Haggai looked around and saw people who had lost their purpose. They had become distracted by life’s necessities, gotten busy, and forgotten what is most important.
Haggai called his people to remember: remember why they were here in the first place. It’s not just about living your life.
Historical Context
Because of their sin, God’s people had been exiled from the promised land and transplanted in foreign lands far away.
After 70 years, God prompted their foreign king to return their descendants home to Jerusalem to rebuild the old Temple, destroyed in the exile.
A group returned, along with chosen leaders: Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high priest.
But instead of building the temple, the returnees got caught up in building their own homes, running their businesses, living their lives – as though God had no role.
In this setting the prophet Haggai, working alongside his colleague the prophet Zechariah, wrote his short but densely packed prophecy, pressing the people to continue the work for which God had returned them home.
Haggai’s Opening Appeal
The returned refugees were saying it isn’t the right time to build the Temple. Haggai begins his appeal this way:
“This is what the Lord of armies says: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’” – Haggai 1:2
It’s a big project, and we’re a small and underfunded group. We need to wait until we have the right resources!
Haggai responds:
Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house remains desolate?” – Haggai 1:3-4
It’s a bit hypocritical, isn’t it? They were glad when God gave them the chance to return home to rebuild the Temple. But instead, they have focused on their own luxuries, procrastinating the purpose for which they have this privilege.
That hypocrisy has brought God’s judgment.
Now then, the Lord of armies says this: “Consider your ways! You have sown much, only to harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.” – Haggai 1:5-6
Why has this hardship come upon them?
“Why?” declares the Lord of armies. “It is because of My house which remains desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on mankind, on cattle, and on all the products of the labor of your hands.” – Haggai 1:9b-11
The people believe God’s message.
Then Zerubbabel [the governor], and Joshua ... 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, just as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord. – Haggai 1:12
As soon as the people obeyed, God’s gave His blessing.
Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people, saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.” – Haggai 1:13
And the work resumed.
…they came and worked on the house of the Lord of armies, their God… – Haggai 1:14b
Encouragement for the Disappointed
Solomon’s Temple, funded with vast wealth accumulated by his father King David, and built by the best craftsmen in the region, was an architectural wonder, reflecting the opulence of the empire at the time.
This new Temple, being built by a perhaps ragtag group of refugees, was not in the same league. A few of the refugees were old enough to remember and compare. And it broke their hearts.
Haggai addressed the people about this:
“‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of armies.” – Haggai 2:3-4
But why? Why invest so much work in something so inferior?
“‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of armies.” – Haggai 2:9
But how is that possible?
The Transition from Unacceptable to Clean
Haggai asks the experts of his people: if a clean thing touches a dirty thing, does it make the dirty thing clean? Or does it make the clean thing dirty?
“The Lord of armies says this: ‘Now ask the priests for a ruling: If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or touches cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered, “No.” – Haggai 2:11-12
Obviously not. Touching something clean to something dirty does not make the dirty thing clean.
Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these things, will the latter become unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.'” – Haggai 2:13
Obviously, it will make the clean thing dirty.
And that is our condition before God, when we are not actively obeying Him. Everything we touch is tainted and unacceptable.
Then Haggai responded and said, “‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’” – Haggai 2:14
And that unclean state results in loss of God’s support.
“‘From that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty. I struck you and every work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the Lord.” – Haggai 2:16-17
But now that the people are engaged and obeying God, that has changed.
“‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded, consider: Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.’” – Haggai 2:18-19
Opposition will come, but God will assure His chosen outcome.
Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, every one by the sword of another. On that day,’ declares the Lord of armies, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the Lord of armies. – Haggai 2:20-23
Epilogue
It is so easy to forget what God has called us to, and to focus on things of the world around us.
But we are not here merely to enjoy the world and our life. We are here to partner with God and promote his goals, pushing aside any selfish goal that conflicts with the awesome purpose God has in mind for us.
Haggai reminds us: step back, and be sure we pursue what God has for us.