This is a repeat of the verse we read yesterday. It is a repeat because God was making His point. He did not want people to forget it. He was not having a bad day and had not really meant what He had said, which happens to many of us.
The Israelites had been settled for about 16 years and were very happy to be finished with living in exile. At their return they had begun to rebuild the temple, but then had become distracted by their own needs, and not got round to finishing the house for The Lord.
Today many are thinking we should not be building huge churches, but having much smaller ones in homes. Or using other buildings such as schools or community rooms. In many parts of the world, church is an open air event in a clearing in the forest, or in a park.
The thing that strikes me in these verses is not the timing, so much as the fact God was listening and hearing! A good thing for us all to remember! He overhears all our conversations! According to Hebrews 4:12 He knows, and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart!
A Call to Build the House of the Lord. Imagine you had a visitor to stay and showed them the guest room which would be theirs for the duration of their stay. How upset would you be if one day you found that visitor in another part of the building?
Paul closes his letter with these verses and he is sending greetings from those who are with him, either in prison or visiting him regularly. Wherever Paul went he had fellow workers. Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. Paul constantly had other believers around him wherever he went.
I feel that the Lord wants us to note this confidence that God will answer prayer. Paul is sure he will be out of prison very soon. Paul never tells his readers that life will be easy. But he insists that through every trial, if we pray God will respond.
I am sure that Philemon would enjoy a visit from Paul and look forward to the lessons he would learn from him. Maybe he would think: Oh great, I do not need to prepare any messages while Paul is here. He will preach and I will learn insights about faith!
A re-uniting with Philemon would be the best option for Onesimus. Otherwise he would be living as a runaway for a long time, probably the rest of his life. Maybe he would have found another job sooner or later. But living with himself would be the difficulty. It often is.
It seems from these verses that Paul has persuaded himself that Philemon will comply with his request and accept Onesimus back into his service. But what if he did not? What if he refused? What if Onesimus was rejected? Without a job, or prospects? Condemned forever as a runaway slave?
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