Haggai’s messages were addressed to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest, clearly proving that the prophet was sent to the remnant of the Jews that returned to Jerusalem in the days of Cyrus, king of Persia, as recorded in the book of Ezra (Ezra 3:2).
To understand the significance of these messages, it is necessary to recall the special circumstances of this remnant. Seventy years before their return, the prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the closing days of the kingdom of Judah, had foretold that judgment would overtake the nation. Because of their wickedness they would be carried into captivity at Babylon and their land would become a desolation.
Nevertheless, it was prophesied that after seventy years the Lord would cause them to return to their land (Jer. 25:12; 29:10; Dan. 9:2-3). The history of this return is recorded in the book of Ezra, which opens in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Persia, or seventy years after the Captivity. At that time, in order that the word of the Lord by Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, who issued a proclamation to the people of God setting them at liberty to return to the land to “build the house of the Lord God of Israel.”
This proclamation became a test of the moral condition of the people of God. On the one hand, it raised the question, Were their affections so set on their land, their God, and the house of God, that in simple faith they were prepared to face trials and difficulties, opposition and reproach, in order to answer to the mind of God and carry out His will? Or on the other hand, Did they prefer to remain in Babylon with its ease and material comforts? Alas! the vast majority of God’s people preferred to remain in the easy circumstances of a humiliating captivity, rather than face the trials and reproaches entailed by carrying out God’s will.
To realize the significance of the charge to build the house, it is well to recall the great place that the house of God has in the ways of God. The first mention of the house of God is in Genesis 28:17; the last in Revelation 21:3. From the first Book to the last–from the present creation in time right on to the new heavens and earth in eternity–the house of God has a great place in the purpose of God. The composition of the house may vary at different periods–formed of boards and curtains, or living stones–but the purpose of the house is ever the same, namely, to form a dwelling-place for God among men.
It follows that everything in God’s house must take character from, and be consistent with, the One who dwells in the house. Thus the first characteristic of God’s house is holiness: “Holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, for ever” (Ps. 93:5). Further, everyone in God’s house must be dependent on God, and subject to His will. This dependence finds its expression in prayer. “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people ” (Isa. 56:7). Further, if, in God’s house, all are dependent on God, then all in that house will be blessed by God, and the house in which man is blessed will be the place where God is worshiped.
Thus we learn from Scripture that it is God’s desire to dwell in the midst of His people, and that His dwelling is marked by holiness, by dependence on God and subjection to God; by blessing for man and worship to the Lord.
In connection with these great truths, and in order to build the house of God, a remnant had been set free from Babylon and brought back to God’s land. The proclamation of Cyrus definitely stated that he was charged to build Jehovah “an house at Jerusalem.” His appeal to any among God’s people is to “go up to Jerusalem…and build the house of the Lord God of Israel.” Those who remained were exhorted to help with a “freewill offering for the house of God that is at Jerusalem.” In response to this appeal there came forward a remnant “whose spirit God had raised to go up to build the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem.”
“Upon this,” it has been said, “hung all their fortunes, and as it was prosecuted or neglected, their prosperity ebbed or flowed.” It has, however, been invariably found throughout the history of God’s people that whatever has heen the will of God for the moment, has always been the special object of the enemy’s attack. So the returned remnant found in their day. Two years after their arrival at Jerusalem they take in hand the special work for which they had been brought back to the land; as we read, they “set forward the work of the house of the Lord,” and “laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord” (Ezra 3:8-10). For two years the enemy had left them in peace; but as soon as they took up their proper work, according to the will of God, the enemy raised opposition (Ezra 4).
Moreover, it is instructive to note the character of the opposition. The adversaries did not at first condemn the remnant for building the house; on the contrary, they said, “Let us build with you” (Ezra 4:2). It is only when the people of God refused to be associated in the work of the Lord with those who worshiped after a human fashion that the storm of opposition arose. Sadly, in the presence of this storm, their faith gave way; for twelve years the work was in abeyance.
The people had failed, but God never gives up His purpose, nor forsakes His people because of their failure. So it came to pass, in the mercy of God, at the end of fourteen years after their return to Jerusalem, the prophet Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, is sent with several definite messages from the Lord.
We may pause to enquire, Is there anything in these days that is illustrated by the history of the returned remnant as recorded in the book of Ezra? Looking back over the history of the professing Church we cannot but recognize that for long centuries the professing Church has been completely under the dominion of the world. There have been, indeed, a great number of true believers who were faithful to the light they had, and in the day to come they will walk with Christ in white and have their bright reward. Nevertheless, the professing Church, as a whole was, and still is, enslaved in Babylonish captivity. Then in the early part of the last century, there was a very distinct work of God by which the great truths concerning Christ and the Church were recovered for the people of God.
As a result of this work a number of God’s people, in order to answer to the truth, separated from the systems of men which, in different measures, set aside the truth of Christ and the Church. They abandoned the traditions and customs of men, and all the rites and ceremonies of man’s invention, and, refusing every human head, and acting on the sole authority of God’s word, they met together seeking to give Christ His place as Head of the Church, and the Holy Spirit His place as dwelling in the midst of God’s people. They separated from the corruptions of Christendom in order to walk in the light of these great truths under the leadership of Christ, and their spiritual prosperity wholly depended upon their maintenance of these truths.
However, the spiritual energy of that revival has not been maintained. Many, indeed, awakened to the increasing corruptions of Christendom, have separated from the systems of men, like the remnant who escaped from the corruption of Babylon, but have become little more than companies of believers separate from that which is grossly evil and condemned by the Word of God, but falling short of positive care and concern for the principles of God’s house as revealed in the Scriptures.
Let us remember that “building” is a positive thing. However right it is to separate from that which the Word of God condemns, it is at best a testimony against that which is wrong. If God directs us to depart from iniquity, and to separate from vessels of dishonor, it is in order that we may “follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.” Thus walking in the practice of the great truths of the house of God–holiness, dependence on God, subjection to God–we shall become a positive witness to the grace of God and be able to worship God in spirit and in truth.
If then we realize, in any measure, our failure, the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai will surely have a voice that speaks to the conscience and appeals to the heart today.