It was when a dark cloud of doubt and despondence had descended on the people of Judah that Haggai appeared on the scene. In a short, trenchant message, he convicted the Jews of their sloth and neglect, and again aroused their enthusiasm and zeal. Explaining their calamities as the effects of God’s chastening hand, he urged them to a consideration of their ways. They had been occupied with their own affairs and ambitions, while Jehovah’s house lay neglected. “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house,” came the incisive message (Hag. 1:8). Instead of dwelling on their own misfortunes or hopes, let them busy themselves in God’s work. The people were aroused immediately, and in obedience to the Divine call, they set aside everything to resume the building of the temple.
In the revival of this remnant of two and a half millenniums ago, surely there is a message for the Christian today. The deadening influence of a pusillanimous passivity has crushed the spirit and vitality of the Church. The service of God is neglected for the pursuit of the temporal, mundane things of life; personal ambitions and hopes are placed before the building of God’s house. Oh, that the words of the prophet might bear fruit in our lives today! Let us leave the earthly puerilities and trifles which occupy us and renew again our work for the God who has called us. “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house.” Let us rise again into those spiritual realms of communion with God, and, drawing down from Him the needed supplies and strength, go forth to work and to build for Him. May the Holy Spirit arouse us all to a sense of our responsibility to God.
The building was resumed with zest and vigor, and then the prophet was sent with a second message to the people: “I am with you, saith the Lord” (Hag. 1:13). It was only a short sentence, but those few words were the assurance of strength and power. The work was Jehovah’s and the necessary equipment was provided by Him. His presence connoted all-sufficiency. Throughout the ages, that presence has been the stay and strength of His people. “Certainly I will be with you,” came the words to Moses out of the burning bush (Ex. 3:12); “I will be with thee,” was the divine promise to Joshua (Josh. 1:5); “I am with thee,” declared Jehovah in Isaiah’s day (Isa. 41:10); “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” is the message of the risen Christ to all His followers (Mt. 28:20). In our day, as much as in Haggai’s day, the work is God’s, the power is God’s, and the supplies are God’s. When His presence is experienced in every sphere of labor and in every act of service, difficulties vanish and obstacles disappear.
In the power of the prophet’s message, the spirits of the people were stirred up and heartened and invigorated. They toiled at the work. As they labored, however, the Jews became painfully conscious of the pronounced inferiority of the temple to Solomon’s temple. Their extreme poverty prevented them from ever attaining the incomparable magnificence and splendor of that former building, and the realization of this fact discouraged and disheartened them.
Again Haggai was sent to them with a message from Jehovah. “Be strong,” was the threefold injunction. “Be strong…and work. The work might appear inferior to them, but “I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag. 2:7), and–still greater–“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag. 2:9). The former glory was great, but the latter glory was to eclipse and outshine it since God Himself would glorify this building.
By comparison with the mighty work of apostolic days or even with the times of Wesley, Moody, Spurgeon, etc., the service of God’s children today appears decidedly inferior, and the consciousness of the inferiority frequently brings discouragement and despondency. Christians speak regretfully of “the good old days” and contrast the feeble efforts of the present day.
But is our service nowadays absolutely worthless and valueless? Is it God’s will that we should sit down and mourn the past and decry the present? Such an attitude is a virtual recognition not only of human failure but also of divine failure; it suggests that God’s power has become limited, and that He is unable to work through His children as in days of yore. Perish the thought! Our service may appear poor and feeble to us, but it is performed in association and partnership with our blessed Lord, and in a coming day He will glorify our little work with His own glory and demonstrate to all its inestimable worth in His eyes. “Who hath despised the day of small things?” asked the Lord of the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 4:10). Let us not dwell on past glories, but rather strive with every power and ability to do His service now, to anticipate the glorious day which lies still ahead!
In a fourth message, Haggai dealt with the question of impurity. Through their neglect of Jehovah, the people, their offerings, and all the works of their hands had become unclean in His sight. By cross-questioning the priests, the prophet emphasized the importance and necessity of freedom from evil. “That which is holy,” wrote J. N. Darby, “cannot sanctify profane things; but an unclean thing defiles that which is holy.”
When that evil had been removed and the people had again turned to Him, God was in a position to deal with them in grace, and from that day, He promised to bless them (Hag. 2:19).
The neglect at any time of God’s service renders the servant unclean in His sight, and He cannot bless anything which is done until the defilement is removed. When the neglectful and slothful one turns again to his Lord, however, the uncleanness is removed, and He is again in a position to bless.
In the last of his five brief messages, Haggai foretold the shaking of heaven and earth and the overthrow of kingdoms and powers. In that future day of universal upheaval, however, there was the assurance that the chosen of Jehovah should be secured to Himself “as a signet” (Hag. 2:23). Their value and importance would be emphasized by the general destruction and dissolution. The day of divine judgment is rapidly approaching, but the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ rejoice in the fact that they are one with Him–a seal upon His heart and a signet upon His arm. Though all else should be removed, He is the pledge of their eternal security.
Although the opposition of the Samaritans was again aroused by the resumption of building, it was overruled in the providence of God and the emperor Darius issued a further decree, not only confirming that of his predecessor Cyrus, but also commanding all possible assistance to be given in the work (Ezra 6). Within a few more months, the restoration temple was completed, and its dedication took place amid general rejoicing (Ezra 6:15-16). The adversary may seek to hinder and obstruct, but the omnipotent God is on our side. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).