GETTING IT RIGHT: PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST (2 OF 5)
by Tim Badal
Scripture: Haggai 1:1-2, Haggai 1:4-15
This content is part of a series.
Getting It Right: Putting First Things First (2 of 5)
Series: Consider Your Ways
Tim Badal
Haggai 1:1-15
Haggai takes place during a time that was not the best for the people of Israel. They had been taken away from their homes and all they knew in their homeland had been destroyed. They were carted off to the nation of Babylon-which is modern-day Iraq-where for two full generations, they endured captivity. For two generations they were part of the life and times of the Babylonian Empire. As I talked about last week, they were truly strangers in a strange land. God said all of this captivity-this slavery-was for one reason: to rebuke the people for their wandering hearts. They had pursued other gods and other things. God said, ‘‘If you want to live like the pagans then I’ll allow you to live amongst the pagans.’’ Because of that, they were part of this great captivity. Jeremiah was told the captivity would be over in seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12) and God-true to His Word-kept to that timeline. He brought in King Cyrus from Persia-which would be modern-day Iran-to take over the Babylonians. Moved by the Spirit of God, Cyrus was compelled to allow the Jews to return to their homeland for one purpose and intention: to rebuild their temple. God spoke to Cyrus and said, ‘‘I want My temple rebuilt.’’ Even though Cyrus was a pagan king, he heeded the prompting of God and allowed all the Israelites who wanted to return to their homeland to do so. They were allowed to be part of the restoration process of their nation beginning with the temple. Of the millions who were carted off to Babylon, 50,000 took Cyrus up on his offer. We learned there were only 50,000 who had a heart to go back and make the name of God and His dwelling a place of marvel once again. Cyrus-even though he was a pagan-raised funds to make sure the house of God was rebuilt. You can see where the 50,000 people come from-their tribes and areas-in Ezra 2. You can also see the amount of money tha ...
Series: Consider Your Ways
Tim Badal
Haggai 1:1-15
Haggai takes place during a time that was not the best for the people of Israel. They had been taken away from their homes and all they knew in their homeland had been destroyed. They were carted off to the nation of Babylon-which is modern-day Iraq-where for two full generations, they endured captivity. For two generations they were part of the life and times of the Babylonian Empire. As I talked about last week, they were truly strangers in a strange land. God said all of this captivity-this slavery-was for one reason: to rebuke the people for their wandering hearts. They had pursued other gods and other things. God said, ‘‘If you want to live like the pagans then I’ll allow you to live amongst the pagans.’’ Because of that, they were part of this great captivity. Jeremiah was told the captivity would be over in seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12) and God-true to His Word-kept to that timeline. He brought in King Cyrus from Persia-which would be modern-day Iran-to take over the Babylonians. Moved by the Spirit of God, Cyrus was compelled to allow the Jews to return to their homeland for one purpose and intention: to rebuild their temple. God spoke to Cyrus and said, ‘‘I want My temple rebuilt.’’ Even though Cyrus was a pagan king, he heeded the prompting of God and allowed all the Israelites who wanted to return to their homeland to do so. They were allowed to be part of the restoration process of their nation beginning with the temple. Of the millions who were carted off to Babylon, 50,000 took Cyrus up on his offer. We learned there were only 50,000 who had a heart to go back and make the name of God and His dwelling a place of marvel once again. Cyrus-even though he was a pagan-raised funds to make sure the house of God was rebuilt. You can see where the 50,000 people come from-their tribes and areas-in Ezra 2. You can also see the amount of money tha ...
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