Be Strong and Work
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 50, “Holiness unto the Lord,” on Gospel Library
Start
Some of the oldest people in Jerusalem remembered Solomon’s temple. When they saw the foundation of the new one, they wept (Ezra 3:12).
Read Together
The new temple was much plainer than Solomon’s, and the ark of the covenant was gone. The Lord asked, “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now?” (Haggai 2:3).
4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: 5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
9The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
What It Teaches
The Lord said “be strong” three times in one verse, to the governor, to the high priest, and to “all ye people of the land” (Haggai 2:4). In the same verse he told them, “work: for I am with you.” Then he added, “fear ye not” (verse 5).
“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former” (verse 9). A plainer building would have the greater glory. Years later Jesus Christ walked in the courts of this same temple, taught there, and called it “my Father’s house” (John 2:13–16).
“And in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:9). The temple is still a place of peace. The work done there can look ordinary, and the Lord fills it with his glory.
Talk About It
The new temple seemed like nothing next to the old one, and the Lord said its glory would be greater. When has something that looked small turned out to matter a great deal?
Take to Church
The Lord told the discouraged builders to be strong and work, because he was with them. Jesus Christ later taught in that temple and filled it with glory.