Haggai 2

As I lay in bed early this morning, in that twilight zone right before awakening, I am having a conversation with my God. In it I mention that one of the things that I am looking forward to most in heaven is "Peace. No more depression, no more sorrow, no more injustice, no more lack, no more war. Haggai is where He led me to read when I woke up. We are refined in the furnace of affliction. IN Him we are safe and protected.
While we are here on earth we must work to build up the Body of Christ.
To God be all the glory!

2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the Lord; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the Lord, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the Lord of hosts. 5 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!'

6 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts. 9 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the Lord of hosts."

15 'And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord— 16 since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,' says the Lord. 18 'Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid—consider it: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit.
But from this day I will bless you.' "

The NKJV Study Bible says this: By our calendar this would be October 17, 520 b.c. In the ancient Jewish calendar this day was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles or Succoth. During this holiday the people of Israel lived in booths, or temporary shelters, commemorating their departure from Egypt when they lived in temporary shelters in the wilderness. Haggai was called again to address the leaders Zerubbabel and Joshua and the true people of God. The Lord's words to the people were the same as His great words to Moses. The words of this verse draw a comparison between the events of this period and the events of the first Exodus. God brought the people back from Babylon as He had brought them back from Egypt. God would be present with them. Finally, the mission in the Promised Land was the same, to build a place for the true worship of God. The same covenant that related the people to God in their departure from Egypt bound them still. The events surrounding the decline of the nation and the people's captivity in Babylon had not rescinded the covenant relationship that insured God's presence with His people. The purpose of the day of the Lord is to prepare the earth for the glorious reign of Jesus Christ on earth. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the gold in all coffers, and the wealth of all nations. Peace includes good health, well-being, and an abundant life. The term speaks of everything being as it ought to be. The twenty-fourth day of the ninth month corresponds to December 18. Despite God's acts of withholding His blessing, the people still had not turned fully back to Him. God determined to bring His blessing on His people, but He demanded that they recognize Him as the source of their great productivity. Even though the people had been told they were still unclean in God's eyes, their leader Zerubbabel was encouraged to guide them through those spiritually trying times.