For the next couple of days, my articles will focus on the Prophet Haggai. Who was he, and what was his message?
Haggai preached in Jerusalem for about four months in 520 B.C. By that time, some of the Jews had been back in Jerusalem from Babylon for several years. They were ready for something to take place, but all they found were ruins, poverty, and opposition from the Samaritans and the local population.
Haggai adopted Ezekiel’s idea that the glory of the Lord, which abandoned the temple in 592 B.C., would return and usher in the Messianic age when the temple was restored.
Haggai was convinced that the temple must be rebuilt so the glory of the Lord might return and dwell with his people.
In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.”
“Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
“Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
“You have sown much and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1.1-6).
The message about building a temple in a foreign country 500 years before the time of Christ may not interest you, but the principle behind what Haggai said should.
The people were more concerned about their property and their well-being than they were about taking care of a place where God’s presence could reside.
When Jesus offered teachings on life within His kingdom, He underscored the importance of trusting God with all aspects of our lives. He highlighted that our most important priority should be to seek the presence of God in our hearts.
He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6.33).
The allure of prioritizing our clothing, well-being, homes, and food is strong, echoing the challenges faced during Haggai’s time.
However, God invites us to make our love for Him supreme. Jesus assured people that He will supply all our needs if we seek Him above all else.
The temple to be built for us is a sacred space within our innermost being, designed for God’s Spirit to reside and for us to interact with Him as a child does with a Father.
There is no greater privilege on Earth than to have such an intimate relationship with God, and we cheat ourselves if we fail to make this our highest priority.
Save your life – Lose it.
Jesus taught a principle that has been demonstrated to be true year after year with multiple people.
He said. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
“For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” (Mark 8.35-36).
Haggai echoed Jesus’ thoughts and spoke for God: “Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses.
“Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.
“And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on humans and animals, and on all their labors” (Haggai 1.9-11).
I believe that the unhappiest individuals are those who are solely focused on themselves. Their every action is driven by how it benefits them, resulting in not only their own misery but also the misery of those around them.
Think about it and consider if you also find this to be true.
This story brings good news, which we will explore tomorrow. The people did indeed repent and acted according to God’s words spoken through Haggai.
Similarly, the good news in our lives can emerge when we repent and become aligned with God’s teachings.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 