The Lord Almighty speaks (vs 4,6,7,8,9), addressing the political and religious dignitaries, and his beleaguered people (v 2). With a voice that shakes ‘all nations’ (v 7), he addresses their disillusionment (vs 3–5). We have similar concerns. If God is God Almighty, why isn’t there more obvious evidence of his presence and power? Why is the church so weak and disjointed? God’s people recalled better days, when Solomon’s magnificent Temple was central to their worship (1 Kings 5–8). That was a sign of God’s greatness (2 Chronicles 2:5). What remains is nothing special (v 3). 

Do you feel like that – stories of the past, seeming to outshine our meagre experience? ‘Be strong,’ says the Lord (v 4). How? Trust his commitment to his promises. Be reassured that he is with us (v 5). That means fixing our eyes afresh on Jesus, recalling all he is and has done (Hebrews 12:2). Refuse to gauge success by the usual means – size, glamour, power, profit. Rather, discern ‘glory’ in the ‘treasures of all the nations’ (v 7, NLT) being brought to the Temple (vs 6–9). Witness its fulfilment in peoples of every culture and language who come to acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

Do you share Paul’s amazement that God ‘is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’ through his power working in us?¹

‘Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God’ said William Carey, the Baptist pioneer missionary. It’s a good maxim, but our expectations need to have a sound basis. Some weeks after beginning work on the ruined Temple, the people were becoming despondent. The reason is indicated in verse 3. They were expecting to recreate Solomon’s great Temple. Only a few of them would have seen it, but all would have heard their parents describe its magnificence. Now they began to realise that they lacked the material resources – and probably the skills – to recreate it. However, that was not what God had asked them to do. What they needed as soon as possible was a functional place of worship where they could meet with God. So God sent them a second encouraging message calling them to be strong and get on with the work, relying on God’s presence with them. The words in verse 5 are reminiscent of Exodus 29:45 and 46, reminding them that God was with the Israelites in the wilderness when all they had was a moveable tent. Setting ourselves unrealistic targets that God does not require is the way to despondency and disappointment.

However, God does go on to remind them that although their resources are limited, his are not. The Hebrew word translated ‘the desired’ (v 7) is better translated as ‘the desirable things/treasures’.² It’s a promise that God will provide material resources to beautify the Temple. In the short term he did this by moving Darius to allot a portion of the local tax revenues to support the upkeep of the Temple.³ Five hundred years later, Herod the Great used his wealth to make the Temple one of the most magnificent buildings in the Mediterranean world.⁴ God’s timescale differs from ours.

Lord, help me to discern and follow your targets, not my own, trusting your promise that you will meet my needs according to your glorious riches in Christ Jesus.⁵

¹ Eph 3:20,21  ² See eg ESV, GNB, NRSV  ³ Ezra 6:8–12  ⁴ Mark 13:1; John 2:20  ⁵ Phil 4:19