Week of 12.18.2022 | Day One
Last week’s Advent Devotionals focused on the messages of judgment and hope God spoke to His people through the prophets. Israel chose not to listen to the warnings of judgment and therefore endured the bitter consequences of being conquered, forced from their land into exile, the temple of God being destroyed, and God’s presence leaving His people. Many years later, some Israelites who had been scattered in the exile did eventually return to their home, Jerusalem, and rebuild the temple. The second temple did not compare to the glory of the first (Solomon’s temple). God’s presence was missing and sin ruled in the hearts of the people. Haggai encouraged the people that God’s purpose would be fulfilled in even greater glory than in Solomon’s temple–the Son of God Himself would be present in the temple. “He is the radiance of the glory of God,” Hebrews 1:3. We see God extends the hope of His promise to restore His presence with His people, just as He designed it to be.
Read
Haggai 2:3-9
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”
Discuss
What stood out to you about this section?
How does Haggai point us to Jesus?
What does this teach us about God?
What does this teach us about man?
How should we respond to what we read?
Pray
Lead your family in a time of prayer.
Consider the ACTS model (Adoration- Adore or praise God, Confession- Confess sin, Thanksgiving- Thank God, and Supplication- Ask God to supply our needs)