So, instead of writing a "forward" paragraph to explain, i'm going to just take you through my thought path as i read through these passages in Zephaniah and Haggai during the Breaking of Bread tonight because that seems like it will be alot less confusing.
So the first verse that grabbed me was Zephaniah 1:12, which says "I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil!'" And again in Zephaniah 2:1, they are referred to as a "nation without longing". As i typically find with these verses in which God is talking to Israel, they speak right to my heart. I am sometimes willing to admit my apathy of heart, but i rarely even recognize when i see Him as being impersonal, and/or myself as being immune. These people didn't think God would act in their lives in anyway, to bless or discipline them. I don't think i have to explain why this misconception is such a frightening mindset to find in oneself. This reminded me of a conversation i witnessed today between a boy and his father. They were "in conflict" over the boy's poor performance in school, and the boy asked his father why he couldn't just not fight with him. "Why don't you just let me fail? It's my life!" He exclaimed in frustration. To which his dad replied, "Because I love you too much to let learn to quit whenever you don't like it." While the son refused to accept this form of love, he did understand that he is not immune to it. I'm so glad that I am not immune to my Father's love, aren't you?
This next verse probably encapsulates the thought that captured my mind for the rest of this topic. Zephaniah 2:15 - "This is the exultant city which dwells securely, who says in her heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me.' How she has become a desolation, a resting place for beasts! Everyone who passes by her will hiss and wave his hand in contempt." Like i mentioned earlier, usually when God is talking to Israel in the old testament, or even to other nations, I see myself in them. This time though, I saw the United States. And that convicted me because i don't have a heart for this country. My compassion is ignited within me for reaching the lost all around the world, but i finally admitted to myself that i'd given up on this land. It's easy to do when the arrogance, flamboyance, and folly of our culture permeates every day of my life. But He put me here for a reason, didn't He? And i don't think it was just so i could afford to be more worried about how much data i can pay for on my phone than when my next meal might be.
Zephaniah 3:2 - "She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the Lord, she did not draw near to her God. "
Haggai 1:3-6 ~ "Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 'Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?' Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.'" In this passage, the Lord is rebuking the Jews for being complacent in their comfortable lifestyle, yet never satisfied, while His house is neglected. Today, while we could compare this to our lack of generousity in our tithing, i think there are far more telling examples that could be drawn. This house lies desolate when the extent of our relationship to the church is to walk in at 9:30 on Sunday mornings and out at 12:15ish. When we who are fully capable of growing and maturing in Christ do not seek ways to serve in the body as much as possible, and instead, become self-absorbed. This house lies desolate when we do not try to reach out to the unsaved around us, laying on the altar our pride, fear, and selfishness. This house lies desolate when our own hearts are too full of ourselves to let Jesus live in us. WE are the desolate houses that ought to be temples of worship.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Anne Marie, you were talking about your lack of love for the U.S. Now you're talking about the church! There's a HUGE difference! Bear with me. :)
Haggai 1:9-11 ~ "'You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?' declares the Lord of hosts, 'Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.'” Granted, Israel is different because the nation was founded as a theocracy, but i think the same principles can still apply. The Hebrews neglected God, so He showed them what it felt like to be without Him. I'm not saying that the apathy of the church is the reason why California is experiencing a drought, but wherever God's people live, and are living righteously, He blesses the land and the people around them. Even their captors, when they will allow His people to glorify Him, are blessed! And isn't that the way we christians kind of feel about the U.S.? As the Lord is dethroned law after law, we begin to see ourselves as prisoners, or victims at the very least. So we fight against those godless laws. And sure, that's one way to do it. But that's not the way God did it. He waited for His people to renew their love for Him before He would bless them in any way, even in government. Do you think, that if the church in America was on her knees in intercession, and on her feet in worshipful service, the Lord might change the hearts of our governors? Not as the goal, but as an added benefit? I don't know, maybe. Or maybe it would just increase persecution. But i know this: if we do not take advantage of our religious freedom to the glory of Christ, God has no reason not to take it away. I believe this country would see the blessings of the Lord if His people would return to Him in humility and zealous love. So let's stop pointing fingers at Democrats or Republicans, and instead examine ourselves. WE are the ones with unlimited power at our disposal, with an omnipotent Father Who listens to His children, not the speaker of the house or the president.
So what now? In the following verses, it says "the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet.... and showed reverence for the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people saying 'I am with you' declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit....of all the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts their God." Isn't that an incredible passage? All the people had to do was obey in reverence and the Lord encouraged them with His presence! Here are some more encouraging passages, in case i seriously depressed anyone. :P
Zephaniah 3:9 - "For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder."
Zephaniah 3:14-17 ~ "Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: 'Do not be afraid, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp'. The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."
Haggai 2:3-5, 8-9 ~ "‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts. ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’....The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts. ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts."
I had alot to say and I'm sorry about that, but I do feel that it all needed to be said in order for this to be a cohesive concept. And i'm sorry if anything was still unclear or if i said something offensive or wrong... let me know if this is the case! And offer further thoughts in the comments, please; i really appreciate your input. :)
