Kingdom Building
November 4, 2019
Scripture Reading: Haggai 1:15b-2:9
In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. Haggai 2:1-5
Darius the Great (Darius I Hystaspes), c. 550–486 BCE. This historically known Darius was the third Persian emperor, and an important figure for Jews in the early Persian period because of his role in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem*.
Do we remember who we are and from where we came? That is the question Haggai had for the Israelites. Following their exile to Babylon, the Israelites returned to their homeland to rebuild it. I have driven by what we call ghost towns in Oklahoma, long deserted, lifeless with buildings in various stages of decay. The Israelites were believed to be in Babylon for 70 years. It would be surprising if there were any adults left who were adults in Jerusalem before the exile. Children who survived the whole ordeal might have some memory of grand buildings but nothing like what they found on their return. Haggai apparently thought it would be helpful for the people to recall what they once were, enabling them to envision what they could become.
This is a very important scripture for the world today. We too are considering the question: Do we remember who we are and from where we came? Our question seeks a two-prong answer one related to who we are and from where we came as people of faith and as citizens of the USA. Many of our country’s founders came here seeking religious freedom. It was for that very reason that our Constitution’s first amendment provides that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
As we move into our upcoming election season, we would be wise to look back at our history and the hard fought rights established while we consider our future in faith and in governance.
Prayer: God open our minds to remember what is just and what is right. Amen.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_the_Mede#Historical_and_literary_background
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.