After the leaders and people
of Israel returned to rebuilding the temple of the LORD, the LORD
desired to share more with them. He began with a question through
Haggai the prophet as He asked, “Who is left among you that saw
this house in her first glory?” We read:
Who is left
among you that saw this house in her first glory?
The
verse begins, “Who is left among you that saw
this house in her first glory?” Haggai began with the phrase,
“Who is left” or “remains, is left over or behind”
“among you that saw” which refers to “looked at,
inspected, perceived and considered” “this house” which
refers to “the temple of the LORD” “in her first” or
“primary or former” “glory” which means “honor,
abundance, riches and splendor”. The LORD's question to the leaders
and people of Israel was a survey of who saw the first temple which
was built in Jerusalem.
The verse continues, “and
how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in
comparison of it as nothing?” Haggai
added, “and how do you see”
or “look at, inspect, perceive or consider” “it now?
Is it not in your eyes” which
is all one Hebrew word “ayin ”
and literally means “a spring or fountain” and implies “of the
physical eye, as showing mental and spiritual qualities and
faculties” “in comparison” or
“like, as, the like of which, according to and as it were” “of
it as nothing” or “no
scrutiny or equivalence”. The LORD followed his first question by
asking the leadership and people what the “house of the
LORD” looked like in
“comparison” to the first
one.
When we
think about the LORD's words through Haggai, we learn of the LORD's
interest in the leaders' and people's perspective concerning His
temple. Though this question will be answered in the following
verses, we should be delighted to know the LORD is interested in how
the people saw His latter temple. This thought should encourage our
hearts and minds as we realize how He desires for us to be interested
in His Kingdom and His Son Jesus who gives us access to it. Let us
imagine ourselves being asked by the LORD, “how do you see my
temple”, and the manner in which we answer will tell us a great
deal more about us than it does Him.
Next
time the LORD tells the people to “be
strong”
and he is “with” them,
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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