CHAPTER 1
As we saw in our last article in this series, the immediate effect of the words of the prophets, was that Zerubbabel, and Joshua were stirred up to lead the people into action. In Haggai chapter 1, we see that perhaps the reason for this, was that the first prophecy was delivered to these men first, and then to the people. The word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai, drawing attention to the condition of the people.
“THE TIME IS NOT COME”
“Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, saying, This people say, the time is not come, the time that Yahweh’s house should be built” (Hag 1:2). This is what the people said in their hearts, “the time is not yet come”. They were familiar with the prophecies of Jeremiah, given just before and after the Babylonian invasion. He prophesied that in addition to the seventy year period of servitude, there would be another seventy years during which the Land would be desolate (2 Chron 36:21).
To the faithful, such as Daniel, the promise of a restoration after 70 years of destruction was something to long for. We know that Daniel understood “the number of years, whereof the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Dan 9:2). And toward the end of this period, we have the marvellous prayer of faith that he gave, earnestly beseeching the Lord to “cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary which is desolate” (v 17).
This was the prayer of all the faithful, that the restoration would come, that the mercies of God would once again be in abundance upon His People.
But, it would appear that the people had worked out that the 70 years were not yet ended. That the time had “not yet come”, there were a few years left. And so they concluded that there was no need to work yet. They had begun to do the work of God, but opposition had arisen, and they had to stop. What further proof did they need, that the time had not yet come? When the time came, surely the opposition would cease, and they would be able to continue?
Such is the reasoning of the flesh. How subtle, how logical to the natural mind, which finds no satisfaction in the work of God. Yet, how contrary to the mind of the Spirit. What a contrast this is to the response of David, who earnestly desired to build the original house (Ps 132:3-5, 2 Sam 7:2).
THE EXAMPLE OF DAVID
David was commanded by Yahweh through Nathan the prophet that he could not build. The time for the house to be built would not come until David slept with his fathers, and the reign of Solomon had begun. But David did not use this as a reason not to engage himself in the work. Although he could not actually build the house, he set himself to work in preparing all the materials necessary (1 Chron 22:14-19). And so, when the time came for the temple to be built, Solomon could start immediately, everything being ready, and prepared.
But the Jews of the restoration said, No, the time to work “is not yet come!” (Hag 1:2) But then came the Divine Rebuke: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now, therefore, thus saith Yahweh of hosts; Consider your ways.” (Hag 4:5
APATHY AND SELF INDULGENCE
They dwelt in “cieled houses”. The word means “to cover over”, and refers to the wood panelling they had covering the interior of their houses. The word is used in Jeremiah 22:14 speaking of those “that saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion”.
And so rather than to build God’s house, they built their own houses! But even worse than this, the cedar panelling they used came from materials originally prepared for use in God’s house!
We read of this wood being given in Ezra 3:7, “cedar trees from Lebanon … according to the grant that they had of Cyrus, king of Persia.” But now, in their apathy, and selfindulgence, they had stolen the wood for use in their own houses. Truly they needed to consider their ways. The fact that they used the wood, indicates a lack of belief that the time would come. They thought the wood would never be needed. But, the command came for them to get more wood: “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house” (Hag 1:8). They had brought additional work upon themselves by their own foolishness.
A WARNING FOR US
But how easy it is for us to do likewise. We live in the last days before the return of our Lord, when there will be a second, greater restoration. But yet in truth, that time has not yet come. How long remains, we do not know, but what are we doing?
Are we diligently striving to overcome all opposition, in our efforts to build up the House of God? Are we like Daniel, earnestly desiring that day to come soon? Like David, labouring in preparation for that great day? Or are we like the people who were concerned only with their own affairs, in making their lives more comfortable?
Let us not say within our hearts, “the Lord delayeth his coming” (Mat 24:48), or “the time has not yet come”, using this as an excuse to engage in fleshly persuits. But let us rather be stirred up to action by the word of the prophets, that we might be ready when that day comes.
CURSES FOR DISOBEDIENCE
After speaking of the failings of the people, the prophet focused on the hardships they had endured in the land: “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but you have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” And then again came the call: “Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; Consider your ways” (v 6,7).
Under the Law, when the Children of Israel entered the land under Joshua, they were given promises of blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience (Deut 28). The prophet Amos spoke of the adversity which the Lord had brought on Israel to cause them to repent. Yet, he lamented five times in one chapter, “Yet have ye not returned unto me” (Amos 4).
And the Jews in Haggai’s day were not better. They lacked faith in the ways of God. Their ways which they were to consider, were not in harmony with His ways (Is 55:8,9). We cannot expect the blessings of God, if we forsake Him, only cursings. They sowed much, but reaped little. The scarcity of food brought famine, and rising prices. The high cost of food meant that they could not have enough. They could not afford sufficient clothing to keep warm. In short, those who earned wages found that the money went very quickly, like putting it into a bag with holes in. And all “because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house” (Hag 1:9). And so, the people needed to seriously consider their ways.
CONSIDER YOUR WAYS
This is what we must do, if we would be partakers of Yahweh’s blessings. Speaking of the Memorial meal of fellowship, the apostle wrote: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (1 Cor 11:28) At the time when we unite together to consider the perfection of our Lord, we must examine ourselves. We must consider our ways, whether they are Yahweh’s ways or not. And we must resolve to repent from all evil works, that we might be acceptable to him.
REPENTANCE AND BLESSING
After hearing the message of the Prophet, both the leaders and the people did consider their ways, and repented. In verse 12, we read that Zerubbabel and Joshua “with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Yahweh their God … and the people did fear before Yahweh”. What a marvellous response this was! Notice that Haggai used no sign, no miracle to achieve this – simply an uncompromising declaration of the Word of God.
Upon their repentance, the next message to the people through Haggai was short, yet full of meaning: “I am with you, saith Yahweh” (1:13). Previously they had faced opposition and uncertainty. But now, they were given an assurance of Divine aid. The work would continue, the house would be built, for Yahweh was with His people. As the apostle declared, “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).
The builder of the first house, Solomon was moved by the Holy Spirit to write: “Except Yahweh build the house, they labour in vain that build it (Ps 127:1). This had been the situation previously. The people, building under their own strength were hindered, and the work ceased. But now, they recognised that God’s blessing upon both themselves and their work was contingent upon obedience. They were building in God’s strength, and so they would succeed.
THE RETURN TO WORK
And so we read in verse 14, that “they came and did work in the house of Yahweh of hosts, their Elohim”. The immediate, and long term effects of these actions are recorded for us by Ezra.
What they were doing, in recommencing the work was against the decree of the king, and therefore illegal – and punishable by death. In Ezra 5, we read of how the adversaries of Israel commenced their opposition once more. But, “the eye of their God” was upon them, that they “could not cause them to cease” (Ezra 5:5).
And so, they wrote another letter to the king, questioning the legality of the matter. “Let there be a search made … whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build the house of God at Jerusalem …” Ezra 5:17)
A search was made, and the decree of Cyrus was found (Ezra 6.7). And Darius ratified it with another decree: “Let the work of this house of God alone” (Ezra 6:6-12) he commanded, and gave details of how provision would be made to assist the work.
The way in which the opposition was removed is very instructive for us to consider. It was a direct consequence of faith in action. It was a direct result of the people resuming their work as the prophet had commanded, that the events just described took place, leading to the rebuke of the adversary (Zech 3:2).
Thus it is that when we meet adversity and opposition in our labours in the Truth, there is no place for complacency. We cannot just sit back and wait for deliverance. We must act, for as Bro Roberts wrote, “human action is the basis of divine supervision. Without it, the Angels have nothing to work upon”.
When the Israelites were to enter the land, the Divine promise came, “I will give you the land”. But, if the people had just waited at the border for it to have been given to them, they would never have possessed it. They were to go in, and to fight. And so, likewise, if we would inherit the blessings of Yahweh, we must be active in faith. And so it will be that the Lord’s ministering spirits (Heb 1:14) will guide events in our lives to deliver us from all evil (Ps 34:7), and prepare us for that great day to come.
(To be Continued)
Christopher Maddocks
