Rebuilding the Temple

Empowered by the Spirit

God’s Call, Spirit, and Purpose

Not by Might, Nor by Power

Zechariah’s Vision and Our Mission

Zechariah’s Encouragement for Discouraged Builders

 

The Book of Zechariah unfolds during a time of profound discouragement. The Jews had returned from Babylonian exile, but their hope of a restored Temple—a symbol of God’s presence — remained unfulfilled. They faced opposition, exhaustion, and fear. Yet, through Zechariah, God spoke hope and encouragement, calling His people to rebuild the Temple. This wasn’t just about bricks and mortar; it was a significant moment in God’s redemptive plan.

Zechariah’s message is not only for ancient Israel it speaks to all believers. Like the Israelites, we are called to build God’s kingdom in a world full of challenges. To fulfill this calling, we must rely on the Spirit of God. As Zechariah 4:6 proclaims:

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Zechariah’s Call to Rebuild

Alexander Maclaren beautifully observed, “Every stone laid on the Temple was a prophecy. Every blow of the hammer on the unfinished building rang with the promise of a better covenant.” This reconstruction signified far more than the physical rebuilding of a structure—it was a profound act of spiritual renewal, reminding the people that God’s purposes surpass human understanding.

Zechariah’s call to rebuild wasn’t merely about restoring a physical temple; it was a summons to rekindle faith, renew obedience, and restore hope. The Temple, as a symbol of God’s presence, declared that God had not forsaken His people, even after the exile. Undertaking this work was an act of trust, requiring perseverance amidst opposition and discouragement. Yet Zechariah’s visions reassured the people that the task was ultimately God’s mission, carried out through their obedience.

Rebuilding God’s work has never been easy, but it is always sustained by His power. Matthew Henry noted, “God’s work shall go forward, and His interests be preserved, in spite of all opposition, and the unbelief of those who should be forwarding it.” The rebuilding of the Temple was a pivotal step in God’s unfolding plan, pointing ahead to Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

As David Guzik explains, “God’s plans are bigger than our setbacks, and His purposes extend beyond what we see.” Each stone placed in the Temple bore witness to God’s faithfulness and His promise to dwell among His people. Ultimately, the Temple’s rebuilding foreshadowed the coming of Christ, who would fulfill the law and establish a new covenant. Today, this call reminds us that even our smallest acts of obedience are part of God’s grand, eternal plan.

The Spirit’s Empowerment

The rebuilding of the Temple was entirely dependent on the power of God’s Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 captures this truth: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,” shifting the focus from human capability to divine strength. This verse underscores that God’s work is accomplished not through human ingenuity or resources, but through His Spirit. As Eugene Peterson insightfully noted, “Zechariah redirects the weary builders’ vision from their own weakness to the infinite power of God’s Spirit.” That same power, available to all who trust in Him, remains just as relevant today.

Charles Spurgeon observed, “The Spirit of God can work mightily where all human effort fails. If we are to see the glory of God in our time, it must be by the Spirit of the Lord.” It is precisely in moments of limitation and weakness that God’s Spirit displays His power most clearly. The Israelites, faced with opposition and discouragement, found strength and perseverance in the Spirit, just as we must rely on Him in advancing God’s kingdom.

Derek Prince explained that the Spirit does more than empower; He brings clarity, guidance, and alignment with God’s purposes. Whether we are proclaiming the gospel, leading a ministry, or walking faithfully in daily life, it is the Holy Spirit who equips, sustains, and strengthens us for the task. Without Him, we would falter in the face of challenges or lose sight of God’s mission.

The Spirit’s empowerment remains as vital for us as it was for the Israelites. God’s work cannot be accomplished by human effort alone, but through the Spirit’s unceasing presence and power, we are equipped to persevere and bring glory to His name.

God Protects His Builders

Zechariah’s message to the Israelites emphasized not only God’s call to rebuild but also His promise of protection for those engaged in His work. In Zechariah 2:5, the Lord proclaims, “I will be to her a wall of fire all around…and I will be the glory in her midst.” This vivid imagery reassured the people that God’s presence would guard them from harm and that He would dwell among them, bringing divine protection and peace. This promise gave them the courage to persevere despite external opposition and internal doubts.

N.T. Wright insightfully observes, “God’s protection is not a distant shield but an active presence that surrounds and sustains His people.” This assurance reminded the Israelites—and reminds us—that God’s care is personal and dynamic. His presence is both our defense against external threats and the source of inward strength.

John Calvin reinforced this truth by highlighting God’s sovereignty: “God holds the reins of the whole world in His hands, and He overrules all opposition to the building of His kingdom.” God’s ultimate authority guarantees the success of His purposes, no matter the challenges faced by His people.

This divine assurance is a powerful encouragement for us today. Whether we are confronting personal trials or opposition in advancing God’s kingdom, we can trust in His unshakable protection. He not only guards His work but ensures that His glory will shine through it.

Building for the Future

The rebuilding of the Temple was about far more than restoring a physical structure—it was a pivotal step in God’s unfolding plan of redemption, culminating in the coming of Christ. Every stone placed symbolized a larger story of salvation, as Derek Prince observed: “Zechariah’s visions are glimpses into God’s grand design, showing that even our seemingly small acts of obedience are part of an eternal story.” The Israelites’ labor was not merely for their generation; it pointed forward to the ultimate Temple, Jesus Christ, through whom God’s presence would dwell with humanity.

Patrick Miller expands on this, emphasizing, “To rebuild is to participate in God’s unfolding drama, where our faithfulness today paves the way for His glory tomorrow.” Their obedience to God’s call served as an act of faith that reverberated through history, paving the way for God’s greater work. This is true for us as well—our faithful efforts in service to God may seem small, but they carry eternal significance.

Rick Warren reminds us, “What we build for God will outlast us if it is done in obedience and reliance on Him.” When we labor for God, guided by His Spirit, we become part of a work that transcends time. Just as the Israelites’ rebuilding effort prepared the way for Christ, our faithful service today lays the foundation for God’s kingdom work in the future.

A Call to Us Today

Zechariah’s message is timeless, reminding believers that God’s call to rebuild is not confined to the past but continues in our lives today. The work of rebuilding is as much spiritual as it is physical. Henri Nouwen insightfully wrote, “Spiritual building begins with surrender. It is the Spirit of God who forms the house of God within us and through us.” This surrender involves yielding our plans, ambitions, and fears to God, trusting Him to work through us as we labor for His kingdom.

Dallas Willard further expands this idea, stating, “The true Temple is not found in a place but in a people—a people who are yielded to the Spirit and devoted to the mission of God.” As believers, we are now the living stones of God’s spiritual temple (1 Peter 2:5), called to reflect His presence in our lives and communities.

This call requires faithfulness, humility, and a commitment to God’s purposes. Each act of service, however small, becomes part of the greater story of God’s redemption. Just as the Israelites rebuilt the physical Temple in obedience, we are called to build God’s kingdom by proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and living as His faithful witnesses. Through surrender and reliance on the Holy Spirit, we become active participants in God’s ongoing mission to renew and restore the world.

Key Lessons for Today

1. Faith Over Fear: Trust that God is with you in the work He calls you to do (Zechariah 2:5).

2. Empowerment by the Spirit: Rely on God’s Spirit, not your own strength (Zechariah 4:6).

3. Eternal Perspective: Remember that our work for God is part of His eternal plan (Zechariah 8:9-13).

Building God’s Kingdom Together

Zechariah’s encouragement to rebuild the Temple points us to a larger truth: God calls His people to participate in His redemptive plan. We may face opposition, discouragement, and exhaustion, but the Spirit of God equips us with strength, protection, and vision. Let us rebuild with courage and trust, knowing that the work we do for Him will endure.

A Prayer for Rebuilding

Lord,

Thank You for calling us to be part of Your redemptive work. When we feel discouraged, remind us that Your Spirit empowers us. Help us to rely not on our strength but on Your might. Protect us as we labor for Your glory, and give us a vision of the eternal purposes You are unfolding. May our work bring honor to Your name and hope to the world. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

How Language Leads Us to God

Beyond Words 

The Power of Language to Point Beyond

 Reflections on C.S. Lewis and the Language of Faith

In his essay The Language of Religion, C.S. Lewis delves into the remarkable capacity of language—especially poetic language—to stretch beyond the confines of our direct experience. His observation is simple, yet profound: language, though rooted in the ordinary, has the ability to point us toward the extraordinary. Lewis describes this process using a compelling metaphor. Just as roads on a map lead us to a destination that may lie beyond its visible boundaries, so too can words lead us toward experiences and realities we may not yet have, or may never fully grasp.

Lewis highlights the example of Wordsworth’s phrase "the visionary dreariness" from Prelude XIII, often titled "Imagination and Taste, How Impaired and Restored. In this part of the poem, Wordsworth is describing the aftermath of an intense, revelatory experience during a visit to the Alps. He reflects on how the grandeur of nature can at times lead to feelings of both awe and melancholy, creating a sense of “visionary dreariness.” Though many of us have not shared that particular experience of desolation, we nonetheless catch an inkling of its emotional weight. Through the power of language, we can connect to an experience beyond our own, sensing its depth and mystery.

This insight does not apply only to poetry—it extends to how we understand faith, spirituality, and the language of Scripture. So much of our walk with God involves mysteries beyond human comprehension. We speak of concepts like eternity, divine love, the nature of God, and the kingdom of heaven, all of which lie far beyond our human capacity to fully experience or explain. But, through metaphors and symbols, Scripture offers us glimpses of these realities. The Bible uses everyday objects and concepts—light, bread, water, wind—to communicate truths about God that are, by nature, beyond our full understanding. These words, like the roads on a map, point us toward something greater: a divine reality that transcends human experience.

The Limits and Strength of Human Language

One of the great paradoxes of language is that while it is limited, it can still be a powerful tool for accessing the infinite. Lewis knew this tension well. In the same way that poetry can evoke feelings we have not personally experienced, so too can religious language evoke in us a sense of awe and wonder for things we cannot yet fully comprehend. When Scripture speaks of God as a "Father," "shepherd," or "light," we are not confined by the literal meanings of these terms. Instead, they serve as starting points, leading us toward deeper, more mysterious truths about God’s character.

It is through these metaphors and descriptions that we begin to understand, even if only in part, the grandeur and love of God. Just as Lewis described, the roads on the map point us toward a destination we cannot yet see. Similarly, faith's language leads us toward an encounter with God, whose depths surpass our current knowledge but who invites us into His mystery nonetheless.

Faith as an Invitation to Journey

In many ways, this is what faith is—a journey toward a reality that we cannot yet fully see but can sense through the glimpses God provides. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul writes, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” We live in this tension of the "now" and the "not yet." While we cannot yet fully comprehend the realities of heaven, God’s love, or the future glory He has prepared for us, Scripture and faith offer us signposts that lead us there. 

Language, in this sense, becomes a tool not only for description but for transformation. When we speak of God's mercy, grace, and love, we are not merely describing concepts—we are pointing to the very character of God, inviting others and ourselves to step into a relationship with Him. This is the role of spiritual language, just as Lewis described: it points beyond itself, using the familiar to lead us into the unfamiliar, the known to hint at the unknown.

Living in the Mystery of God

Understanding this power of language calls us to live in the tension of mystery and revelation. We do not have to have all the answers to journey toward God. Instead, we trust in the glimpses He gives us—through Scripture, through nature, through moments of grace. We trust that even though we may not yet fully understand God’s ways, the language of faith is a gift that draws us deeper into His presence.

As we reflect on this, it’s helpful to remember that while language can point beyond itself, our ultimate hope is not in words but in the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, is the perfect revelation of the Father. He is the one toward whom all the roads of Scripture point, the living embodiment of the mysteries we seek to understand. 

Just as poetic language gives us an inkling of experiences we may never have, the language of faith gives us an inkling of divine realities we will one day fully experience in God's presence. Our hope, then, is in the day when we will no longer see through a glass darkly, but will behold Him face to face. Until then, we journey, guided by the signposts of language, toward the eternal reality of God's kingdom. 

From Metaphor to Mystery

C.S. Lewis reminds us that language, even in its limitations, has the power to open up new worlds for us. Whether through poetry or Scripture, words can lead us toward experiences beyond our own, inviting us into deeper reflections and mysteries. In the life of faith, language becomes a tool not only for communication but for revelation, offering glimpses of the divine reality toward which we journey. 

May we continue to embrace the mystery, trusting in the glimpses God gives us and allowing the language of faith to draw us ever closer to Him.

Soli Deo Gloria

Blurred Vision

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be good, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!

  
Matthew 6:22-23

All of us find ourselves cleaning our glasses or sunglasses from time to time. Dust and dirt particles accumulate on our glasses over time and they have to be cleaned. If we try to see through dirty glasses our vision gets blurred.

So also in our spiritual lives the eye through which we see ourselves and perceive others will depend on state of our eyes. They can get clogged with hatred, anger, prejudice, jealousy, pride, self centeredness and many other thoughts and emotions that cloud our vision and upset our judgment.

Jesus says beware of becoming like the hypocrite (Matthew6:1-6), who prays in public so that all may see how holy he is. Jesus exhorts us to be private and personal about our prayers. Beware of spiritual pride or self-righteousness. What are our motives when we pray or observe lent? Are we looking for resonating admiration from others? What do we really mean when we say, “I am a Christian?”

There may have been times in our lives when we have made poor choices or acted unwisely.  But it is what we do when we realize that we made the wrong choice that makes the difference in our lives. We live in this tension, where we do those things we should not do, when we know fully well what we should do. Is this hypocrisy or is it or human nature drawing us down? As Jesus told his disciples in Gethsemane (Matthew26:36-41) the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. 

Christ on the Mount of Olives (1604-1606) was a painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

God knows the struggles of our hearts. God knows our every intention. The prophet Joel says, "return to me with fasting, weeping and mourning; Rend your heart, and not your garments" (Joel2:12-17). We should look into our hearts and genuinely ask God to forgive us. May the Holy Spirit be like a refiner's fire cleansing us from our misdeeds.

Lord Jesus we know you love us, and gave your life for us. Keep us as the apple of your eyes; hide us in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). May your Spirit encompass our lives and inspire us to do your will.

Canaan after Joshua

The last verse in Judges sums up the entire book in a nutshell, on what went on during the period after the death of Joshua. Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This is a chilling verse in the Bible when people do whatever is right in their eyes. The lack of a strong leader who the Israelites could rely on, caused the loss in the vision, mission and values of the nation. Christ is the head of our community, family and finally us. Unless we obey Him and His commandments, we start to drift, or may even start our race of evil. We are all made in the image of God. We should be led by the Holy Spirit to be known by God and to know and understand His ways. Unless we acknowledge Him as our head we will loose our spiritual direction.

Moses and Joshua were both leaders who were filled with the Spirit of God. When they were alive they had a vision of striving to be a people committed to God. Their Divine Vision came through prayer and staying in touch with God. They could lead the children of Israel through the right paths, with the help of the Holy Spirit. While they were faithful to God, He blessed them, worked miracles, and kept them under his wings. But after their time the children of Israel lost this vision for a couple of centuries. Joshua was a military genius but after taking over Canaan he did not anoint anyone to be a competent leader after his time. This lead to a rapid decline in the Israelites' spiritual lives that was later reflected in their daily lives as well. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

While the children of Israel were with Joshua the whole nation had one common mission which was to conquer Canaan. However when they abandoned this mission, they lost the opportunity to take over Canaan completely. Once they got to Canaan, the children of Israel were so excited to finally find a whole country they could occupy they were overwhelmed. They had been deprived for so long in the wilderness, but now they found they could enjoy all the pleasures of life. Their loyalty to God and nation were divided with their own selfish goals and ambitions, and the neighboring cultures, religions, values, and traditions.

It is natural human tendency to get involved with whatever fascinates us so that we neglect God. We find that as we build up momentum with work, personal goals, and daily activities, we have no time for God. For some, after a while the virtuous life becomes a grind. St. Paul says that trying to up-hold the law only leads to death. It is very important that people grasp the Spirit of the law. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. We as Christians should pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us to understand and to do God’s Will just as the Spirit inspired our Spiritual fathers. We as children of God should have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit who will help us in our daily lives.

Gregory of Nyssa was one of the spiritual giants of the church who lived in the fourth century. He advocated in his book “The Life of Moses”, that the word of God rather than be used for historical reflection, should be used for growth in a virtuous spiritual life. He used the lives of the people in the Bible to foster spiritual growth. He was convinced by the teachings of Paul that we are in a divine race, competing along the course of virtue, straining toward the prize of the heavenly calling. He believed in seeking the divine guidance of God, through the confines of the laws laid down in the Bible. He urged us to increase our speed in our spiritual race. He said that if we stop the race of virtue we begin the race of evil. St. Paul said we must forget what lies behind, press on to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). Let us leave our evil past behind, and hold on to our gifts and employ them to press on to our calling to live a virtuous life.

Christ stressed on the importance of love for God and fellowbeings. It is necessary for our spiritual journeys to be focused on Christ’s teachings. When we start to love ourselves and our own selfish goals we become, separated from God and our fellow Christians. It is our calling to be known by God and to work toward emulating His image in our lives. When the children of Israel lost their love for God and his laws, the whole dynamic of their relationship with Him began to fall away. Moses' song to the children of Israel echoes in the Book of Proverbs "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.." Proverbs 7: 1,2