A Word Through Haggai
Older people who saw the first temple find this one pitiful. Our Father tells them to build anyway and says this house's later glory will surpass the first. A priestly ruling shows defilement spreads by contact but holiness does not, yet from today he will bless.
2 1In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day, the word of our Father came through Haggai the prophet:
2"Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest, and to the rest of the people: 3Who among you is left? Who here saw this house in its former glory? How does it look now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you?' 4Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, declares the Father; be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Father, and work, for I am with you, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 5Just as I promised when you came out of Egypt, my Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid. 6This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land. 7And I will shake all the nations, and what all nations most desire will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Father of heaven's armies. 8The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 9The final glory of this house will surpass the first, says the Father of heaven's armies; and in this place I will give peace, declares the Father of heaven's armies." a a v9 The Father's promise that the second temple's glory would exceed Solomon's was fulfilled when Jesus walked in this very temple — the glory that filled the house was the Son himself, the radiance of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3).
Defilement and a New Day
10On the ninth month's twenty-fourth day, Darius's second year, our Father's word came to Haggai the prophet:
11This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Ask the priests for a ruling: 12If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and with it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, does it become holy? The priests answered, No.
13Haggai asked, If someone unclean from a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean? Yes, it becomes unclean, the priests answered.
14Then Haggai said: So it is with this people and this nation before me, declares the Father; so with all they make, and what they offer there is unclean. 15"Now consider carefully from this day on: before stone was laid on stone in our Father's temple. 16How did you fare? Coming to a grain heap for twenty, there were ten; to the wine vat to draw fifty, there were twenty. 17I struck you and all your work with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to me, declares the Father. 18Think carefully from this day on—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day our Father's temple foundation was laid—think carefully: 19Is seed still in the barn? The vine, fig, pomegranate, and olive tree have not yet borne fruit. But from this day on I will bless you."
A Second Word to Zerubbabel
20The word of our Father came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth of the month:
21"Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. 22I will overturn the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.' 23On that day, declares the Father of heaven's armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, declares the Father, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Father of heaven's armies." b b v23 Zerubbabel's grandfather Jehoiachin was cast off as a signet ring (Jeremiah 22:24); here the Father restores the signet to Zerubbabel, preserving the Davidic line that runs through him all the way to Jesus, the true Son of David (Matthew 1:12-13).
