Meditate on it

2nd shortest book in OT simple & direct 4 postexilic messages In this period the progress in rebuilding was slow, no doubt because of the laborious task of cleaning up 60 years of rubble and the cessation of work during the numerous festivals of the seventh month.-bkc “The truth is that few prophets have succeeded in packing into such brief compass so much spiritual common sense as Haggai did” (Frank E. Gaebelein, Four Minor Prophets: Obadiah, Jonah, Habakkuk, and Haggai, p. 199). Interesting link that comments on depression of the people with regard to the book of Haggai. The author suggests that we should keep our "servant status" in mind when ministering to depressed people. http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Prophets/Haggai/Haggai00_Depression.html "These cycles demonstrate how our responses to God so strongly influence our inner lives. The strong message that has been circulating in the Western world for these last decades has convinced many th

My pitiful but real effort to get the dates and big picture right: 1400 BC Joshua conquers Canann, 12 tribes, tribal state, period of Judges 1000BC Jewish monarchy begins with Saul 960 BC Solomon completed the first temple Jewish Nation split into North (Israel) and South (Judah) 722 BC Israel conquered by Assyria--modern day Iranh (Tiglath-Pileser III) 8th century, 10 lost tribes 586 BC Babylon destroyed the first temple, Judah falls to Babylon (modern day Iraq) 539 BC Babylon falls to Persia, Cyrus II 538 BC Decree to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return 70 year period. Babylonian Exile & Captivity. (586-516 BC) Ezra & Nehemiah reflect the in-between two temple periods, under Persian rule, they were allowed more independence. 515-516 BC Completion and dedication of the 2nd temple as a result of decree by Darius. (Ezra 6:15) 458 BC Ezra travels to Jerusalem with decree from Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:7-9 331 BC Alexander the Great conquers Persia 165 BC Antichus IV trie

Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries. Zechariah is more symbolic and abstract (kind of like John of the New Testament). Haggai was concerned with practical matters---particularly the neglect of the temple. John Trapp wrote, “Haggai lays down the mind of God to the people more plainly in direct and downright terms; Zechariah flies a higher pitch, abounding with types and visions; and is therefore worthily reckoned among the abstrusest and profoundest penmen of Holy Scripture . . . We pass from dark prophecies to that which is much more dark.” Here's the Introductory commentary from the BKC: In an often-quoted statement, George L. Robinson has called the Book of Zechariah “the most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic and eschatological of all the writings of the Old Testament” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956, 5:3136). The messianic emphasis of Zechariah accounts for its frequent citation by New Testament aut

Haggai---contemporary of Zechariah, post Babylon exile...started rebuilding homes and community but not temple. Haggai pleaded to rebuild? "Haggai’s precise date therefore is August 29, 520 B.C." (Bible.org) Contemporary of Persian king Darius Hystaspes (522-486 B.C.) "Thus all the ministry of Haggai and the first two oracles of Zechariah fall between the sixth and eleventh months of Darius’s second year." Bible.org "The strict attention to matters of chronology exhibited by Haggai and Zechariah is characteristic of the annalistic style of history writing employed in Neo-Babylonian and Persian times. The famous “Babylonian Chronicles” with its insistence on documenting every royal achievement to the month and day is a case in point." -Bible.org Meanwhile, Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562), who had conquered and destroyed Jerusalem and deported its leading citizens in July of 586 B.C., had passed from the scene to be followed by Amel-Marduk (562-560), Neri

So many images in here worth pondering-- I like the nod to vocational usefulness here---feel like intellectual abilities are vastly overrated and physical skills/craftsmanship vastly under-valued: "If we have strength we are not much the better unless we have skill also. Untrained force is often an injury to the man who possesses it, and it even becomes a danger to those who are round about him; and therefore the Psalmist blesses the Lord as much for teaching as for strength. Let us also bless Jehovah if he has in anything made us efficient. The tuition mentioned was very practical, it was not so much of the brain as of the hands and fingers; for these were the members most needful for conflict. Men with little scholastic education should be grateful for deftness and skill in their handicrafts. To a fighting man the education of the hands is of far more value than mere book-learning could ever be; he who has to use a sling or a bow needs suitable training, quite as much as a

"O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle." -Psalm 140:7 What a gorgeous and comforting image---that He covers our heads in the day of battle.  Our protection is from Him. Most of this psalm is a curse of sorts upon the wicked--that the psalmist would be delivered and preserved from them.

"When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John,  but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him." Luke 7:29-30 I read this with the children this week and have been thinking about it....it's not about what they did or didn't do...it points out that the attitude of their hearts was key.  The common people declared God just, the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves.   Powerful. What does it mean to reject God's purpose for our lives?  Worth pondering.

"Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus." -Mark 15:43 Interesting wording here...that Joseph "took courage."  I imagine it required a lot of courage and humility to be in a position of honor publicly, yet be willing to step out and honor Christ when he was most forsaken by men.

"For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar."  -Psalm 138:6 Humility of spirit brings us closer to Him.  Self-sufficiency separates us. "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me. "  -Psalm 138:8 Such a comforting promise---His hand is in His purposes for my life. "The assurance we have that whatever good work God has begun in and for his people he will perform it (Psa_138:8): The Lord will perfect that which concerns me, 1. That which is most needful for me; and he knows best what is so. We are careful and cumbered about many things that do not concern us, but he knows what are the things that really are of consequence to us (Mat_6:32) and he will order them for the best." -Matthew Henry

This sketch is from an actual discovery in the ruins of ancient Assyria, and shows Jewish prisoners being led away through a thick forest in the mountains. Silver coin with lyre and Hebrew inscription issued by Simon Bar Kochba, leader of the second Jewish revolt (132-135 CE) against the Roman occupation of Palestine under Emperor Hadrian. Dated 134 CE, H:2,5 cm

Jewish Temple Reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of Heroid, James Tissot (1836-1902) "The Jerusalem temple (not fully completed until ca. a.d. 64) was built by the Herodian dynasty to win Jewish favor and to create a lasting Herodian monument. It was considered an architectural wonder of the ancient world. It was built with large white stones, polished and generously decorated with gold (Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 15. 11. 3-7). It covered about 1/6 of the land area of old Jerusalem. To the Jews nothing was as magnificent and formidable as their temple." -BKC "The temple was constructed of white marble, and the blocks were of a prodigious size. Josephus says that these stones were, some of them, 50 feet long, 24 feet broad, and 16 feet in thickness."  -Barnes "The spring-stones of the arches of the bridge which spanned the valley of Tyropoeon (the cheese-makers), and connected the ancient city of David with the royal porch of the

I am intrigued by the relationship between forgiveness of others and our own forgiveness by the Father. In the last few weeks of Bible Study, I have come across whisps of this in various forms: "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." -Mark 11:25 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." -Matthew 6:14-15 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV) Clearly, there is a connection between our judgment and compassion toward others and the Lord's judgement and compassion toward us. Honestly, that'