When God Asks You To Compare

In Haggai 2:1-3 God speaks to the remnant of Israel:

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the new moon, the word of יהוה came by Ḥaggai the prophet, saying, “Speak, please, to Zerubbaḇel son of She’alti’ĕl, governor of Yehuḏah, and to Yehoshua son of Yehotsaḏaq, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Who is there left among you who saw this House in its former esteem? And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes as naught when compared to it? The Scriptures (ISR)

God tells Haggai to speak to the leadership and all the remnant of the people of Israel and asks the older generation - how does this second temple compare to the first temple that Solomon built?

Lets see if we can identify differences between the two houses.

During the time of David, (See 1 Chronicles 22) he stored up the following materials for purpose of providing for the temple of God:

• Stone
• Iron
• Bronze
• Gold
• Silver
• Precious Stones
• Marble Slabs

In 1 Chronicles 28 we see that David giving Solomon the plans for the building the temple.

In 1 Chronicles 29 we see the leadership of Israel additional contributions for the temple with:

• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze
• Iron
• Precious Stones

During the time of Solomon, Israel had extreme favor with all the nations around them.  Reading through 1 Kings, you see Solomon building the temple with no hinderance or resistance from the people or the nations surrounding them.  He built the temple with an abundance of wealth.  He built a beautiful temple for the glory of God, but seen through the eyes of people.

Let's continue to ask the question what is the difference between the first House and the second House built for God.

From jewishhistory.org, they have created a series of YouTube videos, and one is called Differences between the First and Second Temple - #14 with Rabbi Berel Wein we learn the following:

1. Lacking the Holy Spirit - meaning that prophecy was not prevalent in the times of the second temple as compared the times of the first temple and following.
2. The eternal flame didn't exist
3. The ark of the covenant wasn't in the second temple - the Holy of Holies was empty
4. The Jews were poor and in poverty building the second temple - whereas during Solomon's time there was much wealth.
5. The second temple was rebuilt many times over the centuries

Additionally, we see in the book of Ezra, that the gentile king helped to fund the building of the temple and provided for the daily sacrifices.

When we look in scripture at the response of the people to the question God asks through Haggai, we can see it best in Ezra 3:12-13:

And many of the priests and Lĕwites and heads of the fathers’ houses, the old men who had seen the first House, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this House was laid before their eyes, and many shouted aloud for joy, and the people could not distinguish the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. The Scriptures (ISR)

We see the older generation wept.

We see the younger generation shouted aloud for joy.

Why?

The older generation had memories of the glory of the first temple, but they were looking from a human perspective of what it use to look like.  It was beautiful to behold in the eyes of the people.  It seemed to signify the greatness of the people of Israel.

But God makes a startling statement Haggai 2:8-9:

The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares יהוה of hosts. Let the esteem of this latter House be greater than the former,’ said יהוה of hosts. ‘And in this place I give peace,’ declares יהוה of hosts.” The Scriptures (ISR)

What caught my attention was that God declared all gold and all silver as His.  He is not worried about the immediate beauty of His house, but rather that His House became a place to be with the people of the earth.

Also, with the second temple we have the gentile king directing sacrifices be made on his behalf and that there be prayers made for the king and his sons. (See Ezra 6:9-10)

We witness the royal priesthood that God desired the nation of Israel to be to the nations actually being carried out which we don't see recorded before this time.  The gentile king was asking for prayer, and the remnant of Israel was doing just that.

God was receiving more glory and was hearing prayers from other nations through the obedience of the remnant of Israel building the second temple.

Then God asks them to compare the fruit of focusing on ourselves versus obeying and putting God first in our lives.  Lets look at Haggai 2:11-19.

“Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘Now, ask the priests concerning the Torah, saying, “If one bears set-apart meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, or wine or oil, or any food, is it set-apart?” ‘ ” And the priests answered and said, “No.” And Ḥaggai said, “If someone defiled by a dead body touches any of these, is it defiled?” And the priests answered and said, “It is defiled.” And Ḥaggai answered and said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ declares יהוה, ‘and so is every work of their hands. And whatever they bring near there is defiled. But now, please consider, from this day onward: Before a stone was laid on a stone in the Hĕḵal of יהוה, since those days – one came to a heap of twenty ĕphahs, and there were ten; one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths from the press, and there were twenty – I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labours of your hands, and there was none of you with Me,’ declares יהוה. Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Hĕḵal of יהוה was laid, consider it: Is the seed yet in the storehouse? And until now the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit! From this day on I shall bless you!’ ” The Scriptures (ISR)

We see God asking a series of questions about what happens when something defiled touches something holy.  The priests answer that the holy becomes defiles.  God then explains that has been the case for the remnant of Israel with all their offering prior to obeying Him to rebuild the temple.  When their eyes were focused on themselves, even the offerings that they brought were defiled, because it was not about a relationship with God, but about religious duty.

God even tells them what the results of focusing on themself was:

• Expecting twenty ephahs, you only found ten
• Expecting to draw out fifty baths of wine from the winepress, you only received twenty
• Expecting health crops, they received blight, mildew and hail

But then God asks that very important questions - Consider your ways - Consider.

God tells them to compare what the fruit of focusing on Him and obedience was once they began to obey His Word.  He promised that He was blessing them, and they should see a difference in their lives.  They should see a difference in the amount of crops they harvest, the amount of wine from the vineyard, and the amount of fruit that would grow.

Now it is important that we consider our ways.

• Where is my focus?  On myself or on Jesus?
• Do I do what I want or do I obey what Jesus commands?
• Do I listen to my voice or do I listen and obey the voice of God?

We want more of Jesus.  We want a greater relationship with God.  Relationship involves both talking and listening.  God wants to hear from us.  He knows us better than we do, but He is always eager to hear from you.  But He also wants to talk to us.  He has created you for a purpose, and you need to do is listen and obey.  Take the next step of obedience to continue to fulfill the assignment God has given you in this adventure we are living.

I Am With You

At Risen Nation Church, we are in the midst of a transformation.  God has shown us that He is doing a new thing in our midst, if we are willing to fix our gaze on Him and obey what He says.

One Saturday our pastor preached from the books of Haggai and Ezra about what God was doing with the remnant of Israel as they were returning to the land of promise after being exiled for so many years.  He pointed out three things:

1. Consider your ways
2. Foundation of God's house is Worship
3. Comparison kills

That next week I was rereading the first chapter of Haggai in order to go deeper with Holy Spirit about what was happening and He stopped me on two versus.

"And now, thus said יהוה of hosts, “Consider your ways!"" Haggai 1:5 The Scriptures (ISR)

God had been pointing out to the people that they had neglected to rebuild His temple, but instead was focusing only on themselves and their own survival.  So God sent Haggai to instruct them - consider your ways!

He then showed them the reality of what their everyday lives really looked like because the blessings of God were not with them.  They planted seed expecting an abundance, but harvested little.  They would sit down to eat expecting to be full, but they really didn't have enough to bring satisfaction. They would pour out wine to drink, but there wasn't enough to to feel full.  And when they did earn money from their fields, it was like there were holes in their pockets, because there wasn't enough money for what they needed.

They hadn't considered the circumstances of their lives, their belief systems, the consequences of their choices and were blinded by trying to survive to stop and realize that their focus was in the wrong place.  So God stepped in and begin showing them what He was seeing and what they were missing.

The people heard what God said, and did what he told them - they considered their ways, and then obeyed the command of God to rebuild His temple.  So God gave the people another word:

“And Ḥaggai, the messenger of יהוה, spoke the message of יהוה to the people, saying, “I am with you, declares יהוה.”” Haggai 1:13 The Scriptures (ISR)

Now this word - I am with you - took me off guard.

When my children obey the commands I give them, or change their ways from disobedience to obedience, my words of encouragement isn't "I am with you."  It usually is, Thank you, Good job, Well done, I'm so proud of you.

But God said - I am with you.  How does that phrase encourage the people?  So I sat down with Holy Spirit and the Word and asked Him - how does being with me bring encouragement?  Holy Spirit then took me on a journey to look at several other versus where God had responded with the same phrase or a variation of that phrase.

• When God is with you - He brings you protection.
  “When you pass through the waters, I am with you; and through rivers, they do not overflow you. When you walk through fire, you are not scorched, and a flame does not burn you.” Isaiah 42:2 The Scriptures (ISR)
  “And these three men, Shaḏraḵ, Mĕyshaḵ, and Aḇĕḏ-Neḡo, fell down bound into the midst of the burning furnace of fire. Then Sovereign Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar was amazed, and stood up in haste and spoke and said to his counsellors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the sovereign, “Certainly, O sovereign.” He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire. And they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of Elahin.”” Daniel 3:23-25 The Scriptures (ISR)
  
  
• When God is with you - He gives you courage and strength.
  ““Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged, for יהוה your Elohim is with you wherever you go.”” Joshua 1:9 The Scriptures (ISR)
  
  
• When God is with you - He drives away fear and anxiety.  He will uphold you directly with His right hand.
  “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not look around, for I am your Elohim. I shall fortify you, I shall also help you, I shall also uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.’” Isaiah 41:10 The Scriptures (ISR)
  “And יהוה appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the Elohim of your father Aḇraham. Do not fear, for I am with you, and shall bless you and increase your seed for My servant Aḇraham’s sake.”” Genesis 26:24 The Scriptures (ISR)
• When God is with you - He never leaves you, He guards you and fulfills His promises He has made to you.
  ““And see, I am with you and shall guard you wherever you go, and shall bring you back to this land. For I am not going to leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”” Genesis 28:15 The Scriptures (ISR)
• When God is with you - He delivers you.
  ““Do not fear their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares יהוה.” Jeremiah 1:8 The Scriptures (ISR)

To summarize - when God says "I am with you," He brings with Himself:

• Confidence
• Protection
• Courage
• Strength
• Someone to lean on
• Comfort

He will also chase away:

• Fear
• The enemy

And He is with you to always bring purpose and a pathway to fulfill His directions.

So when the remnant of Israel began to obey His Word and did the work of rebuilding His temple, for God to say as encouragement "I am with you!", the people understood that God Himself was among them and He is the one that brings success and He was helping them accomplish the work He had instructed them to do.  By considering their ways, and having a conversation with God, He showed them the lies that they were believing.  Those lies were driving them to live out their lives contrary to the will of God.  But by being open to the correction of God, coming out of agreement with the lies that they were living, and obeying they were benefitting from the promise of God that He is with them.

Now, what about you?  Have you considered your ways before God?  Have you looked at your circumstances and asked - what is really going on?  Have you asked God - what am I missing that needs to be changed in how I think?  What lies am I believing today that is distorting how I view God?  Am I focusing on myself or am I fixing my eyes on Jesus?

Ask Holy Spirit - what do you want to talk about today?  And then take the journey with Him to become more intimate with Him.  Remember - His name is Emmanuel - God with us.  Jesus has promised those that are in the Kingdom of God that He will never leave us, nor forsake us.  He is always available and desiring to deepen the relationship between you both.