The Israelites fret about the state of the Temple, but Haggai assures them they do not need to live in worry. The Temple will be built and the resources for it will come. Haggai confirms that God indeed has some shaking up to do. Yet God’s shaking of the heavens and the earth and the sea and the land and the nations will bring splendor to the house of God, which will outshine the legacy of the glory in Solomon’s Temple. Haggai’s words call the people to carry on with the work and to trust in the promise of God’s provision along the way. The Temple will be rebuilt through their efforts; they can trust in this.

In September of 2017, Hurricane Maria hit the shores of Puerto Rico with devastating impact. The rebuilding efforts no doubt continue to this day. In rebuilding Puerto Rico, the people are rebuilding the infrastructure of their communities rather than a temple. Yet, these catastrophic events shake us in ways that remind us of our humanity as we observe the fragility of life and all that we build.

In times of crisis, we sometimes look for individuals who represent Christ’s love, a self-sacrificial love to the point of self-risk. As important as this is, we should also look for a body, the body of believers re-membering Christ and sharing with all the world the gifts of Christ’s love alive in them. When devastation strikes—and it will—Haggai reminds us that we are a people who join together to rebuild for the glory of God.