Consider Thy Ways & Build My House: Lessons from Haggai

INTRODUCTION:

  1. @ 606 BC, the Babylonians invaded Judah and carried Jewish captives to Assyria in what was the 1st of 3 great "carrying aways ." Among those taken were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

  2. Ezekiel is taken @ 597 BC in the second carrying away.

  3. Daniel & Ezekiel preach hope to the people b/c of the prophecies of Jeremiah which said the captivity would only last 70 years (Jer 25:9-12; Dan 9:2).

  4. After the 70 years, God spoke through the Medo-Persian King Cyrus and declared the temple would be rebuilt. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23

  5. Ezra 1:1-11 Cyrus sent the captives back to Jerusalem with all the goods formerly taken by Nebuchadnezzar- 2 Chronicles 36:5-8; Daniel 1:1-2

  6. Ezra 3:3-6 an altar is built and sacrifices are made, but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah is not yet laid.

  7. Ezra 3:8-13 the foundation of the temple was laid, but the people quit working.

  8. Sixteen years later, God summons Haggai to exhort the people to get back to rebuilding the house of the Lord- the temple.

  9. The Jews got caught in an undertow of indifference = an underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent. Haggai delivers 4 exhortations over the next 4 months, using "thus saith the Lord" (or some variation) 26 times in 38 verses.

TEXT:

  1. Haggai's Rebuke: 1:1-15

    1. 1:2 "This people says, 'The time has not come, the time that the house of the Lord should be built.'"

    2. 1:4 "Is it time for you to live in paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"

    3. 1:5 "Consider thy ways . . ."

      1. "You have sown much and bring in little"

      2. "You eat, but you do not have enough"

      3. "You drink, and are not full of drink"

      4. "You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm"

      5. "He who earns wages put his wages into a bag with holes."

    4. 1:7 "Consider thy ways . . ."

    5. 1: 8 "Build my house and I will be glorified, says the Lord."

      1. Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:11-12; John 15:8

      2. 1:9 'I have taken what you have because your houses are complete while mine lies in waste.

  2. The Jews' response to Haggai's message: 1:12-15

    1. The peopel did fear before the Lord, and the Lord said, "I am with you." 1:12-13

    2. The people began to rebuild 24 days later- 1:14-15

  3. Haggai encourages the people: 2:1-9

    1. 1:3-4 Perhaps the "newness" of the work was wearing off, but some were obviously discouraged that this rebuilt temple would possess neither the size nor the outward adornments of the first.

    2. 1:4-5 Haggai promises though the physical glory shall not be restored as Solomon's, God is with them, and He is the true source of glory in His house.

    3. 1:6-9 God shall bring a greater glory in days to come- Christ and the church.

    4. 1:10-17 God reminds them of their former wickedness and unrepentance.

    5. 1:18-19 God promises blessing from that day if they will follow His will.

  4. Questions concerning cleanness: 2:10-19

    1. 2:12 Can holiness be transferred from one object to another? NO.

    2. 2:13 Can uncleanness cause other things to be unclean? YES.

    3. 2:14 'You are unclean b/c you have failed to build my house. And everything you do, and every offering of your hands is unclean.'

    4. 2:18-19 'you are clean from this day forward, b/c you are building'

APPLICATION:

The same attitude threatens the house of God today -- things seem to be going smoothly, the building & grounds are in good shape, attendance & contribution are stable, all our programs are being financed, folks are content, but is the house of the Lord being built?

  1. Have we forgotten that to which we were called- Ephesians 4:1?

  2. How many are we baptizing? How many are we actively and diligently trying to restore to faithfulness?

  1. We're not holding fast that which we have- Revelation 3:11 How many unfaithful Christians live in the community? How many have left here and not been STRONGLY encouraged to return?

CONCLUSION:

In Haggai's day, the people had become prosperous and indifferent. They were not necessarily selfish, but were busy doing other things. They were so wrapped up in their own lives as to be blind to the barren foundation of the temple. Haggai's call was one of rebuke, encouragement, and promise--rebuking the people for their complacency & neglect, encouraging them to get back to the business of building the house of God, and promising the blessing of God so long as they would do His will.

Haggai's message is as relevant today as it was 2500 years ago- people need to be rebuked, encouraged to do what's right with the understanding that God will be with us and bless us so long as we do his will.