen from your home in heaven.

When someone hurts a neighbor and promises to make things right, and then comes and repeats the promise before your Altar in this Temple, listen from heaven and act accordingly: Judge your servants, making the offender pay for his offense and setting the offended free of any charges.

· What does Solomon lift up as important roles for the temple in the life of the Israelites? With this in mind what would have been the impact on the people if it were restored to its previous glory?

· Use the link to look at the description and diagrams of Solomon’s temple in Wikipedia that was the model for their efforts. What do you think about the complex? What are some features which meet the purposes for its construction?

· What are some of the purposes for this congregation’s facilities? What are some ways we can capture them and also what message should we send to the community as we make decisions about their condition, appearance and use?

· In spite of the promise rebuilding the temple held there were very real obstacles to overcome as we discussed previously. What does God guarantee the people through Haggai’s prophecy in verses 4-5? What does God remind them of in order to give credibility to the promise?

· Verse 9 is the bottom line in the reconstruction project. What will be the most important result of their work? What will bring about the wholeness and holiness God speaks of? What does it say about the importance of experiencing our liturgy and traditions in building a vital faith life together?

· What can we learn from this scripture about our congregational life? What words from the prophecy resonate with you as we move into our future? What do we need to understand about challenges and concerns we might have?

· What can we take from the prophecy and apply to our personal situation. What does it say to you about handling difficulties and disappointment? Have you ever experienced encouragement and motivation in your faith life?

Closing Prayer

Send out Wisdom from the throne of your glory, O Lord, that being present she may labor with us: that we may know at all times what is pleasing to you. Amen. From Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 65:17-25 or Malachi 4:1-2a, Isaiah 12 or Psalm 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19