Old Testament - Haggai 1-2 - December 5, 2022

 12/5/2022 – Haggai 1-2

Chapter 1:

The Israelites had in captivity in Babylon for decades when they were finally able to return to Jerusalem. Their beautiful city had long been destroyed by the Babylonians. Their homes were in ruin, and their beautiful temple was rubble. It should be very telling to us that when they returned to Jerusalem, the most important thing they began to work on was the rebuilding of the temple, for they felt a deeper understanding of the urgency and importance of building temples and then worshipping in those temples.

They started on the temple, but they realized that it would take years to rebuild. They went back to building their houses for their protection from the elements. When they reached that point they decided they should work on improvements for their houses. I believe these efforts lasted for some 15-18 years. The interesting, and important thing to recognize is that it took a prophet’s guidance for them to change their ways. Haggai spoke out in v’s 4-7: “Is it time for you, O ye, to swell in your clelded [paneled] houses, and this house lie in waste? …Consider your ways, in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” I believe Haggai is telling them that wrong priorities will bring us little satisfaction. Haggai ends his message with “Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.” How many times do I find myself deeply involved in something good, but realize that I am avoiding the things that are of much greater importance?

Their shortage of food, and drink, and even enough clothing came because of the drought. It was through their prophet that the Lord let them know that the Lord is chastising them for caring more about the condition of their own homes than that of the Lord’s temple. He assures them that their poor crops are a result of their failure to rebuild the temple. He tells them to get to work on the most important things first. And v 8 assures them that the most important work now is to be done on the temple: “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.” (v 8)

There were two men, both sons of high priests that did exactly what the Lord had requested them to do. And that is when the Lord spoke again to Haggai saying He had told us “I am with you”. And that is when the work to rebuild the temple really got going.


Chapter 2:

The synopsis of this chapter contains a great truth: “The desire of all nations shall come—The Lord will give peace in his temple.”  But the Lord also lets them know that He knows that rebuilding the temple is a huge undertaking. He encourages them to “be strong…and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord…so my spirit remaineth with you: fear ye not.” (v 4-5) That is certainly a scripture to remember whenever we are faced with difficult times. He gives them more information and His confidence in them when He tells them “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former…and in this place will I give peace…” (v 9) I feel that that promise is the same for every temple that has been built. We will find peace from what we hear, and from the way we work to follow the things we’ve been asked to do—for THAT will bring us peace…deep peace.

When we fail to listen to the Lord, He does many things to get our attention. He tells us in v 17 “I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the Lord.” These are some of the Lord’s efforts are to turn our hearts and actions to Him. I think we would always be very wise to renew our efforts to follow His commandments, and when hard times come…we should work even harder on our renewing efforts.

And in the very last verses (22-23) the Lord reminds the Israelites [and we as baptized members of the Church are now in the tribe of Ephraim] that He can “overthrow the throne of kingdoms… and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders…for I have chosen thee.” The Lord CAN fight our battles. We only have to use our efforts to live worthy to be among His chosen. If we don’t do that, we are throwing away eternal blessings that could have been ours.


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