Stack Study: You Have Done Great Things Lesson 2
a Bible study via Substack...this week meet Zerubbabel and Haggai...two guys you probably didn't know existed until today.
You’re back and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Welcome to the second week of our Stack Study: You Have Done Great Things covering the Old Testament books of Ezra & Nehemiah. If you’re reading this and have no clue what I’m referencing, then please help yourself out and go back to last week’s post. This includes all the necessary (and lengthy…sorry) details. What is most important to me is that you don’t feel behind—something I personally loathe. The spirit of this study is that you engage with the Bible at your own pace with your own mind.
Before you begin, consider this prayer from theologian and priest W. David O. Taylor from Every Moment Holy Volume III:
O Holy Trinity:
May all that I learn in this
season of study increase in me a love of
wisdom, a hunger for justice, a thirst for
righteousness, a habit of peace, an instinct for
mercy, an appetite for truth, a taste for
goodness, a longing for beauty, and a
willingness to be gracious in all things.
May I love you in this study, not only with all
of my mind, but also with all of my heart, soul,
and strength.
Read Ezra 1:1-11
What does it say?
God moved Cyrus king of Persia to let the exiles return to Jerusalem. This fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah & Jeremiah that we studied last week.
Cyrus said to rebuild the temple and return all the silver and gold that was looted by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians.
Cyrus commanded any neighbors to help the returning exiles. They did this by sending them with gifts and offerings.
Why did it matter?
This is a most unprecedented thing for a conquering king of a world empire to let people go and Cyrus wasted no time in doing this—it tells us he did it in the first year of his reign. While we know from last week that he was prompted by God to make this proclamation, it is still safe to imagine that the exiles were stunned, perhaps even apprehensive about it. This is the same people group who once battled an Egyptian pharaoh with the words “let my people go” followed by a bunch of plagues, a harrowing escape through the Red Sea, and forty years of desert wandering. Consider their state of mind when Cyrus gave them the green light and the necessity of God’s movement in their hearts in order for some to say yes, I’ll go back.
Read Ezra 3:8-13
What does it say?
All the captives who had returned from Babylon began work to rebuild the temple. They were led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua (sometimes referred to as Joshua). Specifically, Jeshua and his sons are Levites supervising the work.
The foundation of the temple was completed with ceremony and song based on what was outlined by King David during construction of the first temple (before the exile, when things were seemingly all good).
There was a lot of noise. Some were shouting for joy. Some were weeping. It was so loud that people could hear it from far away.
Why did it matter?
This scene is brimming with significance for any faithful Israelite who lived it. They have traveled for months by foot back to their homeland after being ousted for 70 years only to begin the slow and painful process of rebuilding their house of worship from rubble. And while it’s safe to assume they are exhausted, there is unity and order in terms of the decision to rebuild the temple and the means by which they will do it. Zerubbabel is acting in a royal capacity while Jeshua the Levite provides the priestly guidance necessary to establish their worship in congruence with the requirements set forth by their ancestors Moses and David. This would have been of the utmost importance to the Israelites at the time.
What about all the weeping? This is the detail that stands out most to me. Perhaps you also wondered why there was so much crying competing with all the shouts of joy. Verse 12 says specifically it was the older crowd, those who had seen the former temple in all its glory—these were the people weeping. Was it relief? Was it sorrow over the forever second-rate nature of this temple? These verses don’t spell it out for us, but I know someone who will…Haggai, your favorite prophet you’ve never heard of…
Read Haggai 2:1-9
A little background on Haggai
This book was written spanning about 16 years mostly between the laying of the second temple foundation (what you just read) and the completion of temple construction. Haggai was the first of the post-exilic prophets—other than Zechariah and Malachi. His main message was to call the people to finish what they started, to rebuild the temple.
What does it say?
Haggai asks Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the whole Israelite community who among you remembers the first temple? He points out that the second temple is “like nothing” compared to the one they are building.
God tells them to be strong, continue the work, and don’t be afraid. God’s Spirit is with them as they rebuild.
Verses 6-9 take a bit of a prophetic turn when God says “the desired of all nations” will come and this temple will be filled with glory, even greater than what you once knew.
Why does it still matter?
Haggai’s words “former glory” refer to the beauty and splendor of the first temple built by Solomon. In essence, he tells us that the older Israelites are weeping because they are remembering how magnificent the temple used to be while they’re standing in front of a quickly-constructed, surrounded-by-ruins, vulnerable-to-outsiders, second attempt. In terms of splendor, there is no comparison.
Imagine in your mind how defeated and discouraged this group of people must have been prior to returning. The entire history of their nation has been shaped by the promises of God followed by their dismal failures, their resulting captivity, and God’s gracious movement to resurrect their story. This cycle must have been grueling for the former slaves who have found themselves in a city of ruins clinging to hope for the return of their kingdom and their King.
In verse 7, God tells them that the temple they are rebuilding will be filled with glory and that “the desired of all nations will come.” It begs the question who is he talking about? Is it a new king who will restore their national independence from Persia? In her book Epic of Eden, Dr. Sandra Richter explains that the purpose of the temple was for the people of God to experience the presence of God. This is why the reconstruction was of the utmost importance—without it they could not commune with God.
At the end of our Bible, we read a revelation from John of Christ the Messiah returning to earth as the King who will redeem and restore all of creation. In this vision, John says "I did not see a temple because the LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”1 John understands that the physical temple will be wholly unnecessary because at this time the presence of God will be accessible to all. This causes me to wonder if our new friend Haggai is dropping a Messianic prophecy right before our very eyes. The former glory of the first temple will be nothing compared to the splendor of the one true King dwelling among His people at last.
Haggai’s encouragement feels utterly relevant to those of us who can surely say we’ve experienced both joy and sorrow in the midst of following Christ. Just like the older Israelites, our residence is squarely in the tension of great Hope that causes us to shout for joy and full-bodied sorrow that understands there is still so much to be done. His words remind us that the eventual renewal of all things will turn everything on its head—righting all wrongs, redeeming all brokenness. In the meantime, our call is to link arms as the Israelites did and be strong, finish the work, and don’t be afraid.
May we hold onto Hope and do just that.
“‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’ Haggai 2:9, The Message translation
In what ways do you find yourself relating to the exiles’ situation?
What seasons of your life have been marked with joy and sorrow? How did God feel present to you at that time? Do you feel His presence now?
What is your reaction to the prophecy of Haggai? What does it stir up in your heart or mind?
Don’t sleep on the incredible resources at The Bible Project. Check out this one for an overview of Ezra Nehemiah and this one for an overview of Haggai.
Two free downloads that I’d love for you to have as you study on your own:
Can I beg you to order Dr. Sandra Richter’s book Epic of Eden? You will be drinking out of a fire hose, but you will not regret it.
I was overwhelmed by the response to the first lesson last week. Many of you are new here and I’m so grateful for your participation. I get an email every time someone subscribes and while I don’t always know who it is specifically (unless your email address gives it away), I whisper a prayer of thanks for you and for this work I get to do. Thanks for being in it with me!
Next Thursday we’ll see that the Israelites had a lot of haters who were prepared to use any means necessary to stop the temple reconstruction…even strongly worded letters!
Revelation 21:22