The Rebuilt Temple under Cyrus and Darius

I love it when I feel motivated to do a SOAP devotional on Scripture from the Old Testament. I tend to gravitate toward New Testament passages because they seem to have more direct application to our lives. But the Old Testament applies to our lives as well; it just takes a bit more digging to find that application. Here's the SOAP acronym for personal Bible study:

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• S for Scripture
• O for Observation
• A for Application
• P for Prayer

Scripture:

Haggai 2:1-9 (ESV) 1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 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.’”

Observation:

• I was impacted by the fact that God's sovereign hand was on the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. God's Spirit was evident because He sent the prophet Haggai to command Israel to continue rebuilding the temple. The work had all but ceased for 20 years due to local opposition to the rebuilding. Also, King Artaxerxes, who ruled Persia between Cyrus and Darius's reigns, commanded that the rebuilding cease in Jerusalem. Darius, after reading Cyrus's original decree, ordered that the rebuilding continue. (Ezra 6). So, the rebuilding continued in the second year of Darius' reign. The temple was completed in Darius's 6th year of reign.
• So, we see how the secular authorities influenced the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. But the prophecies of Haggai reveal that God was the ultimate authority behind the rebuilding. Also God undoubtedly controlled the hearts of Cyrus and probably Darius. Ezra 1:1-2 says, "1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."
• Haggai 2:9 says, "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.’” The NIV notes say this could be referring to Christ's physical appearance at the temple, the first time as a child (Luke 2:22-38) when his parents presented Him at the temple. Simeon prophesied over the Christ child, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
• The ESV notes mention God's "latter glory of this house" as possibly tied to the New Covenant church, who are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Application:

• As God's sovereign hand was on the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, his hand is committed to the rebuilding of our lives. Philippians 1:6 (ESV) says, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
• As God promised that the latter glory of the temple would be greater than the former, the temple of the New Covenant church is the ultimate manifestation of the latter glory. 1 Cor. 3:16-17 (ESV) says, "16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."  Eph.5:27 (KJV) says, "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Prayer:

"Dear Lord, thank you for your sovereign hand on our lives and your commitment to the sanctification of your church. As your hand was on the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, your hand is on the rebuilding of our lives. Help us to do our part in the rebuilding process. In Jesus name we pray, amen."