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Solomon’s temple
- Circumstances around Solomon building glorious temple
- Glory of the temple was immaculate. Entire temple is overlaid in gold.
- Babylon destruction of the temple in 2 Chronicles 36:14-19
Captivity by Babylon
- 2 Chronicles 36:20-23
- 70 years of captivity
Spirit of God moves on men to rebuild the temple
- God sends Haggai and Zechariah to rebuild the house the LORD (Ezra 5:1-2).
- Haggai 1:1 (Consider your ways… build your own houses but won’t build God’s house), then Zechariah 1:1 then Ezra 3:8-11
A less glorious foundation
- Circumstances around captivity temple are much more distressing than Solomon’s temple. People are facing enemies while they build and access to materials isn’t what it was in Solomon’s day.
- Many of the older generation sees the foundation laid and instead of rejoicing they’re grieved, Ezra 3:12. They compare the former days to the current days.
The Lord corrects the naysayers
- His corrects the older generation for comparing His work in one generation to His work in another generation in Zechariah 4:8-10. You might think he’s talking about the enemies despising the Jews building the temple, but that can’t be. The same people who despise the small things are the one’s who will rejoice in completion of the temple. See Haggai 2:1-5 for further explanation.
- Back in the old days we’d have 3 week revivals! Your circumstances aren’t our circumstances.
- Back in our day we’d have people at the altar every Sunday. Then why did you stop coming to the altar?
- The measurement is not how big the work is, how expensive the work is, how beautiful the work is, the measurement is whether God is in the work or not! Look at Zechariah 4:6.
- The LORD explains, didn’t I send these men? Didn’t I inspire this building?
- Who are you to compare my work now with my work in the past?
- Do you know what matters? Whether or not the work is of God or not! If it’s of God it’s a good work. If it’s not, it will prove to be vanity.
- It is God’s presence that makes the difference.
- Let’s make an application here. This is not to be rude or mean, but we don’t need 300 or 400 people in this church. We need the Lord Jesus Christ to be in this church!
- You say, who am I? What can I do for the LORD? The LORD asks, who hath despised the day of small things? If the LORD is in it, there is no small work.