I recently came across these words in a small calendar dated July 1942 that my grandfather sent to my father as Dad hastened to complete his college coursework early so he could begin serving in the Navy. While I feel shaken by world events today, I am humbled to remember the cataclysmic events that have uprooted this world in the past. What must Grandpa have been thinking as he wrote his note to his son on the July 2 page? He wrote, “Mighty words, these.”
The scripture passage is a slight re-phrasing of Haggai 2:6 which is written as encouragement for the Jewish people as they rebuilt the Temple following their 60-70 years of exile in Babylon. And the writer of Hebrews paraphrases it for an entirely different purpose; those things which can be shaken will be destroyed so that only the unshakable kingdom of God will remain. And these words from Hebrews, taken out of context by the 1942 calendar producer, seem to suggest that God creates havoc for a purpose. How far we have strayed from the original intent!
And yet, there is a thread of truth woven through the passages beginning with Haggai. In Haggai, the treasure of all nations shall come to fill the new Temple which will belong to the Lord; God promises prosperity to God's people. In Hebrews, the writer says that, in response to this shaking of earth and heaven, God's people should worship God with reverence and awe. Finally, the words of the 1942 calendar focus on the unshakability of what remains.
Earth and the heavens were shaken in Haiti last month. Has this swept away the rubble in the world's vision so that we can now begin to see clearly the work that must be done to build up God's Kingdom in the world, pouring out the treasure of all nations, so that all of God's people may have life and have it abundantly? I pray it is so.
Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us eyes to see Your kingdom standing firm and unshakable in the midst of chaos. Amen.
Charlotte Fischer
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