{"id":79037,"date":"2020-08-19T17:10:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T14:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=79037"},"modified":"2020-08-19T17:10:25","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T14:10:25","slug":"it-is-not-the-same-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/it-is-not-the-same-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be\/","title":{"rendered":"It Is Not The Same, But It Doesn\u2019t Have To Be"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"79037","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":49926,"related_cahpter":"550","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"The Second Temple will be different - and good thing, too\r\n\r\n","content":"

This chapter\u2019s narrative flows directly out of the narrative of the previous chapter: Haggai has encouraged the Jews to rebuild the Temple, and they have begun to do so. Whereas before they needed encouragement to start their labor, now they need encouragement to keep going, to persevere and keep up their strength.<\/span><\/p>\n

The concern Haggai sets out to address in this chapter is a very human and legitimate one. There seems to be a concern that this new Temple cannot match the old one (v.3). Since that is the building they are trying to replace, the original becomes the baseline. But how could the Second Temple compare to the first? The First Temple was built by King Solomon at the height of Israelite power and influence, while this Temple is being built by a ragtag people at the whim of the Persian king. The people feel defeated, knowing that no matter how hard they work and how much effort they put in, their labor can\u2019t be enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Haggai sets out to change the people\u2019s mindset. First, he reminds them again that God is with them (v.4): \u201cFor I am with you\u2014says the LORD of Hosts.\u201d They aren\u2019t in this alone, God has always been with them, and God will continue to support them. If you\u2019re feeling like your efforts are for naught, knowing that you have the unequivocal support of One for Whom you are working is certainly encouraging. This Temple may not be the same as the old one, but God is telling them that it doesn\u2019t have to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, the prophet explains that, while things may seem bleak right now, this House will pale in comparison to the original. God has big plans for it. The people are reminded that God\u2019s dominion over the universe covers the precious materials needed to beautify the Temple (v.8): \u201cSilver is Mine and gold is Mine\u2014says the LORD of Hosts.\u201d It may not seem it at that moment, but just because this Temple isn\u2019t as majestic as the previous one, doesn\u2019t mean it <\/span>can\u2019t<\/span><\/i> be. God assures the people that it is part of God\u2019s plan that (v.9) \u201cthe glory of this latter House shall be greater than that of the former one\u201d. Again, it is not the same as the first Temple, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. In fact, it will be even greater.<\/span><\/p>\n

The people are stuck thinking about the past, about what was. God wants the people to look forward to what can be. The prophet passes on this message (v.15): \u201cAnd now take thought, from this day backward\u201d, there was blight and loss and destruction. But (v.18) \u201ctake note, from this day forward\u201d, there will be abundance and growth and rebuilding. This Temple, this time, is not the same as the last Temple, last time. But it doesn\u2019t have to be. In fact it won\u2019t be, and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":79038,"id":79038,"title":"hag2-different","filename":"hag2-different.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/it-is-not-the-same-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be\/hag2-different\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"hag2-different","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":79037,"date":"2020-08-19 14:09:17","modified":"2020-08-19 14:10:15","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":3000,"height":1600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-300x160.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":160,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-768x410.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":410,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-1024x546.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":819,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1092,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-1200x640.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag2-different-788x420.jpg","home_baner-width":788,"home_baner-height":420}},"embedded_video":"","video_duration":"","show_fb_comments":true,"credit_media":""},"tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"It Is Not The Same, But It Doesn\u2019t Have To Be","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"The Second Temple will be different - 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