As Haggai
completed the first section of his prophecy, he declared how the
leaders and the people of Israel began rebuilding the temple of the
LORD twenty-three days after Haggai first prophesied concerning their
neglect of the temple. This declaration was on the twenty-fourth day
of the second year of Darius' reign. In chapter two and verse one of
his prophecy, Haggai begin by making reference to the twenty-first
day of the seventh month of Darius' reign where we read:
came the
word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
The verse begins, “In the
seventh month,
in the one and twentieth day
of the month,...” Haggai began with the
words, “In the seventh” which
refers to “the ordinal number after six” “month”
is added by the translators but easily implied “in
the one and twentieth” or “twenty-first”
“day of the month”
which refers to “the new moon or lunar month”. The people began
to rebuild the temple of the LORD on the twenty-fourth day of the
sixth month of Darius' reign, and this new declaration from the LORD
is shared around four weeks later.
The
verse continues, “...came
the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,...” Haggai
added, “came the word”
or “speech, speaking, utterance, business, occupation and manner”
“of the LORD”
which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” who is “the existing One”
and “the proper name for the one true God” “by the
prophet” or “spokesman,
speaker and inspired man” “Haggai”
whose name means “festive”
and was “the tenth in order of the minor prophets; first
prophet to prophecy after the captivity”
“saying” or
“speaking, uttering, answering and avowing”. After the people
began the work on the temple, “the LORD” has
additional things He desires to declare to them through Haggai.
As
we begin this section of Haggai's prophesy, we can think about why it
was important for he and “the LORD” to let us to know the
days of the months. If we slow down long enough, we see the
progression of “the LORD's” declarations and the obedience of the
leaders and the people of Israel. Sometimes we need to understand
that obedience is applied over time, and the manner in which the
Israelites obeyed after being exhorted is a great lesson for us as
well. While we come to know Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, we too may
have areas where we have a progressive obedience being applied. May
we always keep in perspective, “the LORD” has all time in
His view, and we do best when we align with Him within it.
Next
time the LORD instructs Haggai to speak to the leaders and people
again, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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