At the close of Haggai’s prophecy, the people of Israel face the monumental task of completing the rebuilding of the temple. But the prophet leaves them with a comforting note—that they are uniquely called to the task (“I have chosen you,” Haggai 2:23). As the hymns and Scriptures in the rest of the service indicate, the Lord will prosper the…
This morning’s passage from Haggai deals with the question of cleanliness versus uncleanliness. Are the people made clean by their work on the Lord’s temple? No—Haggai reminds them that all their works and offerings are still unclean (Haggai 2:14). But unlike the returning exiles, we can sing this morning of the finished work of Christ. We will declare that “His…
Nearly every element in this morning’s service can be tied to three verses in the sermon text. In Haggai 2:7, the Lord makes two promises: to “shake all nations” and to fill His house with their treasures. The opening and closing psalms that we sing this morning address both. In Why Do Gentile Nations Rage—Psalm 2, we find the Lord…
After calling His people to a great work at the opening of Haggai’s prophecy, the Lord assures them in verse 13 that He will enable them to accomplish this monumental task. Likewise, many of the hymns and readings in today’s service emphasize God’s provision for our own callings. The Lord promises to prosper our work (Praise to the Lord, The…
Here’s a demo of a psalm setting written for Parish Presbyterian Church. Psalm 20 (STAR POINTER) Text: Psalm 20:1-9, Edward Collier, Lyrics from the Psalter, 1907, alt. Henry C. Haffner, 2021. Music: STAR POINTER, Henry C. Haffner, 2021. The Lord ever hear you when troubles are near; The name of our God keep you safe from all fear. The Lord…
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise! —Psalm 84:4 The prophecy of Haggai is addressed to the generation tasked with rebuilding the temple, following the Israelites’ return from exile in Babylon. This duty of God’s people to cultivate the place He has given them is seen throughout the Scriptures—and in this morning’s service. Psalm 84,…
Many of the hymns we sing this morning focus on God’s providence. The service is bookended by verses from O Worship The King, a paraphrase of Psalm 104, which speaks of God’s kingly majesty and His “bountiful care.” In Jesus, Shepherd Of Thy People, we declare that we “trust [His] mighty hand,” while in The Lord I Will At All…
The theme of this morning’s service is a familiar one, but one that we always need to be reminded of: love. We will hear of God’s love for us, Jesus’ loving sacrifice on our behalf, our duty to love God and our neighbors, and how this love affects our lives and actions. We are invited into worship with an imperative…