In Zerubbabel's Hand - Haggai 2:1-5

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Times were tough.  

After three generations of exile and captivity, Israel was returning to their homeland. To Jerusalem. 

Things had been difficult for the people who had stayed behind, not being carried away by the conquering Babylonian forces. Now even with Emperor Cyrus giving permission for people to return, a lot of the followers of Yahweh God had chosen to stay in Babylon, where they'd built lives and they had families and connections. 

In the region of Jerusalem, there had been a few bad harvests. The food supply was not going well. There were other states in Cyrus’ empire who didn't like that the Jewish people were rebuilding their Temple and re-establishing the centre of their identity as a nation.  

And when exiles began to return, this was God's command: "Rebuild My Temple." But 17 years later, very little had been done. 

One reason for this lag may have been that they had forgotten. Throughout those three generations, they had never seen or heard the Temple being the Temple, being what God created it to be. They had been getting along all right without the priests, without the sacrifices, without the choirs singing psalms of lament and praise. They had been busy building their own homes and establishing their food supply. They had been busy carving out their lives in this new-to-them land. And to be frank, the ruins of the Temple weren't going anywhere. The people may have figured, ‘It’s not urgent. We'll get around to it. But what's at front of mind right now is everyday life. Getting things done.’ They had forgotten.  

Another reason? Fear. They might have been worried. 'We can't slack off because what if we have another poor harvest? We need to be out there working in the fields, growing our food.’ Or ‘What if the emperor changes his mind and takes away his protection? Then we're subject to the whims of the other nation states who don't want us doing that work. We know there have already been complaints. We should keep our heads down.’ Or ‘What if we do all that work, make all that investment, and it’s not as good as it used to be? What if it's just not the same? The first Temple was built by workmen and artists who were filled with the Holy Spirit and given instructions by God himself. How are we going to fill those shoes? We are never, ever going to live up to that.’ They were fearful. 

One more reason? Fatigue. Like, temples are big! This one was huge. ‘Have you looked at the footprint? Have you seen how big this building is going to be? That is going to take a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of money. I'm already tired. Isn't the status quo good enough for now?’ They were fatigued.  

We can understand all of these perspectives. But God challenged them on every one.  

Have you forgotten? Well... remember! Remember the covenant God who brought you out of slavery... again. Remember the promises I have kept. Remember who you are: a people bound together and raised up in covenant with the God of heaven's armies. Remember. 

Are you fearful? Well... trust Me! I will do even greater things than you've seen Me do in the past. But first you must give Me room to meet you in your fear.  

Are you fatigued? Well... wake up!  

“Carefully consider your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build my house so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD.”  Haggai 1:7-8 

Yahweh God had waited. He was done waiting.  

Another prophet speaking alongside Haggai was Zechariah.  

Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of heaven’s armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings. But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:8-10 

A plumb line is a piece of string with a weight on the end. 

A brilliant piece of technology. Putting up a wall, raising a roof, hanging a picture, or whatever, it will show you where is up and where is down. Where is a straight line? What is the correct orientation so that everything fits together properly?  

A plumb line is one of the first steps in building walls that we can trust. Raising a roof that we can rely on to stay up there because everything is aligned properly. It's the first of many steps of construction that would result in the people of Israel completing the Temple, hanging the tapestries, placing the altar where it's supposed to be. 

A step toward squaring up the space for the Holy of Holies, where one day another Zechariah would stand, hearing from an angel that John the Baptiser was about to enter the world.  

But that was way in the future. This was day one when Zerubbabel stood with the plumb line in his hand. This was the day when Israel was determined which way was up. The people were coming back to the Temple and prioritizing their God. 

The Lord rejoices to just see Zerubbabel holding a plumb line because it means the work is about to begin and it is going to be done right. 

_______ 

I've said before that Old Testament stories are not about us, but they are for us.  

We are not the people of Israel. God is not commanding us to build His Temple.  

But He does call us to the same work that He was calling Zerubbabel's people to that day so long ago: to be stewards—caretakers, managers, agents, representing Him in everything. 

In our relationships with each other - 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

In our skills and abilities - 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... You are serving the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24  

In our time -  

Look carefully then how you live, not as unwise but as wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. – Ephesians 5:15 

In our spiritual gifts -  

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. – 1 Peter 4:10  

We know these things, but sometimes we need to be reminded. To remind ourselves, and sometimes we need to remind each other.  

Because sometimes we forget. We just get busy, and if we think about it at all, we think, ‘Okay, I'll deal with that when I'm not so busy. It's not going anywhere, but that over there is more urgent.’ 

Sometimes we fear. ‘I feel like God is prompting me to do something, but what if I try and it doesn't work? What if I embarrass myself? What if I annoy people? What if there isn't enough of whatever to go around? What if I fall short? What if?’ 

Sometimes we are fatigued. Yes, we need to respect our fatigue. We need rhythms of rest in our work for God. Which is not the same as, ‘Do I have to? Is this really necessary? Like, aren't things good enough the way they are?’ 

When we fall into those patterns, Holy Spirit will challenge us.  

To remember who we are, and whose we are.  

To trust Him for the shortfall, and to be there for us when we annoy people, or embarrass ourselves. 

To wake up to our world. To wake up to ‘up and down.’ 

To follow the Christ who took a boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish and turned them into a feast for 5,000. 

Who took a widow's 2 tiny coins, and when they were joined together with everybody’s offerings, made them enough to support the work of the Lord and to feed the hungry. 

Who encountered a man with doubts—a man who could only go so far as to say, ‘Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.’ Jesus met him where he was at, and honoured that small faith offered in humility.