A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice: “Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” Job 4:15-17.

Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16.

In our Friday Zoom Retreat, we did what for some of us was a new spiritual discipline: A Prayer of Blessing. We each of us waited in silence for a blessing we shared that we received to give to that person we were given to pray for, and it continued quietly until each received. And it wasn’t just the two people or our group of seven; it was the Holy Spirit guiding us. And in so many ways, this final chapter of this book, Haggai 2, was just like that. A prayer of blessing that always originates in Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. I loved in the notes below: “2:1-9 This is Haggai’s second message. It was given during the Festival of Tabernacles in October, 520 B.C. The older people could remember the incredible beauty of Solomon’s temple, destroyed 66 years earlier. Many were discouraged because the rebuilt temple was inferior to Solomon’s. But Haggai encouraged them with God’s message that the glory of this temple would surpass that of its predecessor. The most important part of the temple is God’s presence. Some 500 years later, Jesus Christ would walk in the temple courts.”

In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’” v. 1-5. Can we try to imagine this new thing God is doing? Every step that unfolds is new and yet every step He takes with us. “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” v. 6-9. Can we see it is the presence of Creator God that brings His glory and our peace? And then God asks through Haggai 2 questions of the people: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’” The priests answered, “No.” Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?” “Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.” Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in My sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled. Now give careful thought to this from this day on – consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple.’” v. 11-15. God reminds them of the lack they experienced without Him being first in their lives, v. 16-19. And He gives this promise: “‘Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.’” v. 19. And then God’s message to Zerubbabel: “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. ‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, My servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” v. 21-23.

We can get so lost in the “weeds” of trying to fit the timing of events then and now in our own understanding. Sometimes there are those who need that affirmation, as did Zerubbabel at that time, that they were chosen by God for a special purpose He would strengthen them to do. Wars would still come. Uncertainty would still dominate. Remember only Creator God is Holy. Only Creator God is pure. Just as the Lord Almighty told the people what would be and would yet occur in its time then…so Jesus, the Son, told us before He left to encourage them and us: “You have heard Me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would be glad that I am going to My Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over Me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what My Father has commanded Me.” John 14:28-31. The prayer of blessing is our nearness with Creator God, Father…Son…Spirit…and we honor His love by loving Him and one another and by trusting Him for all things because all things are held by Him for our good in Him. The Son loves the Father and the Spirit, just as the Father loves the Son and the Spirit, just as the Spirit loves the Father and the Son, and blessing of blessings…we are loved by them! Jesus told them during His time living among us that God was His Father…so personal; His Father was not a god far away in the heavens whose name could not be spoken. He wants us to know and love our Father that way! Can we try to imagine this new thing that was before the creation of the world? For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-15. The most important part of anything…is Creator God’s Presence. That truly is our Prayer of Blessing.