After a month’s building work there was the danger that initial enthusiasm would be replaced by discouragement. The initial part would be very difficult given the large amount of rubble left from the old temple.

Discouragement also came as people compared what was soing up with what was before. Haggai in v3 is probably echoing what the people were Saying. Can you think of examples of how reminders to past slories or the glories In other churches can discourage those in the present work?

We need to be wise in how we view and use the past and other churches.

It is not our job to know how everything will work out, it is our job to be strong, to be faithful and to persevere in the work (v4).

These words echo not only what was said to the other Joshua as he entered the Promised Land (Joshua 1 v6-9), but also what was said to Solomon when he was building the temple (1 Chronicles 28 v20).

It is a comfort to know when we need encouragement that other great men in the past also needed encouragement. The devil wants to discourage because discouragement makes us weak and even bitter. Read v4 again and thank God for these words.