Haggai 2 ~ Chosen

The Slaves of Judah saw destruction of the worst kind, walked 1,000 miles to the Verdant City and Empire of Babylon

The Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II would draw visitors from around the world, hundreds of years after his death.

Nebuchadnezzar II would have incredible Military Wins because he believed Isaiah 13 was about Nebuchadnezzar pleasing God. He defeated the Assyrians, the Egyptian Dynasties fell and conquered little tiny Judah because they failed to please God, honor commitments to Nebuchadnezzar while he was interested in God of all gods. 

Nebuchadnezzar II was told if he conquered Judah, Babylon would cease to be beautiful - the city between the two rivers of the Garden of Eden would become a desert.  Nebuchadnezzar II also understood his reign would not be a dynasty and the Empire would be conquered.

Because Nebuchadnezzar was very interested in the God of the Jews, and because the Policy of the Babylonian Empire and Cyrus the Great and Darius was interested in human rights - the slaves would soon be called "exiles' and given privileges of owning private property, housing, and the Sabbath gave them the power to assemble and worship their God.

Babylon was a wonder of the World. 

However, there were 'drawbacks' to being in service.

Nebuchadnezzar, as Emperor, truly the slave's owner could be very dictatorial.

Haggai 2

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet,


2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, 
governor of Judah, 

and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, 

and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 


3 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. 

Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 

6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 

7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'"

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, 

11 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?'" 

The priests answered and said, "No." 

13 Then Haggai said, "If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?" 

The priests answered and said, "It does become unclean." 

14 Then Haggai answered and said, "So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.

15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 1

7 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD. 


18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you."



20 The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations and overthrow the chariots and their riders. 


And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts."





Babylon was beautiful. Familiar. Established.

The Exiles had homes for 2 and 3 generations. Places of comfort.

The exiles joined people from around the world in service. They had Synagogues, co-workers, families, homes. Leave? The Exodus was 600.000 men. The Return from Exile had 40.000 in total. Probably half a million stayed in Babylon.  Like Esther's family.

It's interesting how the Scriptures repeat.

The Exiles knew what Jerusalem looked like after 70 years. About the same as the inside of the Arch of Titus.

Jerusalem was not white bones ready to build upon. Jerusalem was rock scorched, dark, depressing and ruined.

We think of Jerusalem as grand and noble.

They had lived with the Babylonian Empire and thought it was the finest. Just as the Arch of Titus fell as unimportant in Rome.


A few people saw that Jerusalem, a pile of scorched stones - was favorable to God. They were willing to put daily work with faith in the direction God would give them. It would be hard work to build and the remnant of God was daily willing. And as Israel rose - even stones far away became witness to the Glory of God's Plan.

In a city Jesus has spoken of - to Hold His Church.

Today we see again, for the faithful, The Word of God, given thanks, worked on in faith, going where God would truly call us - is the Truth. And Glory for God is Glorious.

Jerusalem:

Capernaum:

Jesus the Lord God ~


1 Kings 8

26"Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David. 27"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28"Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today


1 Corinthians 3

15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.



Abba, Father God,

May the Love and Power of the Holy Spirit exist in us and uphold us and lead us each day in His Good Plan.

We ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.