Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after Jubilate

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Haggai 2:2-9 (NKJV)

2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Devotion

Today’s reading presents us with another example of God working through men and earthly kingdoms to point towards His establishment of His greater kingdom in Jesus Christ. A temple would stand in Jerusalem, but the greater temple would come in His own flesh and blood.

Stories such as these remind us that God is not a mere fable or idea. Our God is the One Who created all reality, physical, spiritual, and mental. He works through all these aspects of reality as well. He calls on people to do the work that He commands. He grants men authority to govern others and uphold order. He teaches us and provides for us in body and spirit. He also takes the evil that men do and uses it to bring about good. The chief example of that is how He used the evil of the Jews who tried to destroy Him to bring about the flesh-and-blood fulfillment of our atonement.

He told the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). They were focused on a building, but Christ spoke of the fulfillment of the prophesy in Haggai, “I will fill this temple with glory,” and “In this place I will give peace.” In the physical reality of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, the Lord revealed His glory and gives us peace. He lived and died as one of us, and through His own righteousness He established His kingdom of grace and forgiveness among us in Christ crucified.

We pray: Lord God, grant us Your Holy Spirit and the power and wisdom of Your Word so that we may accomplish the good work that You would do through us to the glory of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ; In His Name,. Amen.

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