Saturday 9 August 2025

Psalm 24

Background
The prophet Haggai is seeking to encourage the Jewish nation, known as Judah at this time, in their rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple following their return from exile. Zerubbabel (v. 2) is the governor of the province of Judah, authorised by the Persian king Darius to undertake this project, and Joshua is the high priest or top religious official who will be responsible for the Temple worship.

Haggai's message is addressed to these leaders but also to the 'remnant of the people', a term originally meaning those who survived a major tragedy, in this case the fall of Jerusalem and the deportation of Jews to Babylon. It was now starting to acquire the more specific meaning of 'the poor who have remained faithful to God'.

The final destruction of Jerusalem by Babylonian troops had taken place about 60 years before this prophecy of Haggai, so only a few elderly among that remnant would have remembered the grandeur and beauty of Solomon’s Temple. They are addressed in verse 3 because it seems to them impossible to recreate a sanctuary that will do justice to the original. So the message of encouragement which begins in verse 4 is particularly offered to them as motivation for supporting the work. Verse 5 likens their present circumstances to those immediately following the Exodus from Egypt when the situation may have appeared to be going from bad to worse, and several times the people felt it would be better to return to slavery, but God’s promises eventually proved true.

Verses 6-7 describe the upheaval which was starting to be common expectation to accompany the coming 'Day of the Lord' when God would put all things back into right order. In the context of rebuilding the Temple this is viewed in terms of a building which eventually will have even more gold and silver than the lavish quantities in Solomon’s Temple.

To Ponder:

• When have you felt discouraged in undertaking work you believed you were doing for God? At such a time does a message such as Haggai’s in verse 5 help?
• Do you think lavish and expensive decoration of church buildings is an aid or hindrance to worship of God? What are the arguments on each side?

Prayer
Father God, when we are engaged in work that seeks to honour you in a particular way, or to draw other people to discover and experience your presence and love, encourage us in our disappointments and strengthen our resolve to see things through to your glorious conclusion. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Stephen Mosedale
Stephen is a retired Methodist minister living near Exeter. He served in West Africa and Scotland and was a New Testament tutor at Cliff College.