Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD.” (Haggai 1:12)

One of the most significant messages of the Old Testament book of Haggai is emphasized by the simple phrase: “thus saith the Lord.”  These words are repeated 26 times in 38 verses or 2 chapters.  The message of Haggai to the Jews was to build the temple.  (Haggai 2:4)  However, behind this theme was the simple fact that this was what God wanted.

After 70 years of Babylonian captivity, God allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.  Haggai was prophesying during the time of the return of the first group of exiles.  Their task upon returning home was to rebuild the temple.  Because of discouragement and a preoccupation with material things, the work was delayed.  However, according to the verse above the people obeyed the Lord and the work continued.

Consider some of the factors that prompted this rebuilding.  First, the people obeyed the voice of God.  They continued the work on the temple because this was the will of God, not the will of man.  We must also listen to the voice of God as he has spoken in his word.  The second factor was their respect for the authority of Haggai.  He was God’s prophet and the people acknowledge him as such.  Thus, to know God’s will they went to the right source.  Jesus is God’s prophet in these last days (Hebrews 1:1,2) and the only source of God’s will.  The message of God through Jesus is clearly revealed in the New Testament. (Ephesians 3:3-5) and must be respected.  Third, the people feared the presence of the Lord. This commends the great attitude of the people.  Do we have the same healthy respect for God as they? 

When God’s word is spoken and the people are moved to obedience by Godly fear surely God is pleased.  That is preaching that gets the right results.

George Slover

"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,"(Luke 18:1)
 
Listen to our church announcements and you will find something revealing about our prayers.  Bob has cancer- Lets keep him in our prayers.  Jimmy has lost his job- remember him in your prayers.  These are certainly situations that should invite our supplications!  However, in each these examples our prayers seem to be limited to specific settings.  While these situations should invoke our petitions, the practice of prayer should not have such boundaries.  Prayer belongs almost anywhere at any time. Paul says, "pray without ceasing," (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
 
The Christian is always to be devoted in prayer.  (Colossians 4:2)  His life is to be directed by a constant prayerful attitude that is appropriate in almost all situations.  It is to be an essential part of the way in which he is programmed. 
 
By this prayerful attitude, his life remains focused on things that are godly.  Trying to manage your life without prayer is like trying to ford a mighty river without the paddle.  By prayer one can solicit the blessings of the Creator and accomplish the seemingly impossible!
 
By George Slove

And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; (Deuteronomy 20:3)
 
Here God is advising Israel concerning their conduct in the midst of war.  He is describing the ideal soldier.  Such a soldier would not be fearful, nor faint-hearted, but courageous and trusting in the Lord.  The word faint means to be wanting in courage, or cowardly.  Such fear is a common experience in our spiritual lives.  Gods word has much to say about fainting.
 
Our Lord commands us to pray and faint not. (Lk. 18:1)  We have a gospel to proclaim and must not faint (II Cor. 4:1).  We are instructed ( Hb. 13:3) not to faint at the hardships of other Christians, nor to despise the Lords chastening or faint when rebuked of him. (Hb. 12:5)  We must not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.  (Gal. 6:9)
 
The soldier of Christ has a battle to fight and win.  On numerous occasions God commends the courageous and those who do not faint.  For example, to the church at Ephesus he says: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (Revelation 2:2-3)  Like brave soldiers we are to face the enemy with the armor God has given.  We are called to stand on the side of truth.
 
Hear the encouragement of Isaiah: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.(Isaiah 40:28-31)
 
By George Slover
 

Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded-to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions." (Esther 3:12-13)
 
During the days of Xerxes, king of Persia, a decree was issued that on an appointed day all of the Jews would be killed.  This was done according to the counsel of Haman, the kings jealous, power  hungry prime minister.  According to Persian custom such decrees were deemed irrevocable.  No one including the emperor himself would remove it.  Thus, in the early phases of this story it appears that the Jews are doomed to die.  However, by the God’s providence, the Jews are spared from this slaughter by another irrevocable decree (Esther 8:10-14).  This second edict was heralded throughout the empire, that the Jews would be permitted to protect themselves from their adversaries.  This new decree provided a way of escape for the Jews.
 
Like those messengers of the Persian Empire, God has employed his messengers to herald two irrevocable principles.  The first was plainly stated by Ezekiel:  "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (Ezekiel 18:20)  This principle not only applies to those in prisons for some heinous crime, but to every person that is accountable to God.  (Romans 3:23)  God, being infinitely holy, will not lower his standards!  Thus, sin separates mankind from God.
 
Thus, God has issued another irrevocable decree.  It was stated well by the author of Hebrews: though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him..." (Hebrews 5:8-9) God is heralding to the sinner a message of reconciliation through his Son!  It is offered to anyone who will obey the Lord (Acts 2:37,38).
 
The Jews in Esther’s day recognized both a decree to destroy them and a decree to save them came from the same king!  We too must believe that the King of kings is on our side.  So, be reconciled to God.  (II Corinthians 5:20)
 
By George Slover
 

But let justice run down like water,  And righteousness like a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24) 

The message of Amos came from God during a time of luxury and great prosperity for Israel. However, because of her moral and religious corruption judgment from the Assyrian nation was on the horizon.  Amos’ call to repentance also includes a warning of impending doom, if they failed to listen to God. 

There seems to be a dispute regarding the meaning and application of the verse above. Some view the passage as a call for Israel to change her ways; for the nation to cease from her hypocritical festivals, meaningless sacrifices, and hollow songs. Others, view the passage as the certainty and the nature of God’s judgment on Israel. (See verse 18, 27)  I lean toward the latter view.

The sacrifices and ceremonial observances had not drawn Israel closer to God. Their worship was not backed by righteous lives. God desired more than “the noise of songs”.  True love for God will include acts of worship accompanied by expressions of genuine care for others and moral purity.  This was missing from Israel, and is also missing from the religious climate of our society and churches.   

The shallow services of Israel was deserving of God’s judgment. Whether a simple omission of God’s positive precepts or a willful mockery of the Law Giver, both required God’s just and right response. This was God’s promise for Israel.  

The figure of water and the mighty stream conjures the imagination, especially if one has ever experienced the effects of a flood. The swelling river sweeps away every person or thing in its path. It is relentless and impossible to stop. Such would be God‘s judgment upon Israel.

The effect of God’s justice is twofold. First, God will purge the people of all of their immorality. Their sham assemblies, hypocritical sacrifices, and idols will come to a halt. Meanwhile, water can also have a purifying effect, leaving a fertile soil for the work of a righteous remnant.

The Bible says: “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” ( Proverbs 14:34) Nothing good can come from insincere religious observances, and an unprincipled, immoral people.  But, from God's justice right principles may be established, and good will result. I fear our nation is no better than Israel of old. How long will God put up with our nation? Only he knows. 

George Slover