Day: January 17, 2021

Getting Priorities Right (Jan 17)

Consider your ways & Finish what
you have begun are the resounding
calls of prophet Haggai as he tries
to awaken the people spiritually.
They have just returned from exile
in Babylonia and are discouraged
by the destruction in the city.
But Haggai’s message brings
encouragement, particularly to the
governor, Zerubbabel, who must
inspire the people. I am with you,
declares the Lord as the people are
called to rebuild and fight against
future oppression. There is hope and
future blessing for their obedience!

God had given the Jews assignment
to finish the temple in Jerusalem
when they returned from captivity.
After 15 years, they still had not
completed it. They were more
concerned about building their own
homes than finishing God’s work.
Prophet Haggai told them to get
their priorities straight. Dear Lord
it’s easy to make other priorities more
important than doing God’s work.
But God wants us to follow through
and build up the kingdom of God.
Help us not to make excuses but
to set our hearts on what is right.
Help us to Get our Priorities Right.
Help us to Be Strong & Courageous.
Help us to Put our Trust In You. For
You’re Way Maker & Promise Keeper.

Lord, we’ll Get Priorities Right:
Consider your ways! Go up to the
mountains and bring wood and
build the temple, that I may take
pleasure in it and be glorified,
says the Lord. You expected much,
but see, it turned out to be little.
What u brought home, I brew away.
Why? declares the Lord Almighty.
Because of my house, which
remains a ruin, while each of you is
busy with his own house (Hag1:8-9)
Lord, help me to not be concerned
with outward appearance and
selfish pursuits, but rather to be
concerned with spiritual growth,
unselfish service, the condition
of our hearts and the things that
touch the hearts of You God.
Help me to have my priorities
in order so that my walk with
You continues to grow closer
and deeper over time. Amen.

Lord, we’ll be Strong & Courageous:
Yet now be strong Zerubbabel,
says the Lord; and be strong
Joshua the high priest; and be
strong all you people of the land,
says the Lord, and work; for I am
with you, says the Lord of hosts.
My Spirit remains among you,
just as I promised when you
came out of Egypt. So do
not be afraid (Haggai 2:4-5).
Lord, sometimes You God gives
us challenging tasks to do. And
they may seem completely out
of our reach; and we may feel
like just give up, thinking the job
is impossible. But Lord, no job
is impossible when You God
tells us it’s part of Your plan
and You say it’s time to do it.
Empower us Lord with Your
wisdom & perseverance. Amen.

Lord, we Trust You Keep Promises:
It is… the day in which the people
finished working on the foundation
of the Temple of the Lord…
from now on I will bless you!
Then the Lord spoke His word
a second time to Haggai… He said:
I will… talked away the power
of the kingdoms of the nations…
On that day I will take you,
Zerubbabel… my servant says the
Lord, and I will make you important…
because I have chosen you!
says the Lord (Haggai 2:18-23).
Lord, we note that as the stones
of the temple have obediently
been laid, You God declares
Yourself as the one who blesses.
And we praise You for we know
in Christ, You God is for us and
want to bless us abundant life.
We also note You promise that
Zerubbabel will rise to prominence.
And the birth of Christ proves You
are a faithful promise keeper. Amen.

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (Jan17)

As the Bible is arranged by genre,
to enhance understanding context
we’re meditating by time sequence.
OT1A: Genesis
OT1B: Poetry Book of Job
OT1C: Life of Moses (Exo to Deut)
OT2A: History to David (Josh-1Chr)
OT2B: Five Books of Psalms
OT2C: 1 Kings & Wisdom Poetry
OT3A: 2 Kings & Prophets
OT3B: 2 Chronicles & Prophets
OT3C: Post Exilic Period & Prophets

In the final part of Phase Three,
we had earlier covered the history
of the post-exilic period under
Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Continuing into the prophets, we
start with Haggai, written 520 BC
with purpose to call the people to
complete the rebuilding the temple.
Zechariah; written around 519 BC
for chap 1-8 & 480BC for chap 9-14,
with purpose to give hope to God’s
people by revealing God’s future
deliverance through the Messiah.
Malachi, written 430BC, to confront
the people with their sins and to
restore their relationship with God.

Haggai: “Consider your ways and
finish what you have begun” are
the resounding calls of the prophet
Haggai as he tries to awaken the
people spiritually. They have just
returned from exile in Babylonia
and are discouraged by the
destruction in the city. But Haggai’s
message brings encouragement,
particularly to the governor,
Zerubbabel who must inspire the
people. “I am with you,” declares
the Lord as the people are called
to rebuild and fight against future
oppression. There is hope and
future blessing for their obedience!

Zechariah: Using colourful visions
and consoling sermons to portray
God’s glorious future plans for
His covenant people, Zechariah
encourages the workers engaged
in rebuilding the temple. Although
earlier enthusiasm has waned,
the task is an important one, for
the temple will be the focal point
of the ministry of Israel’s coming
Messiah. God will keep His promises
to His people, and fasting will turn
to feasting when Messiah arrives.
So put away sin, finish the temple &
await the Messiah with encitement.

Malachi: Years after the restoration
from exile, the spiritual condition
of God’s people has deteriorated.
Again they have lapsed into the
same sins that brought about
captivity. They tithe sporadically,
ignore the Sabbath and intermarry
with unbelievers.Their hearts have
grown hard and their love for God
has grown cold, yet Malachi comes
to remind the people of God’s love
for them. Malachi’s final warning
about the purifying Day of the Lord
marks the close of Old Testament
period which is followed by 400
years of silence in biblical record.