The Command to Rebuild the Temple. Haggai 1:1-11
INTRODUCTION TO HAGGAI
Haggai returned from exile in Babylon, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, in the year 536 B.C., when Cyrus, moved by the striking prophecies about himself, which had probably been brought under his notice by Daniel, granted the Jews their liberty, and provided them with materials for restoring their Temple. This work of rebuilding went on under Cyrus and his successor, in spite of the opposition of the Samaritans; but, finally, these inveterate foes of the returned exiles obtained an edict from Artaxerxes to stay the progress of the rebuilding of the Temple, Ezr_4:7-23. The Jews gave up the work, and began to build splendid mansions for themselves, so that the operations on the Temple site were not recommenced, even when there was opportunity for them. For fourteen years the work was discontinued, until Haggai uttered his burning message. He seems to have been an old man when summoned to the prophet’s office, and his term of service lasted for only four months. But when a man speaks in the power of God, you cannot measure the effect by chronology. His brief ministry had immediate effect, for within three weeks the people were once more at work.
The Rebuilding of the Temple
I. APPEAL AND RESPONSE, Hag_1:1-15
1. The People Admonished for Their Neglect, Hag_1:1-11
2. Their Purpose to Make Amends, Hag_1:12-15
THE COMMAND TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE
In the second year of Darius the king [of Persia], on the first day of the sixth month (Aug 29, 520 B.C.), the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘These people say, “The time has not come that the LORD’S house (temple) should be rebuilt.”‘” [Ezr_1:1-6; Ezr_4:1-6, Ezr_4:24; Ezr_5:1-3]
Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
“Is it time for you yourselves to live in your [expensive] paneled houses while this house [of the LORD] lies in ruins?”
Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways and thoughtfully reflect on your conduct!
You have planted much, but you harvest little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have enough to be intoxicated; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns wages earns them just to put them in a bag with holes in it [because God has withheld His blessing].”
Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways and thoughtfully reflect on your conduct!
Go up to the hill country, bring lumber and rebuild My house (temple), that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD [accepting it as done for My glory].
You look for much [harvest], but it comes to little; and even when you bring that home, I blow it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house, which lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house [eager to enjoy it].
Therefore, because of you [that is, your sin and disobedience] the heavens withhold the dew and the earth withholds its produce.
I called for a drought on the land and the hill country, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.”
THE PEOPLE OBEY THE LORD
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people [who had returned from exile], listened carefully and obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, since the LORD their God had sent him. And the people [reverently] feared the LORD.
Then Haggai, the LORD’S messenger, spoke the LORD’S message to the people saying, ” ‘I am with you,’ declares the LORD.”
So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month (Sept 21, 520 B.C.) in the second year of Darius the king.
SELFISH AND SHORTSIGHTED THRIFT
Zerubbabel is the Sheshbazzar of Ezr_1:8. He was of the royal line, and appointed governor by Cyrus. Josedech was son of Seraiah, high priest when Jerusalem was taken, 2Ki_25:18-21. The returned exiles had been experiencing a succession of bad seasons. They had sown much, and reaped little; their money ran out of the bag as quickly as they put it in; a drought lay on all the land, and the reason for it was to be found in the neglected Temple. How frequently our disasters and losses in business arise from our failure to remember God’s cause. We say that we have not the time, cannot afford the money, and see no necessity for setting apart the Lord’s Day or the daily period for meditation and prayer. Did we see things as they really are, we should find that this is false economy, and wastes more than we save. “There is that which withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” The mower does not waste time when he stops to whet his scythe.
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