Be Strong Haggai 2:4

As the rebuilding of the temple of the LORD was began again, the LORD through Haggai the prophet asked the leaders and the people of Israel “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do you see it now?” In chapter two and verse four of his prophesy, the LORD tell the leaders and the people to “be strong”. We read:

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:

The verse begins, “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest;” Haggai began with the phrase, “Yet now be strong” which means “prevail, harden, be courageous, firm, resolute and sore” “O Zerubbabel” whose name means “sown in Babylon” and was “the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon” “says” or “utters, speaks and avows” “the LORD” or “Yehovah or Jehovah” whose name means “the existing One” and is “the proper name for the one true God”; “and be strong” or “prevail, harden, be courageous, firm, resolute and sore” “O Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and was “son of Jehozadak and high priest after the restoration” “son” or “child” “of Jesedech” whose name means “Jehovah is righteous” and was “grandson of the high priest Hilkiah; son of the high priest Seraiah; and father of the high priest Joshua; he never attained the office of high priest himself because he was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar” “the high” or “great, important and distinguished” “priest” which refers to “principal officer or chief ruler”. The LORD desired for the leaders of Israel to “prevail, be firm, resolute and courageous” as they observed the temple's rebuilding.

The verse continues, “and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:” Haggai added, “and be strong” or “prevail, harden, be courageous, firm, resolute and sore” “all you people” which refers to “nation, compatriots, country-men, kinsman and kindred” “of the land” which means “country, territory, district and region” “says” or “utters, speaks and avows” “the LORD” or “Yehovah or Jehovah” whose name means “the existing One” and is “the proper name for the one true God”, “and work” or “fashion, accomplish, make, produce, deal with and act with effect”; “for I am with you” which means “declaration, utterance and revelation” “says” or “utters, speaks and avows” “the LORD” or “Yehovah or Jehovah” whose name means “the existing One” and is “the proper name for the one true God” “of hosts” which refers to “that which goes forth, an army, warfare and service”. Not only did “the LORD” desire for the leaders of Israel to “be strong”, but he also encourage “the people” to be so as well. His reason for their strength would be because “the LORD” was “with” them.

When we think about the LORD's words through Haggai, we understand how we may “be strong” as we realize “the LORD is with” us. “The LORD” is the source of our strength, and whenever we encounter anything that is larger than us, we must realize “the presence of the LORD” is “with” us. Jesus Christ promised His disciples in the gospel of Matthew in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty, “and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. No matter what we encounter, let us realize, we can “be strong” with God Almighty by our side.

Next time the LORD shares about His covenant and how His Spirit remains with the people, 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.