By Paul Niehoff (Australia)
It can be instructive for us to examine the events regarding the establishment of the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the building of the First and Second Temples. To see the people’s attitudes and understand the response from God in each case. In the case of the building of the Tabernacle and the First Temple, these are defined in the Scriptures as the Work of God. And we will see when we examine the situation around the building of the Second Temple, that this was also commanded by God and so would be considered the Work of God.
When the Tabernacle was being constructed, we read that, “…everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments” (compare Exodus 35:21). In fact, we read later that they brought more than enough and had to be restrained from bringing any more offerings.
How did God respond to this? In the New Testament, we read that God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Corinthians 9:7), and these people were obviously cheerful givers. And not just in objects, but those who had the talent, in weaving fine yarn and fabrics.
Next, with the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the various leaders and people also brought the offerings needed to build and furnish the Temple. And again we read: “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly” (compare 1 Chronicles 29:9). Again, God loves a cheerful giver.
However, the Jews who returned from Babylon did not have the same attitude. At least not early on. King Cyrus had provided a permit to build the Second Temple, as we read in 2 Chronicles 36:23, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!” Since this was according to God’s command, it is considered His Work.
In the first chapter of the book of Ezra, King Cyrus encouraged those who chose not to go to Jerusalem to provide gold and silver, goods and livestock for the construction of the Temple. King Cyrus himself provided the implements that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Solomon’s Temple, to be used in the new Temple as a part of its service.
The Jews who had left the comforts of Babylon came to Jerusalem, a city that had been destroyed, with the object of building the Second Temple of God. But they were soon distracted from the project, as we read in Haggai 1:2, remarking on what Haggai, the LORD’s prophet and messenger, said to the leaders, “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.”’”
They were more concerned about building their own homes and paneling them with fine timbers before doing the Work of God. God made the powerful statement twice for emphasis in verses 5 and 7: “Consider your ways!” Then He reminded them that they were not being blessed. They did not have enough to eat or drink or clothe themselves adequately. Also, their income seemed to disappear from a bag with holes. This reminds us of Christ’s words in Matthew 6:31, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” Because God was aware of their needs and would provide them. These three things the people lacked in Jerusalem.
So, under the strong leadership of Haggai, Zerubbabel and Joshua, the people repented and began building the Temple. And from the day they laid the foundation, God began to bless them and told them twice again to consider how God was blessing them (compare Haggai 2:18-19). When they were not doing God’s Work, they were told to consider why God was actually against them, but when they began doing God’s Work, they were to consider that God was blessing them from then on.
This is all interesting reading, but does it have anything to concern us today? Romans 15:4 informs us, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 also reinforces this, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
While these examples might not have been expressly about the building of the Temples, the principle still applies to us. We can learn from the interaction between God and His people in their good times and their bad times.
The actual meaning of “consider” is to think about something carefully and deliberately, often before making a decision, judgement or taking action. It is used over a hundred times in the Bible. We should consider that we have been called to do God’s Work and when we do it, we thereby receive God’s blessing. In the three examples mentioned previously of building the Tabernacle and the two Temples, we see that the people were blessed when they did God’s Work willingly, but when they refused, they were cursed until they repented.
In our case, we are called to do God’s Work although it is not to build a physical building but a spiritual temple, and to assist in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We do this by means of our prayers and tithes and offerings. We remember that in the book of Malachi, God condemned the people for robbing Him in tithes and offerings, but also for some other problems they had.
Our task is not only assisting in the preaching of the Gospel. We also have the responsibility to be examples by means of the way we live. We are informed in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
So, we must also consider our ways, not only in assisting in the preaching of the Gospel, but in the way we represent the Family of God by our actions. Do we do it joyfully and willingly, thereby pleasing God? Actually, the term “consider your ways” does not occur as such in the New Testament, but a similar term is used, especially being brought to our attention before Passover. That term is, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith” (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). Are we living a Way of Life that is pleasing to God, or not? If not, then we should repent as the people did in the days of Haggai, and do God’s Work as we have been called to perform it.