When we see nothing

'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? 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. 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' – Haggai 2v3-5

So the Temple was built. One would think that this was a time of great celebration after fourteen years of waiting. But Ezra records the day for us.


And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off. – Ezra 3v11-13

The young people were excited about what was done. They were shouting for joy. The old people who could remember Solomon’s temple and all of its glory were crying because this temple was like nothing compared to the old one.

There are times in our lives when we feel like we are looking at nothing. Things don’t go our way. It looks like we are just spinning our wheels. We can wonder if we are doing any good. It just doesn’t seem like the good old days.

But God had a word of encouragement for them and for us. ‘Be strong, I am with you, and I am going to do all that I said I am going to do.’

God is not bound by the size or the splendour of the temple. He is not bound by the size or the splendour of our ministries. God can do His work even when we can’t see how He is going to do it.

Praise God that He can work even when we see nothing.