4. But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
5. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6. “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.
8. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
9. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
17. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the LORD.
Blight-fungi disease on plants.
God is in control of everything including the fruit trees, plants and veges. Do not boast about harvests coming.
Background: prophet Haggai during the reign of Darius.
Prophet Haggai, son of Shealtiel, Governor of Judah.
The LORD pointed out to Haggai to rebuild His house which is in ruins while everyone built their own houses.
1. In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:
2. This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.'”
3. Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
4. “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5. Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
6. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD.
9. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.
10. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.
Th:
We mere mortals are not in control. God is in control. He is sovereign; enjoys his blessings through faith in him and living a righteous life with His help (by His strength). Alternative: Being evil, sinful and face His curses or judgment and wrath.
Luke 9:10-17, NIV
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
10. When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
11. but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
12. Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
13. He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”
14. (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
15. The disciples did so, and everyone sat down.
16. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.
17. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Hgs and reflections:
Miracles. Feeds 5,000 using five loaves and two fish. God is generous; meet the physical needs of the people with Him. Jesus prayed to God and gave thanks before the food multiply….ate and satisfied…twelve basketful of broken pieces left.
….heaven standing open…Jesus on a white horse…rider is called Faithful and True….judges and makes war…dressed in a robe dipped in blood his name is the Word of God…armies of heaven were following him… out of his mouth comes a sharp sword eith which to strike down the nations…will rule them with an iron sceptre…treads the winepress of the fury ofcthe wrath of God Almighty….his name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. .Hgs: battle with the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies…the beast captured, and with him the false prophet. The two of them were thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulphur… .rest of them were killed with the sword that csme out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Thsandreflections:
Jesus not on donkey (mild) but high on a white horse with his heavenly army….eyes are blazing fire, and his head are many crowns. Vivid imageries of Jesus…rule them with an iron sceptre. He will administer the fury of the wrath of God (treads the winepress)…Jesus was addressed with many other names here The great war with the beast and his armies. Finale: the beast was captured; he and his prophet thrown into the lake of fire (burning sulphur). Warrants a separate study.
Starts with the sinful people of Israel…oppressors, rebellious and defiled…obeys no-one…accepts no correction..does not trust in the LORD….prophets are arrogant…priests profane the sanctuary…The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning, he dispenses his justice….unrighteous knows no shame…punishment….follows by compassion and mercy…
Leave behind a remnant.
But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD.The remnant will do no wrong, they will speak no lies, norcwill deceit be found in their mouths… vs 12.
…be glad and rejoice with all your heart. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save…vs 17
…bring you home vs 20.
I will give them praise and honour in every land where they were put to shame vs 20.
I restore your fortunes before your very eyes…vs 20.
Hgs:Seek the Lord, all you humble if the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger-vs 3.
Judgment against Philistia, Moab and Ammon, Cush, Assyria-vs 4-13.
8. “I have heard the insults of Moab and the taunts of the Ammonites, who insulted my people and made threats against their land.
9. Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.”
10. This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the LORD Almighty.
11. The LORD will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. Distant nations will bow down to him, all of them in their own lands.
12. “You Cushites, too, will be slain by my sword.”
Luke 9:1-9, NIV
…he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick-vs 2.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
2. and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3. He told them: “Take nothing for the journeyno staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.
4. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.
5. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
6. So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people
Revelation 19:1-10, NIV
..I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
…Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who condemed the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by er adulteries.He has avenged on her the blood of his servants..vs 2
Hgs: character of God-true and just are his judgments.
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and the bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear,”
‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’-vs 9.
Sodom & Gomorrah
Sodom & Gomorrah-an example of what is to come in God’s impending judgmennt.
Background: during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah.
Warning of Coming Destruction-disaster; terror and ghastly scenes.
In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Luke 8:40-56, NIV
Jesus healed a woman who had bleeding for twelve years; the bleedding stopped instantly by merely touching the edge of the cloak of Jesus. She believed her action would heal her-great faith.
Hg: every part of Jesus has healing powers.
Jeaus also raised a dead girl, daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler…wailing and mourning…her spirit returned..vs 55
Habakkuk’s prayer-God’s fame and attributes vs 1-15
Habakkuk fears and understands God.
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound….
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.
A Hymn of Faith
17. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18. yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
Luke 8:26-39, NIV
Backdrop: region of Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
Even possessed man testifies who Jesus is vs 28.
. Legion begged Jesus…not to go into the Abyss. .vs 31….gave them permission..demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank…
Hg: the authority and the greatness of Jesus; the demons know him and obeys him.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”
Habakkuk’s complaint on God turns a blind eye to injustice vs 1-4. Could this part of God’s punishment for the sins of Israel.
I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling-places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honour-vs 6-7.
Habakkuk ‘s second complaint is very common among godly people even today:
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?…made men like fish in the sea.. like sea creatures that have no ruler..the wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks…gather them up in his drag-net…he lives in luxury…destroying nations without mercy-vs 13-17.
Hg: complaint that God does not seem to care…wicked prospers..
God answered in Chapter 2:1-20; God pointed out the sins of the people vs 15-19.
Luke 8:22-25, NIV
Jesus calms the raging sea…so cool. .even the winds and the wster, and they obey him vs 25.
Be on the right side of God to stay away from unnecessary sufferings.
Chapter 2:13-I am against you, declares the LORD Almighty. I will burn up your chariots in smoke…
Chapter 3:vs 6-I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.
Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal -vs 19.
Luke 8:19-21, NIV
He replied “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”-vs 21. In another word, be doers of the word.
Revelation18:9-20, NIV
Th and Hg:
The great city of Babylon destroyed in one hour by God-a city of power and international prestige (vs 10, vs 14-19); saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you vs 20.
Reveal the rare insights of God’s character with regard to Nineveh.
Jealous and avenging God, ….takes vengeance and is filled with wrath….takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies…slow to anger and great in power vs 2
