Haggai 1

1EXPLANATIONGod had given the Jews the assignment to finishthe Temple in Jerusalem when they returned fromcaptivity. After 15 years, they still had not com-pleted it. They were more concerned about build-ing their own homes than finishing God's work.Haggai told them to get their priorities straight.Haggai encouraged the people as they worked. Heassured them of the divine presence of the HolySpirit and of final victory, and instilled in them thehope that the Messiah would reign.1. The call to rebuild the Temple

On August 29* of the second year of King Darius's reign, the LORD gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua* son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 2This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’” 3Then the LORD sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4” Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! i

7" This is what theLorp of Heaven's Armies says: Look at what's happening to you! SNowgo up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in itand be honored, says the Lor.?You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And whenyou brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, saysthe LORD of Heaven's Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’sbecause of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. HT havecalled for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes andolive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruineverything you have worked so hard to get.”4:1a Hebrew On the first day of the sixth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of dates in Haggaican be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. Thisevent occurred on August 29, 520.B.c. 1:1b Hebrew Joshua, a variant spelling of Jeshua; also in 1:12, 14.instead of rebuilding the Temple, the people put their energiesinto beautifying their own homes. However, the harder thepeople worked for themselves, the less they had, because theyignored their spiritual lives. The same happens to us. If we putGod first, he will provide for our deepest needs. If we put him inany other place, all our efforts will be futile. Caring only for yourphysical needs while ignoring your relationship with God willJead to ruin.1:6 Because the people had not given God first place in theirlives, their work was not fruitful or productive, and their materialpossessions did not satisfy. While they concentrated on buildingand beautifying their own homes, God's blessing was withheldbecause they no longer put him first. Moses had predicted thatthis would be the result if the people neglected God (Deuteron-omy 28:38-45).1:9 Judah’s problem was confused priorities. Like Judah, ourpriorities involving occupation, family, and God's work are oftenconfused. Jobs, homes, vacations, and leisure activities mayrank higher on our fist of importance than God. What is mostimportant to you? Where is God on your list of priorities?1:11 Grain, grapes for wine, and olives for oil were Israel’smajor crops. The people depended on these for security whileneglecting the worship of God. As a result, God would send adrought to destroy their livelihood and call them back to himself.

Obedience to God's Call

1212Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God's people began to obey the message from the LORD their God, When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the LORD their God had sent, the people feared the LORD. 13Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave the people this message from the LORD: “I am with you, says the LORD!” 14So the LORD sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began rebuilding the house of their God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, Son September 21* of the second year of King Darius’s reign. 2. Encouragement to complete the Temple The New Temple’s Diminished Splendor.