(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Focus Question:
What’s the meaning of rebuilding the temple?
Intro:
It has been a looong time since I’ve had a program that went 25 minutes, but that’s exactly what happened yesterday. I decided that the topic of ‘What is the gospel?’ was worth the time. And even if you listen primarily to hear a Bible read through (and thank you, BTW), that’s an important one to catch.
One other fun fact I didn’t have time to sneak in yesterday…remember how Ezra began with some actual quotations of the letter that King Cyrus wrote? Well, I saw a piece of that in the British Museum last year. Pretty cool. So if you like the history thing, I’ve put a link in today’s show notes to a 15-minute mini-documentary about that. As you might expect, letters about 2600 years ago weren’t what they are today…and Cyrus’ was a clay cylinder. Check it out at forthehope.org and find #1263.
NEW TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
As we get into our NT segment, you’ll recall that Galatians kicked off right away with a rebuke about how there’s only one gospel and that, crazy enough, even if an angel or Paul told ‘em otherwise, they shouldn’t believe it. And those first couple chapters were indirect appeals, including a defense of Paul’s apostolic authority and how even Peter was an idiot sometimes. Why? Grace is by faith alone. Today Paul reminds the Galatians of their own conversion, then interestingly lays out the gospel from what we know of as the OT, the experience of Abraham and the texts of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Habakkuk. Finally, we’ll hear him use an example or argument from human law.
Passage: Galatians 3:1-18
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 18
Words: ~375
Ok, so that was admittedly brief, but it’s because I needed the room to do what we’re going to do today in the OT.
OLD TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
Today, and for the next number of days we’re doing things more chronologically. I trust it’ll sound less weird than it sounds as we read Ezra 3-4 (of the 6), then the short book of the prophet Haggai, then the first chapter of Zechariah. And over the next few days we’ll finish Zechariah before coming back to finish Ezra.
So for Ezra, remember that
The Lord inspired Cyrus to permit the return of the Jews to worship their God…(and) Those who volunteered for the first expedition are listed.(1)
Passage: Ezra 3-4
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 37
Words: ~910
So…
The foundation…was laid,.. the people worshiped God… But opposition from their enemies stopped the work… (But now) The Lord…(stirs)… up the people by the prophets Zechariah and Haggai…(1)
Passage: Haggai
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 38
Words: ~1083
Got that?
Haggai rebuked the people for living in “paneled houses” while the house of God remained in ruins (1:4). He warned that, despite their best efforts, their wealth would never suffice, because the Lord was not pleased with their neglect of his temple… He called them to repent and renew their covenant with the God of their fathers. He assured them that God would achieve his purposes for his people and for all other nations. (Interestingly) The rebuilding of the temple symbolized God’s restored presence among his people.(2)
…which, as is appropriate to remember during Advent, is the promise of Emmanuel…God with us. And…
As Haggai encouraged the returned Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple, Zechariah encouraged them to repent and renew their covenant with God. Such spiritual renewal would be necessary for the people to be ready to worship God once the temple was rebuilt…(3)
Worth noting here is that you’ll hear the text quickly move to some visions. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow.
Passage: Zechariah 1:1-6
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 6
Words: ~172
The bottom line:
NOTE: We don’t get to this in this podcast, I DO cover it in tomorrow’s.
What’s the meaning of rebuilding the temple?
Several reasons can be given for the significance of the temple’s being rebuilt.
First, it was a sign of the people’s priorities.
Second, it showed that God was with the remnant and that His promises of restoration had begun to be fulfilled.
Third, it declared God’s glory and thus brought Him pleasure.
Fourth, it served to vindicate the Lord since the temple’s destruction had disgraced the Lord’s name (Ezek. 11:23; 37:26–27).
Fifth, it served as a pledge of the new covenant and the messianic age (Ezek. 37:26; Isa. 2:2–4; 44:28; 52:1–7; Mic. 4:1–4; Mal. 3:1). The restoration of the temple was a sign that God had revoked neither His covenant with Levi nor His covenant with David (see Jer. 33:17–22; Num. 25:11–13; Mal. 2:4). He will provide cleansing and restoration through a glorious temple and a messianic ruler.
As one scholar explains, “They are not just building a material edifice; they are participating in the building and establishment of the kingdom of Yahweh in which the promised Messiah is to reign in glory forever.” (4)
Why is this a big deal? Because when you live for the glory of God right here and now, you’re doing the same thing. Remember, YOU are now the temple.
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 288–289.
(2) The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Hag.
(3) The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Zec.
(4) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 494.