Haggai

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 that spiritual things are immaterial to our daily lives. People are taught to go through these cycles without realizing the connection they have with their relationship with God. Indeed, the number of clinical cases of depression are a testimony of a world without God's gracious help. May we seek God's intervening hand in our daily lives."-Bucknell

"'Obedience always require prioritization of God' wishes and often requires the subduing of our own preferences. The scripture describes this process as 'repentance.'"-Bucknell



"The greatest difficult in obeying besides outright not want to is the fear of not being able to carry out the certain required task or change in life. Christians tend to use these 'impossibilities' as excuses. They must be very careful not to allow their discouragement carry over to doubt. Instead they should have the biblical attitude that if God calls anyone to do a certain job, then He will provide all that he will need to do it. This is true of evangelism, giving a testimony, teaching a Sunday School class, overcoming a particular sin, etc." -Bucknell

To the degree that we and others obey, He brings His Spirit upon His people to accomplish His work.-Bucknell

But what if I don't feel like I can do it?

Never go by ones feelings. We are exhorted to obey not to see whether we feel like doing it or not. The success or failure of what He has called us to is up to the Lord. Our job is simply to obey. Many early missionaries died in the field in the first five years of their work there. We might think it failure but God chalked it up as success. We might have to run counter to our feelings. This is fine. Some people think this is not right because it is going against ones true self. Any thought, action or feeling that goes counter to God's will must be rejected and finally subjected to His will. This is what being a Christian is all about. God frees us to serve Him rather than our old man and its desires.

KEY VERSE:

"Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts" -Haggai 2:4

"My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not." -Haggai 2:5

"The third prophecy was given on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. The people were told to ask the priests two questions: (1) If . . . holy meat carried in the fold of a garment should touch other foods, would those other foods become holy? The priests correctly answered . . . "No." (2) If one who has become unclean through touching a dead body should touch these foods, would they become unclean? The priests correctly answered "Yes."

In other words the following was understood: "He that is holy imparts no holiness to anything else, but he that is defiled communicates defilement." Or, to put it another way, "Work and worship do not sanctify sin, but sin contaminates work and worship." This was a reminder to the people that their offerings to God were polluted and that they themselves were unclean as long as the temple was in ruins." BBC

What to make of this? In many regards it sounds like an unfair system---holiness does not transfer, but uncleanness does!

History of Haggai:





I must say, I got a lot more out of Haggai the second time digging in---it's good to look at the history again, be encouraged to focus on key people and events. Haggai---a small pithy book that is going somewhere....no frills, no elaborate visions, but he does lay the deal out.hh

Jewish Timeline

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 tries to force Jews to become Greek--Macabeean kindgom 100 years

63 BC Rome takes control of Jerusalem

70 AD Titus (Roman emperor) destroyed 2nd temple, diaspora begins

Zechariah

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 authors. Nestle and Aland list 41 New Testament citations or allusions to Zechariah’s book (Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland, eds., Novum Testamentum Graece. New York: American Bible Society, 1950, pp. 670-1).

From the ESV Study Bible:

"Nearly 20 years after their return from the Babylonian exile in the time of Cyrus (538 b.c.), discouragement dogged God's people, replacing their earlier enthusiasm. The foundation of the temple had been laid shortly after the initial return, in 536 b.c., but powerful opposition had prevented any further progress on rebuilding the temple. Though Persian foreign policy accorded a significant role to local traditions—unlike the previous overlords, the Babylonians (prior to 538 b.c.)—life was still hard in the province of Judah (often referred to as “Yehud” in this period). Taxes were high, especially as the Persian king, Darius Hystaspes, prepared for a campaign against Egypt. There was little evidence of the kind of transformation of the state of things that the earlier prophets had anticipated, whether externally in a restoration of Jewish sovereignty, or internally in a moral reformation of the people. In particular, the city of Jerusalem was still only partially rebuilt and was on the sidelines of world significance. Under the circumstances, it was easy for the people to conclude that theirs was a “day of small things” (4:10) in which God was absent from his people. In such a context, faithful obedience was viewed by many as useless: pragmatically, it made more sense to pursue the best life possible in spite of the present difficulties.

Zechariah addressed such discouragement by reminding his hearers that, though hidden, God's envoys were watching everything, and that when the time was right, he would act to reorder the universe (1:8–11). Their forefathers had discovered God's faithfulness to judge his people if they failed to heed the words of the prophets (1:4–6). If the people would heed the words of the prophets and turn to the Lord, they would discover him turning to them. He would trouble the nations who were enjoying rest and grant rest to his troubled people, making Jerusalem once again the center of the world, a place of universal pilgrimage (1:14–17). The temple that was being rebuilt and the priesthood that would serve in it were signs of the Lord's commitment to his people, a commitment that would be demonstrated by the ultimate removal of all their sin from the land (3:8–10). This would happen when the promised Davidic king, the Branch, arrived (3:8). The result would be peace, harmony, and prosperity for all the inhabitants of the land, as the Lord once more dwelt in their midst."

Zechariah was a Levite born in Babylon. He prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem. He was the grandson of Iddo the priest, and a Levite. He was a contemporary of Haggai, and of Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. He returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with about 50,000 Jewish exiles and was probably significantly younger than Haggai. (all of this paraphrased from the BKC introduction). 

One night, 8 Visions 

1. horses

2. horns

3. measuring line

4. Joshua with filthy garments before angel, Satan accusing, stone with seven eyes before Joshua, branch...

5. lampstand, bowl, 2 olive trees

6. flying scroll

7. women in basket, women carrying basket

8. 4 chariots with horses (black, red, white, dappled) mountains of bronze

KEY VERSE: Zec 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Two witnesses, lampstand, and olive trees are alluded to in Revelation 11:3:


From the Jewish Cervera Bible, Spain, around 1299.

"And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days." Revelation 11:3

"The description of the two witnesses as olive trees and lampstands has an Old Testament background (Zec_4:2-14). The two witnesses in this passage were Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. Their connection to the lampstands was that they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the olive oil. In a similar way the two witnesses of Rev_11:1-19 will be empowered by the Holy Spirit." -BKC

©2008-2012 *zealousshadow

http://zealousshadow.deviantart.com/art/Vision-Zechariah-5-5-9-91933686 

Interesting vision with the two women with wind in their wings carrying "sin" in the basket. I think this is the only female angel reference I'm aware of---worth looking into.

BKC alludes to the idea that these women are demonic in nature, that the image has to do with evil returning to Babylon.

Zec 7:13 "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts,

"They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts."

Zechariah 7:12

(2) The population will increase in a setting of peace (4-5)

Two signs of blessing - old age and young age. These are the indefensible and the first to go. So if they are wandering around then that is a sign of peace. When God dwells among them, there will be truth and justice and it will be safe enough for old women and young children to go out. --bible.org

It's worthwhile to think about this....God will save the common folk first.

7 "I, GOD, will begin by restoring the common households of Judah so that the glory of David's family and the leaders in Jerusalem won't overshadow the ordinary people in Judah. 

Understanding the Exiles & History of Jewish Kingship

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), Neriglissar (560-556), and Labashi-Marduk (556). Nabonidus (556-539), whose north Mesopotamian roots and devotion to the moon god Sin were to alienate him from his Babylonian subjects, then took over. Preoccupied as he was by his cult and by foreign travel and trade, Nabonidus left the responsibility of government largely in the hands of his son Belshazzar. It was the latter, as the Bible clearly intimates (Dan. 5:1-31), who fell to Cyrus when Babylon finally capitulated to the Persians on October 12, 539 B.C .

Beginning in 555, the year Cyrus defeated his Median grandfather, he had incorporated Media, Lydia, and Babylonia into his rapidly expanding Persian empire. At last only the city of Babylon itself remained. Its surrender to Cyrus was a foregone conclusion since, according to the so-called “Verse Account of Nabonidus” and other texts,10 Nabonidus had so offended Marduk, chief deity of Babylon, by his impious devotion to Sin that Marduk had determined to turn his estate over to a “shepherd” who would better tend it. That shepherd, of course, was Cyrus.

The biblical version of the rise of Cyrus is quite different, for it is Yahweh, not Marduk, who raised him up (Isa. 44:24—45:7) and who called him to deliver His captive people from Babylonian bondage. That Cyrus was indeed called to do so is clear from the famous Cylinder of Cyrus.11 That it was Yahweh who provided the impulse is attested to in the Old Testament by both the Chronicler (2 Chron. 36:22-23) and Ezra (Ezra 1:1-4).

In 538 B.C. Cyrus issued his decree that the Jews and all other captive peoples could return to their respective homelands. He had begun to organize his vast domain into a system of satrapies further subdivided into provinces,12 and the satrapy of special relevance to the Jewish community was known as Babili eber nari (“Babylon beyond the river”), a huge jurisdiction between the Euphrates River and the Mediterranean Sea.13 Within that satrapy were entities such as Galilee, Samaria, Ashdod, Ammon, and especially Yehud (or Judah).14 Each of these was under a governor who reported directly to the satrap, or administrator of the district of eber nari.

The picture is not entirely clear, but it seems that Yehud, though weak and impoverished compared to its provincial neighbors such as Samaria, was independent of them and not a subdivision. Thus the various Jewish governors could carry their case directly to the satrap in times of difficulty. The first of these governors was Sheshbazzar, leader of the first return from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5-11; 5:14). It is likely that he is the same as Shenazzar, a son of Jehoiachin, the last surviving king of Judah (1 Chron. 3:18).15 He held his position evidently for only a brief time, for already in the second year after Cyrus’s decree (536 B.C.) Zerubbabel appears as the governor (Ezra 3:2, 8; cf. Hag. 1:1).

The relationship of Zerubbabel to Sheshbazzar and to the Davidic dynasty is somewhat obscure.16 He is usually described as the “son of Shealtiel” (Ezra 3:2, 8; Neh. 12:1; Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; 2:2, 23; Matt. 1:12), but in the Chronicler’s genealogy he is the son of Pedaiah (1 Chron. 3:19). Both Shealtiel and Pedaiah were sons of Jehoiachin—along with Shenazzar (= Sheshbazzar?)—so either Zerubbabel was the levirate son of Pedaiah on behalf of Shealtiel17 or (more likely) Shealtiel had died before he could become governor, his younger brother Sheshbazzar taking that role instead.18 Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel and nephew of Sheshbazzar, then succeed Sheshbazzar upon his death. Pedaiah possibly served as foster father for Zerubbabel until he reached his maturity.

Sara Japhet argues that Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah but denies that he was related to Zerubbabel or, indeed, to the royal family at all.19 F. C. Fensham says that it is not acceptable to identify Sheshbazzar with the Shenazzar of 1 Chron. 3:18 and that his identification as “prince” (ayc]N`j^ hannas) in Ezra 1:8 proves nothing more than that he was a person raised to a position of authority.20 This is the view also of Joseph Blenkinsopp who admits that Sheshbazzar’s title would be unassailable evidence of his Davidic lineage were it possible to connect Sheshbazzar with Shenazzar. With most modern scholars he concludes that nothing can be known of Sheshbazzar’s identity.21

What is important is that Zerubbabel was a grandson of Jehoiachin and therefore the legitimate heir of the Davidic throne. His appointment as governor allowed his Judean royal descent to coincide with his Persian political appointment. How long he served in that capacity cannot be determined, but he was still governor by 520 B.C. The recent discovery of bullae and seals bearing the names of Judean governors suggests that Zerubbabel may be dated to c. 510, Elnathan c. 510-490, Yeho ‘ezer c. 490-470, and Ahzai c. 447-445.22 Nehemiah, of course, commenced his governorship then and continued on to 433 B.C.

Little is known of the period between the decree of Cyrus (538 B.C.) and the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah (520 B.C.). Evidently Cyrus had laid down a firm political and social foundation, and until his death in 530 B.C. the Persian empire, including Yehud, enjoyed tranquillity and prosperity. Ezra provides the information that in the seventh month of the first year back (537 B.C.) the people, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest, built an altar on the temple ruins and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:1-7). In the second month of the next year (536) the foundations of the new temple were laid (Ezra 3:8-10). After this the record is virtually silent except for the statement that the adversaries of the Jews began a campaign of harassment, seeking to prevent reconstruction of the house of the Lord. This continued throughout the reign of Cyrus and Cambyses (530-522) into that time of Darius (522-486).

Cambyses, son of Cyrus, was noted particularly for his conquest of Egypt and its absorption into the Persian hegemony. Cambyses also left a negative legacy of mismanagement that left the Empire in a near shambles. His mysterious death was followed by an attempted usurpation of the Persian throne by Gaumata, an official who claimed to be a brother of Cambyses hitherto thought to be dead. Before Gaumata could seize control he was assassinated by Darius Hystaspes and some collaborators, and Darius placed himself in power on September 29, 522.23

The chaotic reign of Cambyses without doubt contributed to the ability of the Jews’ enemies to interdict their work and otherwise make life miserable for them. The succession of Darius changed all that, however, for after he put down various rebellions attendant to his rise to power, he implemented far-ranging and effective political and fiscal policies that brought stability throughout his realm. Within two years all was at peace, except for Egypt. Darius therefore made plans to invade that intractable satrapy and bring it into line, an action that took place in 519-518 B.C. 24

Meanwhile, Judah’s foes, including even Tattenai, governor of the entire eber nari province, hoped to capitalize on Darius’s newness to office by sending a letter warning him about Jewish rebellion (Ezra 5:6-17). Darius immediately made a search of the archives of Cyrus at Ecbatana and verified that the Jewish claims that reconstruction of the temple and city was authorized by Cyrus himself were true. Without further ado the work was resumed and completed by 515 B.C. (6:15). The anticipated march of Darius through Palestine on his way to Egypt in 519 may have done as much as anything to encourage the Jews and frustrate the evil intentions of their neighbors.

This, then, is the setting of the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. First appearing in the biblical record in 520 B.C., two years after Darius’s accession, they took advantage of the Pax Persiaca to urge their compatriots on to the noble task of Temple building (Hag. 1:2; cf. Ezra 5:1-2). Joyce Baldwin is correct in asserting (contrary to many scholars) that Haggai’s exhortation to build was not a sign of rebellion against a Persian government in disarray, for he was already many months too late for that; rather, he was taking advantage of the peace that ensued after Darius was established.25 From a political standpoint the prospects were never more bright and, said the prophets, never were times more propitious to reestablish the theocratic community so that Yahweh’s ancient covenant promises to His people could find fulfillment.

The biblical texts, though scanty, make it quite clear that the restoration community was small and demoralized. Ezra reckons the number of returnees under Sheshbazzar (or Zerubbabel) to have been 42,360 in addition to 7,337 slaves and 200 singers (Ezra 2:64-65). The number of indigenous Jews is unknown but could not have numbered more than that. John Bright argues that the total population of Judah in 522 B.C. could not have exceeded 20,000, but his estimate is based on a denial that the list of returnees in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 refers to the return under Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel, a denial that is without foundation.26 That it is an account of early return (between 538 and 522) is put beyond dispute by H. G. M. Williamson.27 Some rebuilding must have been undertaken in the Judean towns and villages since their destruction at Babylonian hands, but Jerusalem remained mostly in ruins (Ezra 5:3, 9).

The repopulation of the land, at least outside Jerusalem, gave rise to the rebuilding of houses and storage buildings and to the clearing and cultivation of the farmlands. In fact, it was the rapidity and conviction with which this was done that caused Haggai to lament that, by comparison, the house of the Lord was neglected. His burden then was that this inequity be redressed and that the people do all they could in spite of their still rather limited resources to erect a house of the Lord that could provide a suitable expression of His presence among them. Until this was done the restoration would remain incomplete and the gracious promises of the Lord unfulfilled." -Bible.org

Psalm 144

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 scientific man or a classical professor. Men are too apt to fancy that an artisan's efficiency is to be ascribed to himself; but this is a popular fallacy. A clergyman may be supposed to be taught of God, but people do not allow this to be true of weavers or workers in brass; yet these callings are specially mentioned in the Bible as having been taught to holy women and earnest men when the tabernacle was set up at the first. All wisdom and skill are from the Lord, and for them he deserves to be gratefully extolled. This teaching extends to the smallest members of our frame: the Lord teaches fingers as well as hands; indeed, it sometimes happens that if the finger is not well trained the whole hand is incapable." -Spurgeon


More Spurgeon:

This verse is full of personality; it is mercy shown to David himself which is the subject of grateful song. It has also a presentness about it; for Jehovah is now his strength, and is still teaching him; we ought to make a point of presenting praise while yet the blessing is on the wing. The verse is also pre-eminently practical, and full of the actual life of every day; for David's days were spent in camps and conflicts. Some of us who are grievously tormented with rheumatism might cry, “Blessed be the Lord, my Comforter, who teacheth my knees to bear in patience, and my feet to endure in resignation”; others who are on the look out to help young converts might say, “Blessed be God who teaches my eyes to see wounded souls, and my lips to cheer them”; but David has his own peculiar help from God, and praises him accordingly. This tends to make the harmony of heaven perfect when all the singers take their parts; if we all followed the same score, the music would not be so full and rich.

Psalm 140

"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.

God's Purposes for Our Lives...

"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.

Mark 15--Crucifixition

"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.

Psalm 138:6

"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

Psalm 137

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

Mark 13--Temple Info

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 temple, measured twenty-four feet in length by six in thickness. Yet these were by no means the largest in the masonry of the temple. Both at the southeastern and southwestern angles stones have been found measuring from twenty to forty feet long, and weighing above one hundred tons" (Edersheim, “Temple”).-vws

"How little Christ values external pomp, where there is not real purity; “Seest thou these great buildings” (saith Christ), “and admirest thou them? I tell thee, the time is at hand when there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down,” Mar_13:2.  -Henry

Remains of Robinson's Arch

"Historically, the first fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic use of the expression (Dan_11:31-32) was the desecration of the temple in 167 b.c. by the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. He erected an altar to the pagan Greek god Zeus over the altar of burnt offering and sacrificed a pig on it (cf. apocryphal 1 Maccabees 1:41-64; 6:7; and Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 12. 5. 4)." -BKC

*****************

End Times 

Ark of the Covenant

*Note---no ark of the covenant, In Jerusalem, in the millennial temple, God's throne will be.

"The ark of the covenant, which was lost after Babylon destroyed Judah in 586 b.c., would not be missed, and another ark would not be made. In place of the ark will be The Throne of the Lord, a title by which the city of Jerusalem will be known."-BKC

"It is significant that Ezekiel (cf. Eze_43:7) also pictured the millennial temple as a place where God’s throne will be. Evidently Christ will rule from the temple during the millennial period. God’s rule from Jerusalem will extend over all nations who will go to Jerusalem to worship Him (cf. Zec_14:16-19)." -BKC

Proposed Reconstruction of Robinson's Arch in Jerusalem

Israel & Judah Unified

*Note--Israel & Judah will be reunited. 

"In addition to spiritual renewal Judah and Israel will also experience physical restoration. The house of Judah and the house of Israel will reunite as a nation (cf. Jer_31:31-33; Eze_37:15-28). They will return from their captivity to the land God had promised to their forefathers as an inheritance. Israel and Judah divided as a nation in 931 b.c., and have never reunited as a nation under God. The fulfillment of this promise awaits the return of Christ." -BKC

Forgiveness & Prayer

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's scary. I know there are pieces of my heart where I still need to forgive others.

Forgiveness is a tricky thing. Like "love," I suspect that it is more than an emotional feeling. I struggle with how to forgive people who are not sorry or repentant.

Here's a "psychological" perspective on likelyhood of forgiveness. In the flesh, I'd say it's fairly accurate:



However, I suspect we are called to be less "clinical" in our approach....our "predictor" should be that God forgave us and that as recipients of that grace, we should extend it to others.

The Wikipedia entry on forgiveness is fascinating as it details the perspective of forgiveness from various faith perspectives: Judiasm, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam. There are commonalities between them and also strong differences.

" If we nurse a harsh, vindictive attitude toward others, we cannot expect God to hear and answer us. We must forgive if we are to be forgiven. This does not refer to the judicial forgiveness of sins at the time of conversion; that is strictly a matter of grace through faith. This refers to God's parental dealings with His children. An unforgiving spirit in a believer breaks fellowship with the Father in heaven and hinders the flow of blessing." -bbc