Haggai Chapter 1                                                                   Treasures From the Book of Haggai           

 

 

Haggai 1: [1] In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,

 

Haggai Delivers Gods Message to Convict the People of Sin

 

 

1. The Destruction of Jerusalem                                           (1)

           

GOD had always met with His people at the tabernacle.

            King David wanted to build the House of the LORD (2 Samuel 7); to be a place of permanence.

            GOD would not allow David to build, but GOD did choose Solomon (David’s son) to build the Temple.

            The Temple stood for 424 years.

 

            Israel sinned against the LORD and GOD sent the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar to chastise Israel

            The Babylonians conquered Israel and destroyed the city of Jerusalem along with the Temple.

            Thus Babylon carried away the children of Israel into captivity.

 

2. The Decree                                                                                    (1)

           

After 70 years of captivity (Jer 29:10), GOD would allow Israel to be released.

            Here is how it happened. The Medes and the Persians invaded and conquered Babylon.

            The new king, King Cyrus, decreed that Israel be freed and go and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-3).

 

            Israel’s return to Jerusalem was led by their governor Zerubbabel and their High Priest Joshua.

            49,897 persons left Babylonian captivity, travelling 900 miles back to the ruins & rubble of Jerusalem.

 

3. The Difficulties                                                                  (1)

           

The first thing the returning people did upon their return was build an altar to the LORD.

            They began to sacrifice to the LORD and the inhabitants of the land complained.

 

            Then the people took 2 years to lay the foundation for the new House of the LORD.

            There was a great time of dedicating the foundation.

            The workers were met by stiff opposition, resistance, attacks, disruptions, threats and frustrations grew.

            The land was in ruins and the workers were greatly discouraged.

            The work on the Temple was hindered and a work stoppage continued for over 15 years.

 

 

Haggai 1:[2] Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built. [3] Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, [4] Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? [5] Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. [6] Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye 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.

 

 

 

4. Delivering GOD’s Messsage                                           (1-6)

           

After 15 years of work stoppage, in the 2nd year of King Darius, successor of Cyrus,GOD sent His men. 

            GOD sent the prophets Zechariah and Haggai to encourage Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people.

 

            Zechariah was a man with his head in the clouds; a man of vision boldly proclaiming GOD’s word.

            Haggai was a man with both feet on the ground; a straightforward man of GOD.

 

            In the midst of discouragement, Haggai says “Thus speaketh the LORD.”

            The LORD says “this people say” rather than “my people say.”

            Evidently the people are not living like GOD’s people.

 

            A. Procrastination      (2-5)

           

The people practiced sinful procrastination. They were putting off what GOD told them to do.

            The people say “the time is not come, that the LORD’s House should be built.”

            They reason that the work was hard and the opposition was great; therefore it’s not GOD’s time to build.

           

            Yet, according to verse 4, the people were able to build their own personal houses.

            Their own houses were “ceiled” which means paneled or elegant while GOD’s House lies in waste.

            Therefore GOD says in verse 5, “Consider your ways.” Examine your hearts and amend your ways.

 

            B. Priorities                (2-6)

 

GOD knows the real motives and the people had better stop to consider them as well.

            GOD knows their reasons and excuses; and now it is time for GOD to expose the real problem.

            The problem is not timing but priorities.

 

            The people were content to let the cause of the LORD suffer for their own personal comfort.

            The people were concerned about their selves but had no concern for the house of GOD.

 

            Deuteronomy 8:18

            [18] But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.

 

            Since GOD gives the power to gain wealth, He has the power to take wealth.

            GOD says “Consider your ways.”

Since their priorities are so mixed up, then GOD will chastise them to bring correction.

 

            GOD says “Ye have sown much, and bring in little.” They are stifled by selfishness.

            GOD has allowed finances to get tight because you have the wrong priorities.

            GOD says “you are never satisfied because you have no real interest or investment in my house.”

            GOD says “your wages are put into a bag with holes” because of your bad motives you are cursed.

 

The people thought since things are tough then GOD is against building the Temple right now.

            Maybe they think “well the economy is bad and we have such little left over to give.”

            GOD knew their money was tied up in houses, chariots, horses, possessions and investments.

            Some people had more houses or properties than one. They think having more is good.

           

The property of the people was valued more than the House of GOD.

            They could not figure out their problems were self inflicted because they refused to trust GOD.

 

 

 

 

Haggai 1:[7] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. [8] Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. [9] Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. [10] Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. [11] And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

 

5. Duty Encouraged                                                               (7-11)

           

Haggai again says “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways.”

            Stop long enough to understand what is happening is your own neglect and amend your ways.

 

            The people are told “go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house.”

            It will take faith, action, dedication and commitment, but they must finish the House of the LORD.

            What is our commitment to the LORD? What does GOD compete with for your attention and affection?

 

            GOD says if you will be obedient and build that HE “will take pleasure in it and be glorified.”

 

            In verse 9, Haggai reminds the people if they choose to neglect this warning, nothing will go right.

            They have great expectations, but it will never happen because GOD has cursed them for disobedience.

            Why?GOD’s House is not first. The people were living for self and not for the Savior.

            In the 15 years since the work stopped, GOD has taken away blessings.

            Look at verse 10 & 11, GOD has sent drought and famine to get the attention of the people.

            The crops, grain, grapes and oil, will suffer. The land, the livestock and the economy will suffer.

 

            Haggai encourages the people, just return to the work at the House of GOD.

 

 

Haggai 1:[12] Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. [13] Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. [14] And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of  the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, [15] In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

 

 

6. Decision Expressed                                                           (12-15)

           

In verse 12, Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people obeyed the LORD.

            As they responded in obedience, they are reminded by the LORD “I am with you.”

            I am sure that opposition is quickly forthcoming, when the believer is acting in obedience to GOD.

            But GOD is with you!

 

            The LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people.

            After 15 years of neglect, the people went back to work on GOD’s House.

           

            Haggai had prophesied on the 1st day of the 6th month (v1) and they went back to work on the 24th day.

It took  just over three weeks of preaching and proclaiming GOD’s Word.

The project of building GOD House may be delayed BUT it is not defeated.