First, I want to say that I’m excited for 2022. I’m excited because that is a year we will be studying the Old Testament in all of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know this year is only hlfway over but I’m looking forward to having a deeper understanding of the Old Testament.
This morning I was reading Haggai 1. I’m reading there because this week in my study along with Inklings Institute we were talking about the temple and Haggai 1 and 2 talks about the temple in around 500 B.C.
Now the beginning of the chapter is sort of a chastising of the people. The people are so busy working and eating and drinking and earning money but they aren’t satisfied with what they have – See Haggai1:6. verses 5 and 7 both say the same thing like a little frame around verse 6. Consider Your Ways. The fact that that is repeated so closely together makes it important.
The Lord wants the people to go up the mountain and build a new temple. He knows that if the people do this it will be a sacrifice for them to give up all of the things that they are doing in their lives but the blessings that come will be great.
Now, here’s how I see it and I may be a little off but I’ll get back to you if I find out something different.
In verse 1 it says that Haggai begins by speaking to 2 men, Zerubbabel and Jashua. Both of these men are sons of leaders. One of them is the governor of Judah and the other is the high priest. So that means that these sons will be people that are also trusted as leaders because of who their fathers are. So he starts with them. Then they all go and speak to the people about what God wants them to do. And they obey the voice of the Lord.
One thing I thought about when I thought about who all of these people where was how that relates to people in my life and how do I react when they come to me telling me that God wants me to do something. Of course Haggai is the prophet – President Nelson is the prophet on the earth today. Maybe the son of the Governor is our Stake President. And maybe the son of the High priest is The Bishop of Relief Society President or the Elders Quorum President. Those are all people who might give us assignments or callings in our lives. They might come to us and say that they have prayed a lot and they are sure that the Lord wants us to serve in one way or another. Maybe in a teaching position or maybe as a ministering brother or sister or maybe as a leader or support to a leader. How do we react?
In the chapter we are reading, after they desire to be obedient then the Lord says to them through His prophet, “I am with you.” So if we liken this story unto ourselves we will know that as soon as we accept that assignment or calling the Lord will be with us helping us to carry out the tasks.
And this is the verse that I loved this morning:
14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
The Lord Stirred Up Their Spirits
Tell me, when was the last time you felt your spirit stirred up? What does that mean to you? When you felt that stirring what did you do? Do you know what it feels like to have your spirit stirred up? If not, you should definitley ask God to do it for you so you can feel it.
I have felt this stirring often. Sometimes it is after I accept a calling and sometimes it is after I hear a talk in church or in general conference and sometimes it is when I am reading the scriptures and one particular vers jumps out at me. With talks and scriptures though, for me, I find it is important for me to be taking notes and writing things while I am listening or studying. The ideas and thoughts that come to me at those times can be fleeting if I don’t write them down. But I have seen that if I write them the most important ones stay with me even if I don;t go back right away to review them. I definitely think that we all need to find out own wayt o hold onto those bits of inspiration and revelation that come when we are in a situation where the spirit is.
I wonder if it would be ok to carry a bit of paper and a pencil in my pocket when I’m in the temple….
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
Always Choose Charity 