Trevor S. Ferguson
September 11, 2011
Haggai 1:1-8 (NKJV)
1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, 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,
2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built." ' "
3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"
5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!
6 "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!
8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.
BACKGROUND
§ Haggai
was the first of the post-exilic prophets to Judah.
§ He
was born before the exile and was carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. He
would have seen Solomon’s temple in all its grandeur and also probably saw or
heard Jeremiah’s prophesies
§ Judah
spent approximately 70 years in captivity and finally were permitted to return
after the decree of Cyrus
§ Shortly
after the return, they started rebuilding the temple but stopped after two
years due a mixture of discouragement and opposition
§ Firstly,
some of the older men on seeing the foundations of the temple began to weep
because it did not match up to the glory of Solomon’s temple
§ Secondly,
the Samaritans and other inhabitants of the land opposed the building project
and finally wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes who gave orders for the building
to be stopped until a command is issued by him.
§ The
people, already discouraged, ultimately gave up and stopped the building, but
no mention is made of any attempt to seek representation before the king so
that the building of the temple could be restarted!
§ Fourteen
(14) years passed and nothing happened!!
§ The
foundation of the temple laid waste while the people turned their attention to
the building of their own houses
§ Then
enters Haggai. The Lord spoke to him and asked him to ask the people an
important question: Is it time for you to
dwell in your ceiled houses, while the temple of God lay waste?
§ That
same question is being asked of us today!
§ Encouraged
by Haggai, the Zerubbabel and Joshua mobilized the people and restarted the building.
In 4 years the temple was complete
APPLICATION:
LESSONS FROM HAGGAI
(1) Don’t
let criticism or opposition stop your work for God
§ Many
times people will criticize, ridicule or stand in opposition to the work you
are doing for God. Don’t let them stop you.
§ Use
the Nehemiah principle – I am doing a good work, I can’t come down! Make sure
you have legal clearance; be prepared to fight if you must. Do whatever you
need to do. JUST DON’T STOP!
(2)
Do not focus on material investment at the expense of spiritual investment
§ The
people were building their own houses (material investment) but failed to make
any spiritual investment (the temple lay dormant; no activity for 14 years)
§ Despite
their efforts they were not prospering: they would sow, bring in little; eat, but do not
have enough; they earn wages, but stored it, as it were, in bags with holes
§ If
we want to reap a blessing from God make sure we give God his due! Time,
talent, treasure
§ Do
not lose concern for the state of the church; do not become apathetic to the things
of God!
(3)
Completeness is better than grandeur: Do not be discouraged because what you
can do or produce is not as grand as others, or as grand as what was done in
the past.
§ As
had occurred at the beginning the people again began to compare the temple with
Solomon’s temple. This time Haggai encouraged Zerubbabel and Joshua. The said Lord said through Haggai: Be strong, and work, for I am with you!
§ It
is better to complete a simple task for God than to have great plans that is
beyond our scope to complete.
§ Complete
the task God has assigned you and do not be discouraged, if it seems
insignificant.
