Many of the Jews had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem eighteen years before Haggai's prophecies but still had not started to rebuild the temple. Instead, they had remodeled their own homes. Haggai prophesied that the people would be discontent and plagued by tragedies until they made rebuilding the Temple their top priority. So the people began to rebuild the Temple. From the day on which the foundation was laid, God blessed the people. Although the new Temple seemed like nothing compared to the old one, Haggai prophesied that the future glory of the Temple would be greater than its former glory.

Key word    REBUILD
 
Key verse    "Then the Lord stirred up the spirit of the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, so that they came and set to work on the house of the Lord. —1:14
 
Command verse    "Take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work!" —2:4
 
Promise verse    "Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the Lord of hosts; And in this place I will give you peace, says the Lord of hosts." —2:9
 
Difficult verse    "So is this people, and so is this nation in My sight, says the Lord: And so are all the works of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean." —2:14
 
Surprise verse    "One moment yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come in, and I will fill this house with glory." —2:6-7
 
Prayer: Father, may I have the zeal of St. Francis of Assisi for rebuilding Your Church.