Build a Gathering
August 18, 2024Pastor Travis presented today's message, "Build a Gathering." Here's a video of the message.
To complete the historical context, the first Temple was completed in 957BC. This first Temple was looted and destroyed by the Babylonians (Nebuchadrezzar II) around 587BC and the deportation of the Jews was complete by about 582BC. In 538BC, Jews were allowed back into Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple. After 16 years, as Travis noted, they still had not rebuilt the Temple. But with God's prompting through Haggai, they got to work and finished the second Temple by 515BC.
This second Temple had its ups and downs, including a cleansing and rededication around 164BC (which is what Hanukkah celebrates). It was rebuilt again by Herod the Great from 37BC to 4BC. This reconstruction lasted decades but it was again destroyed in 70AD.
The Hebrew word used in Haggai 1:4 for paneled, saphan (סָפַן), at its root, means to cover or panel over. One article I read suggested that this was a reflection of what was done in the Temple and in the houses of very wealthy people. The mud/stone walls were "covered over" or "paneled" with something nicer, perhaps cedar wood. The wood for this purpose would have been quite expensive in a region where wood was scarce. Some translations say luxurious, treasured, or ceiled houses.
Being still in a mindset of metaphors, I wonder if this could be metaphorical. What if it's a statement about the people covering up their real selves with something fancy in order to impress while ignoring what should be made more impressive - God's house. Don't spend time covering yourself up. Rather, be yourself and help build the Kingdom. $.02
Later, when discussing the end of Haggai chapter 1, Travis read that "all the remnant of the people" got to work on God's house. The word remnant (sheerith, שְׁאֵרִית), both in Biblical Hebrew and in today's use, suggests the same thing - what's left, the remainders, usually a smaller or lesser portion of the original. In other words, a small fraction of the people chipped in to get the work done. Does this not align well with Prager's observance that it's typically the outliers that do great good. And thereby, save the society. I did find one translation that used "everyone" (CEV), but that was the exception.
Joseph used the word "remnant" when talking with his brothers in Egypt. "But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." Genesis 45:7.
I had never thought about the concept of God giving one instruction at a time. But sure enough, that does seem to be the case. Even Creation comes one instruction at a time. Moses gets instruction daily from God. Manna comes at a certain rate, just enough at a time. Proceed step by step. There's a term for a similar idea in the warehousing and inventory world, "Just-In-Time (JIT) Inventory" (only what's needed for a given short period of time is warehoused). The shelves don't get overloaded.
Travis also raised the issue of "does one obey then understand or does one understand then obey?" Here's a restating of a paragraph I wrote in May of 2023: "Submitting comes first [obedience], then you will be guided to the right things to do [understand], not vice versa. This reminded me of a Torah instruction "Do, and understand." Specifically, Exodus 24:7: "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will hear (obey, understand)." Wouldn't you think "hear" would come first, then do? But really, how well do you understand something until you do it? When you do it, you get it. But here's the catch: humans don't naturally do the right thing unless they are motivated to do the right thing. And who/what better to motivate you than God, assuming you have faith in (have submitted to) God. It's not a coincidence that this instruction to do-then-understand was given right after the very dramatic delivery of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. So the path becomes: submit to God's will and instruction, then do that, then you'll understand. And be at peace."
Here are some Old Testament texts that encourage working in community:
Psalms 133:1, "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Proverbs 11:14, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
There's an interesting story in Nehemiah chapter 4 about rebuilding a wall. The wall was rebuilt to half height, "for the people worked with all their heart" (Nehemiah 4:6). Then later, when they were under duress, "half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor" (Nehemiah 4:16). That's team work.
GotQuestions.org puts the Ten Commandments in terms of teamwork (community):
1. God is first. He leads, we listen and obey.
2. Nothing should get in the way of our devotion to Him.
3. We can’t use God and His name as an excuse, a threat, or a swear word.
4. We take a day off for rest and restoration.
5. Our parents [managers and mentors] have priority in our lives to direct our thinking and behavior. We honor them.
6. We shouldn’t commit character assassination (or any other kind of assassination).
7. We shouldn’t commit spiritual, emotional, or physical adultery. We put boundaries around our work relationships and teams.
8. We shouldn’t steal from one another—not ideas, credit, or personal belongings. Not even a co-worker’s coffee cup from the office kitchen.
9. We shouldn’t tell lies about each other or use subtle negative comments to rob others of their status or influence.
10. We shouldn’t covet a team member’s life, wife, position, or stuff.