Be Strong, For I Will...

In Haggai's command to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people of God to rebuild the temple, we see holy orders fastened, guided, and supported by a holy God

Haggai 2:1-9

 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, "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, '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? 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, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 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. And I will shake the nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 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.'"

So, we see the Lord saying by the hand of Haggai to

1. "Be strong"
2. "Work"
3. "Fear not"

Yet these are not just strict orders to be followed blindly. We are to work hard, but with sweet, sweet assurances.

1. "I am with you"
2. "According to the covenant" 
3. "I will give"

Life seems like the impossible task of rebuilding a broken, shattered templed with limited resources. Constantly attempting to repair a life with sinful minds and hearts which all too easily flee to the seemingly sweet pleasures of idolatry is a recipe that stirs the idolatrous cauldron of spiritual depression, anxiety, restless hearts, restless minds, restless bodies, and misguided affections.

Yet, where our sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. We are to work, for He is with us. According to the covenant fulfilled by Jesus Christ, with the freely given gift of salvation.

Re-read just the bold parts of the passage.

And he will, and he will, and he will give peace.