30-12-2009: Haggai chapter 2

The second chapter of Haggai falls into 3 parts:
- God's promise for the here and now (the building)
- God's blessings
- God's promise for the future

In the first part of this chapter we see that God encourages His people to be strong and to work because He is with them(v3-4). He reminds us that everything is His (the silver and the gold is mine v8). And that the glory of this new building will be even greater than the former one. And that in this temple He will give His peace (v9).

In the second part we read that God wants to bless His people even though they were unfaithful to Him, disobedient - whatever they did, whatever they offered was defiled (v14). God tried to warn them by stricking all they did (v17) but they still did not turn to Him. But this parts ends with God saying: 'From this day on I will bless you' v(19).

The end of this chapter (and the book) Haggai gets the word of the Lord for the second time and in it God repeats what He has said before in chapter 2 v6-7. He warns them of a shaky time to come but that He will take His servant (Zerubbabel --> political leader of Judah)and make him like His signet ring because He has chosen Him (v23). (--> chosen, sent by God with God's authority)

During the CBS we had loads of different interesting inputs linking this book with different books in the bible (read Ezra 5&6; Matt 6 V33; Col. 3 v1&2; Josh. 1 v9; Rev. 3v14-17; John 15). It was really cool to see how important messages are repeated by God through His Word. This little book of Haggai is filled with great warnings, promises and blessings and teaches us a lot about priorities and action. As was said on the last CBS: "It's not because it are hard times that we can't offer anything - it are hard times because we don't offer what God really longs from us'.

We also pondered about what we could offer and someone said it was important to offer from the heart - not because you have to, but because you want to - you want to please your Creator because you Love Him. Another person said that it was OK to be in a period where you dont feel like you can offer anything much, meaning that there are different seasons in our lives; times where we are full of His presence and joy and times when we're working things out and are just not so sure. And that's OK.
Another person shared that He felt God wanted him to offer more of his time to God, another said it could by energy, money, studies, etc. It could be different depending on where you are at and what you are doing now.