And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?
Haggai 2:3 NKJV
This message was given to the Lord’s people 66 years after the 1st Temple was destroyed.
The 1st Temple was built by King Solomon.
It’s said that Solomon’s Temple was amazing to see. In the Book of Kings it gives details of the construction.
It is said that The inside ceiling was 180 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 50 feet high. The highest point in the Temple was actually about 207 feet.
carved stones were used for the walls and foundations. Cedar wood from foreign lands was brought to be used. The inner court was called the Holy of Holies. The actual Tablets of the Ten Commandments were there. The dwelling place of God,The Ark of the Covenant, was there.
Solomon spared no expense in the materials he used. He had hired the best, and the most talented people to build and oversee the construction.
And now these men are back from captivity. And they started to build the new temple.
Haggai asks if there is anyone there that remembers that Temple.
The temple that was being rebuilt couldn’t match the splendor and the majesty of that first temple.
We all talk about the Good Ol Days.
We start to compare what was to what is.
Then We start to allow comparisons to sink in our minds. And we start to live in the past rather than in the Present and seek what the Lord requires from us in the future.
Many get stuck in the past because they believe that these were the best days of their lives. There is nothing wrong with thinking and looking at the past. But that’s is where we found the Salvation of Jesus Christ, because of our past. But many people look at what was and look at what is sometimes we make choices in our lives that destroy those Good Ol Days. And here we are in the present looking at what we had in Comparison to what we have. Sometimes there is no comparison. And then we become disappointed. Disappointed because we never realized what we had.
That saying “you don’t know what you got until it’s gone”. These people took for granted the beauty of the Temple. The Worship of God, the Feasts and Festivals. The gathering of people, the fellowship. Learning the teaching. Life. Life happened in that Mighty Holy Temple.
But they were taken into captivity and the Temple was destroyed. Now look at what you have.
Solomon’s Temple, it was huge and enormous. No, this temple didn’t have the finest Cedars and stones. And l It looked nothing like the Temple they once knew.
Now we go from disappointment to discouragement.
Discouraged means having lost confidence or enthusiasm, to be disheartened.
These men started out excited, ready, willing and able to go and do God’s work.
And the thought sinks in that maybe we can’t build a Temple like Solomon. Those questions start to lead to doubt.And since they couldn’t build a Temple that great then Maybe they shouldn’t build one at all.
So now they have stepped away from what the Lord has called them to do.
Because the enthusiasm is gone.
But if God had called us to do something shouldn’t we trust Him enough that no matter what challenges and hardships come that He would be with us.
We can think ourselves out of God’s will. And when we become discouraged that is when we stop doing the work of the Kingdom!
We get stuck in the things of the past. Yesterday is gone. All we have is now and the future to look forward to.
Don’t allow the past to dictate what the Lord is trying to do now!
Learn from what you have been through. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom you need now. Wisdom is having the knowledge and the ability to make good use of it. If you want to be wise, you have to submit yourself and all the things you have gone through and allow the Lord to use it for His good.
These men started to compare the new temple and the old temple. And it wasn’t looking anything like the old Temple.
It didn’t do the people any good to think of how awesome and magnificent Solomon’s temple was compared to their own temple they were rebuilding.
Now that they are only three weeks into the rebuilding, it has become clear to them that the rebuilt temple is not going to be like the temple they once knew.
But when we are down and discouraged and we see that things are not going the way we wanted them to. God does something. He truly never leaves us or forsakes us. He does what a Good Father does, He lifts us up. He encourages us and gives us the tools we need to continue the work He set before us.
God stirs up people. He will help and give them comfort in their work.
God responds to their discouragement with a word of encouragement.
Never let the past splendor or failure keep you from what the Lord has in front of you today!
Today don’t be discouraged.
Deal with what the Lord has in front of you this day!.
Let the “Temples” of the past be the past!
You never know what beauty the Lord will have you create for Him!
Pastor Ed
