And in This Place I Will Grant Peace

“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace', declares the Lord Almighty.” ~Haggai 2:9

Let’s travel back to the 6th century BC. The temple of Solomon had been destroyed by Babylon (586 BC), the people, including Daniel, exiled. Babylon was conquered by Persia in 539 BC and God softened the king's heart to allow the Israelites to return to their homeland. They built an altar and laid the foundation for the temple, but work stopped for several years (Ezra 6).

This book takes place in 520 BC. God speaks through His prophet, Haggai and says, “Hey! You’re so worried about building your fancy little houses, but what about Me? Your ancestors were punished because they forgot about Me. Don’t make the same mistake!” For once, the people listened and built the temple - it was dedicated exactly 70 years after the first was destroyed, just like God said in Jeremiah 29:10.

But, guess who this passage in Haggai is REALLY talking about? Yes, the second temple, but it was a forecast of you and me in Christ! WE are the living stones; the temple of God Who removed the stony heart and replaced with a heart of flesh. Solomon’s temple was magnificent. The second temple was a underwhelming in comparison, but was also destroyed by Rome - the people, lead by legalism and law, rejected their Messiah. The Messiah Who brings peace in the hearts of all who believe in Him. We are part of His glory. We don’t see it now, but someday, we will.

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.
For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” ~Colossians 1:17-20

Have a blessed day!

Bonnie
Blessed Be Boutique

🅂🄰🅅🄴 our posts to view later!
🅂🄷🄰🅁🄴 our posts and stories!