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Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
September 26, 2025
Reading: Haggai 1:15-2:9.
In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendour, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
This passage was written after the Jews’ exile in Babylonia and their return to Jerusalem. Twenty years have passed sin their return and the eventual rebuilding. What the exiles discovered upon their return was an impoverished land. For this reason the rebuilding of the temple was not the people’s highest priority. Haggai offers an impassioned call to the people for he is unequivocal that the rebuilding be given the highest priority.
What a daunting challenge this poses for rebuilding following defeat and exile in a foreign country for an extended period of time. It is quite natural that the people would address their own needs first upon return, starting from scratch and looking to secure a home and a living. This is a very heavy lift.
It cannot be said that peace reigned when the exiles returned to Jerusalem. They were in conflict with those who had remained. Some of the recently returned people suggested that the temple building proceeded too quickly and it was unaffordable. Nonetheless, Haggai forcefully reminds them that they have homes and are quickly becoming able to provide for themselves, with some left over to fund the rebuilding. Rebuilding the temple represents their priorities and their allegiance to God who sustains them.
In addressing the peoples’ concerns Haggai encourages them to be strong, to act, and to remember what God has previously done, particularly God’s act of salvation, his promise and the covenant with his people. Remember the past because it points to the future. Haggai declares that looking to the past has great value, as it affirms the mighty acts of God. At the same time, Haggai suggests that it is these past works that point the people toward a future in which God will continue to act.
It may be that Haggai is just clever enough that he is able to convince a group of nostalgic people that God continues to be at work in ways that on the surface seem unrecognizable, that both affirms their memory of the past and challenges them to see that God is very able to do such things again. The new temple is as much a sign of God’s presence in their midst as it is a place to gather for ritual, though different from the old one. Moreover, God’s works would be the same merciful, salvific, and glorious works that God had been doing all along.
I wonder how these words would fall on those who had lived in Gaza until recently. Where will they find the resilience and faith to rebuild, wherever that might be, once this war ends? How will they maintain a faith in one greater than they. one whom they may have doubted over these last years?
And the passage challenges each of us who has faced extensive loss of homeland, family, church, all that seemingly holds us together. And yet once, we are torn from it, how do we find that which truly holds us together? Upon that realization and discovery or recognition, where do we truly find our home to be?
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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