Chapter One:
In the second year of the reign of Persian King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the Prophet Haggai was sent by God to proclaim a message to Zerubbabel the governor of Judah and Joshua the high priest - the political and spiritual heads of the remnant. Addressing these leaders first emphasizes their responsibility. Since this would have been the day of the new moon, it was probably a holy festival day in Jerusalem. This provided the Prophet Haggai with a ready audience to listen to the first word of the Lord that broke the postexilic prophetic silence. The instrumental role of Haggai as a prophet, "the Lord's messenger", is stressed throughout this brief book. The book is virtually punctuated with the "messenger formula" ("This is what the Lord Almighty says," and similar expressions). In addition, each message is identified as "the word of the Lord" leaving no doubt about the divine origin of Haggai's messages.
God’s message was a stirring challenge to the people via these leaders. The people had stopped working on the rebuilding of the temple partially because of opposition and partially because they were concentrating on self-serving agendas which included developing their own properties or building new ones. They were emphasizing the decoration of their own houses, while doing nothing for God’s house. Suddenly, as one scholar puts it, “Haggai broke into their lives like a dispatch-rider from the headquarters of the Supreme Commander.” God wanted to remind these Jews of their loitering and of their duty. He wanted them to quit delaying and procrastinating.
God addresses Judah in Verse Two as “These people” rather than "My people" implying a divine rebuke as they were not acting as the Lord's people rather they were walking in disobedience - indifferent to their responsibility to finishing the temple of the Lord. He cites their excuse for not building the temple as the time had not yet come but this is laid bare in the next verses which describe their misplaced priorities as the true reason for their procrastination. Interestingly, many still put off “building their temples” which equates to spiritual growth or even becoming a believer with the same excuse as “the time has not yet come”. Busy, busy, busy we all are going about our own plans refusing to consider to Whom we belong and His will for our lives. Paul states that our day of opportunity is always NOW:
1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV)
Never put off what God is calling you to do now. That is called disobedience.
This message is for us as well or at least for the woman in this chair! As believers the foundation of Christ has been laid and we are to be building on it. Paul tells us:
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)
The Word of the Lord is next addressed to the people and not just to the leaders rebuking them for their selfish indifference and negligence. God begins with a rhetorical rebuke in verse Four:
4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Haggai 1:4 (NIV)
These people may have agreed that rebuilding the temple was a worthy project, but the nation’s finances were in a mess after its years in exile, money was tight, and they had decided that work on the temple would have to be put on hold, at least for the time being. On a side note, we my put off working on our “temples” for lack of time – it becomes less of a priority to us – maybe not in what we say but in the way we live. The word God uses when He states His house remained a “ruin” literally means parched, dry, and desolate. I wonder if our spiritual lives remain parched, dry and desolate as well. Remember, our actions will demonstrate our priorities.
At first glance, their excuse might have sounded perfectly reasonable but it was far from it, because while work on the temple had ground to a halt, the people had spent time, money and energy on their own homes and many of them were now living in relative comfort – and for some perhaps even in the luxury of paneled houses. They had been busy building their own houses while neglecting to rebuild the house of God. The term paneled houses may only mean that they had roofs over their heads, though the word can also refer to luxurious paneling which may have adorned the houses of the leaders and the more well-to-do people.
God’s question was aimed at pricking their consciences. He tells them to “Give careful thought to your ways”. BTW, He says this five times in this little book certainly red flagging us. It means to set your heart upon your conduct. It speaks of a firm resolve as Daniel did when he opted not to defile himself with the food of pagans. Success will always begin with a firm resolve to be obedient to the Lord’s leading. This is true wisdom. Don’t leave yourself an out or you will take it!
The people needed to reappraise their perverted priorities and give preeminence to God and their relationships with Him. He was to be first in their lives just as He is to be first in ours. We may need that reminder as well! What they had done was deplorable; and it was also fruitless. All actions apart from Christ are fruitless. Remember what Jesus stated:
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 (NIV)
Their self-centeredness had not produced the economic stability they had so desired and expected nor had it satisfied them. They never seemed to have enough while God is the One Who overflows our cups. Indeed, Jesus came to give life and life to the full. Their abundant plantings had resulted in only meager harvests. God denied the blessing of the seed sown – they harvested very little after having sown much. The simplest necessities of life—food, drink, and clothing—were not being met. God will make us aware of our necessary and constant dependence on Him. The resulting inflation is pictured graphically: You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. Their money disappeared like flour through a sieve. If God crosses us in our temporal affairs, and we meet with trouble and disappointment, the cause perhaps could be that we have left God’s work undone. God stopped the tide of favors promised the exiles upon their return Joel 2:24:
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten”. Joel 2:24-25 (NIV)
They provoked Him to do it. The implication is strong that these economic conditions were divine chastening for disobedience. All their efforts at farming and wage-earning availed them nothing because they had failed to put the Lord first.
Their ancestors who had gone into captivity had experienced the same retribution, but God wanted better things of the returned exiles. Paul tells us in Philippians as our example found in Timothy, we are to look after the things of Christ:
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:19-21 (NIV)
The Bible has a great deal to say regarding stewardship of a believer’s resources. A Christian’s giving to God’s work should be in keeping with his income (1 Corinthians 16:2) and should not be done reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). The people to whom Haggai was writing were not cheerful givers, but cheerful keepers. They had their priorities wrong and were more intent on spending money on their own comfort and pleasure than on supporting God’s work.
The people needed to examine their lives in light of their present poverty. Their self-centered lives could not satisfy because God was not blessing. They needed to give God preeminence – His rightful place in their lives.
The Lord again exhorted the people to reflection and challenged them to action. Having rebuked them for what they had not_ done and having shown the fruitlessness of what they had _done, the Lord challenged them concerning what they should do—rebuild the temple to the glory of God. The implicit message of Verses Two – Four is now made explicit: Build the house (i.e., God's temple) so that He may take pleasure in it and be honored. This is really rich for us as well. He tells them to go up into the mountains, bring down timber and build. Go up, bring down and build. Let’s think about that in regard to our own spiritual growth and journey.
Go Up – “Alah” – to ascend, go up, rise; to grow, bring up, lift up; to be high, be exalted; to offer up sacrifice. Jesus taught the multitudes on the mountain:
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2 (NIV)
Prayed on the mountain:
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23 (NIV)
He was transfigured on the mountain:
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17:1-2 (NIV)
Figuratively, in regard to our spiritual disciplines, we ascend when we are in His Word and at His feet with a heart that is prepared for Him to teach us and a willingness for the Spirit to fill us.
“A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is provide the right conditions for the growing of grain. He cultivates the ground, he plants the seed, he waters the plants, and then the natural forces of the earth take over and up comes the grain. This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines – they are a way of sowing to the Spirit. The Disciplines are God’s way of getting us into the ground; they put us where He can work within us and transform us. By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. They are God’s means of grace. The inner righteousness we seek is not something that is poured on our heads. God has ordained the Disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we place ourselves where He can bless us.” Richard J. Foster
“God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving His grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us.” Richard J. Foster
“We want to make it quite clear that we cannot free and purify our own heart by exerting our own will.” Heini Arnold
“Go up” implies action on our parts.
Read Robert J. Morgan’s On This Day In Christian History – January 14
Bring Down – The Holy Spirit – His abilities, His enabling power, His strength in whatever He calls us to do. Psalms 46:1:
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1 (NIV)
Ever-present emphasizes the speed, completeness and might of the Holy Spirit’s help and describes the help as greatness, much, very greatly, exceedingly.
Read Michael Youssef’s Full Sail.
Build – with great success, in His power, our temples:
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalms 127:1-2 (NIV)
Read This Morning’s Miracle by Laurin Greco .
The failure of the exiles to do what they should—rebuild the temple—resulted in their economic ruin and poverty. God cites two steps which led them downward to poverty: (a) their harvest was much smaller than expected, for while their hopes were high, their yield was low, and (b) what they did receive appeared to vanish at once, graphically pictured as God's doing: What you brought home I blew away.
God then explained that the reason for this chastening was their selfishly neglecting to rebuild the temple. These words emphatically restated the thought in Verse Four - the temple remained a ruin while the people were busy with building their own houses. God again reminds them that while they were laboriously involved with their own affairs they were neglecting their spiritual responsibilities.
Their economic impoverishment resulted from a divinely designed drought. Because of their disobedience the heavens... withheld their dew and the earth its crops. In the dry season – which would have been April-October - morning dew, often heavy in Palestine, was essential to the growth of summer crops. So the absence of dew was devastating. The drought, brought about by God, affected the three basic crops of Palestine—the grain, the new wine, and the oil (from olive trees)—as well as whatever else the ground produced. The absence of rain and dew indicates God's curse on the land and its people because of their disobedience to the covenant. This in turn deprived men and cattle of food provisions. The labor of the people's hands in the fields would all be for naught.
We see this in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy the warning for the curses for disobedience. The remnant was fully aware of both blessings in obedience as well as consequences to disobedience:
18 “If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.” Leviticus 26:18-20 (NIV)
22 The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. 23 The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. 24 The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed. Deuteronomy 28:22-24 (NIV)
The leaders and the remnant both heard and heeded the voice of the Lord. It was rare for a prophet of God to receive such a rapid and favorable response to his message. But this was the case regarding Haggai's simple and straightforward prophecy. God’s prophetic message met with His desired response and their obedience met with due encouragement from Him. All those to whom that sermon was preached were moved by it. Zerubbabel, Joshua and the entire remnant willingly received rightful admonition and instruction and bowed to the yoke of God’s commands. They looked on the prophet as the Lord’s messenger, and the word he delivered as the Lord’s message and therefore received it not as the word of man but as the word of God. Prophecy was a new thing with them; they had had no special messenger from heaven for a great while, and now that they had one, they paid extraordinary attention to him. It is sometimes true that when good preaching is most scarce it does the most good whereas the manna that is rained in plenty is often loathed as easy bread.
When the people saw their own sin to be the cause of the judgments, then they feared. Remember what Scripture states:
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
We are not to despise instruction even if it is hard.
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy. Proverbs 29:1 (NIV)
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:6 (NIV)
The response of the leaders and the people was demonstrated in two ways: (1) they obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the Prophet Haggai - recognizing the words of Haggai as God's word caused an effective change in their attitudes and actions, and (2) they feared the Lord. They had a new awe and reverence for God as they pondered the significance of their past disobedience and self-centeredness and their new sense of obedience to divine priorities. Haggai referred to the people as a remnant not merely because they were survivors of the Babylonian Exile but also because they were becoming what the remnant of God's people should always be—those who are obedient within their covenantal relationship to the Lord. God is desirous of our obedience both for our good and His glory. I am reminded of Jeremiah’s words:
21 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:21-24 (NIV)
Verse Thirteen, more than any other in his book, describes Haggai's role as the Lord's messenger and his words as the message of the Lord. The divine origin of all Haggai's recorded words is affirmed throughout this prophetic book. Here Haggai conveyed a word of encouragement from the Lord to the people as they anticipated rebuilding the temple: “I am with you” (repeated in 2:4 and 2:5). This assurance of God's presence to guide and empower them should have cast out all fear and apprehension about accomplishing their designated task of rebuilding. Isaiah also states:
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:5 (NIV)
Just as God told Joshua so also He tells us:
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-9 (NIV)
A reminder as His children we are never alone. He is a “with us” God.
Next we see in Verse 14 that God stirred up the spirit of the leaders and the whole remnant. Thus aroused by God and enabled for the task, they... began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God. God encouraged them and it set their hearts free. Lest they should shrink under the weight of fear, God stirred them up, and made them cheerful and bold. They set to their work with all possible vigor. Everyone according to his capacity or ability, lent a hand to further that good work. “I am with you” is all God had to say, and that is enough. “I am with you”, that is, I will forgive your neglect so far. “I am with you” to protect you against your enemies and to prosper you, to strengthen your hands, and bless the work. Those of us who are the recipients of much grace should stir up our spirits to act for Him for the advancement of the cause of His kingdom among men. Glory in us and then through us.
“During World War II, the Forger, who took not one penny for his efforts, saved more than 14, 000 lives. Something’s burning in my throat. “All humans are equal, whatever their origins, their beliefs, their skin color,” his voice cracks. “There are no superiors, no inferiors. That is not acceptable for me.” In that moment, I thought he had said everything. All humans are equal — because all are equally made by God.” Ann Voskamp
“The Forger who spent his life giving, so that others might have life, he looked past everything, seemed to say it to everyone, to the universe, to himself: “If I hadn’t been able to do anything — I wouldn’t have been able to bear it.” If I hadn’t been able to do something to help bear other’s burdens — I wouldn’t have been able to bear living. Unless we battle injustice, stand for the outsider, the oppressed, imagine ourselves in the place of the displaced, risk our lives so others can have life, we can’t happily bear any of the grace of in our own lives — because the grace we’ve been given, is always meant to be given.”
“The whole concept of the Imago Dei…the ‘Image of God’ is the idea that all men have something within them that God injected…This gives him a uniqueness, it gives him worth, it gives him dignity. And we must never forget this…there are no gradations in the Image of God. Every man from a treble white to a bass black is significant on God’s keyboard, precisely because every man is made in the Image of God. One day we will learn that. We will know one day that God made us to live together as brothers and to_ _respect the dignity and worth of every man.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The remnant came and began the work of the Lord their God – we would do well to do the same.
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.