Do you experience times when a part of you wants to do the things we know are important to God, but another part of you would rather just skip it and do something else? I think most of us have days like that. But if we get too focused on our own wants and needs over the long-term, and set God’s priorities off on a shelf somewhere, we may need to have our spirits stirred up.
The exiles who returned from Babylon to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem were at that point. They had encountered enough opposition and difficulty in their work to cause them to set God’s priorities aside for awhile, but then they left them there for almost twenty years.
After beginning their work with great enthusiasm, the returned Judeans were shut down by a group of hostile neighbors, who had gained the ear of the Medo-Persian authorities. For a time, no new work on the temple was allowed. Though the returned exiles, their governor Zerubbabel, and high priest Joshua remained in the land, the focus of their efforts now shifted to tending to their own affairs, and building their own houses, not God’s.
Meanwhile, the Lord was working to shape the heart of the new Medo-Persian king, Darius the Great. Because God had changed the king’s viewpoint, he was not only willing to let the work on the temple resume, but would also pay for everything the workers needed, using the government treasury. This turn was an amazing display of favor and provision from the hand of the Lord.
Unfortunately, by the time the king’s permission was granted, the people had lost all interest in serving God, and were now focused exclusively on serving their own needs. Once again, God was placed in the position of needing to get their attention to remind them that He, alone, is truly worthy of their worship and devotion. God’s temple needed to be rebuilt, and now was the time to get after it. The Lord called the prophet Haggai to stir up the peoples’ spirits to get the work started again.
1 In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord of armies says: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house remains desolate?” 5 Now then, the Lord of armies says this: “Consider your ways! 6 You have sown much, only to harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.” Haggai 1:1-6 (NASB)
In the words of Haggai, all of the blessings of the Lord that had been flowing their way for years were now beginning to dry up because they had turned away from God. The people had settled into a comfortable lifestyle after the hardships of exile and all the resistance to the temple work by their neighbors. A dwindling of God’s blessing was becoming apparent, waking them up to the fact that the temple was still a desolate mess long after their own homes and property had been built back up, and their food cupboards filled.
Things began to get difficult again for the people as they experienced scarcity rather than abundant blessings, and they finally understood the problem – they were ignoring God and His will for their lives.
God has put us all on earth for a purpose. When we seek the Lord, He will show us what His will is, and as we choose to pursue it, we will begin to experience His true peace. It starts with a reverence for the Lord.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, just as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people, saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.” 14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of armies, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king. Haggai 1:12-15 (NASB)
God stirred up their spirits once again, beginning with the governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua. The temple work resumed, and ultimately, its reconstruction was completed. Centuries later, the temple was further built up by King Herod, and Jerusalem became a center of focus for God’s presence on earth. It remained this way until the coming of Christ, whereupon God resided in the hearts of believers through the global presence of the Holy Spirit, rather than being confined to a building. The temple would soon after be destroyed by the Roman, Titus, in 70 AD, leaving only the western wall, the Wailing Wall, as a reminder of Messiah’s promise to return there one day.
God still stirs up our spirits today, though He may use various means to do so. Rather than using a problem or a perceived need, He may simply use a word of encouragement in our spirit, or from a godly friend, like a Haggai, a biblical message, or a divine coincidence that draws our hearts and minds back to focusing on the Lord. He does this to let us know, “I am with you”, and we get re-inspired to follow Jesus, wherever He may be leading us.
As Jesus said to a burdened and harried crowd:
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
Reflection
Who or what has stirred up my spirit to more closely follow God today?
Who is God wanting me to help stir up their spirit towards Him?
Lord, we seek to follow You, as there is no true rest or peace for the weary any other way. You are deserving of all of our hearts and labors. Lead us and guide us in our work, then help us to rest at the feet of Jesus to be fully refreshed and restored. Pour out the Living Water of your Holy Spirit into our thirsty hearts and souls, fill us to overflowing, turning our hearts to Christ and to loving and forgiving each other. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 