Haggai: Back To Front

by MACDONALD, M.D. | Category: Minor Prophets? Major Issues! | Jun 2006

Haggai is described as the ‘Lord’s messenger with the Lord’s message’. We may think, "That’s a great privilege"; but what if the message is a hard one to accept? Haggai had a bitter pill for the people to swallow, but thankfully they seemed willing to take it.

There’s a popular myth that the architect for the Glasgow Art Galleries made a fatal mistake in building it ‘back to front’. The apocryphal story goes on to say that the architect chose death rather than face the consequences! As God’s people we have serious issues to face in our day - we must pray for divine guidance lest we too fall into serious mistakes.

Because of external factors the people had ceased the rebuilding of the temple after the return from Babylon. The excuse given was that it was not the time for the house to be rebuilt. It’s not hard for us to give the same excuse for not doing things for the progress of God’s work. There are many reasons we could give for not doing this or that for the progress of the gospel and the truth. Does our failure to do these things only serve to give us more time to do our own things?

Such reasonings are not hidden from God. He challenges the people, ‘"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"‘ (1:4). This question should cause heart-searching with us all. The matter of our time management is perhaps crucial to the whole of our disciple walk. When the Lord spoke to some men in Luke 9, they all had some reason why it was not suitable at that time for them to follow Jesus.

Here is the first consideration the Lord asks them to think about.

- They had sown but hadn’t reaped

- They had eaten but were still hungry

- They had drunk but were still thirsty

- They were clothed but were still cold

- They had been paid but were still poor

These were serious things that were wrong with the people of God.

The second consideration from the Lord put a challenge to them, ‘"Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it"‘ (1:8). He underlines this consideration with a solemn reminder of the disappointments they had experienced because God’s house lay in ruins and they were all busy building their own fine homes. Luke tells us the only thing recorded about the Lord Jesus from early childhood to manhood was ‘"Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"‘ (Luke 2:49, ESV). In this short prophecy of Haggai we read more than 20 times of God’s house. If it occupied the attention of the Lord to such an extent should it not occupy us to the same extent?

Haggai’s call to action brought a welcome response, first from the governor of Judah, then from the high priest and, finally, from the entire remnant, who came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts. Their spirits had been touched and that made all the difference. Even though they were engaged in a far smaller work than that of their forefathers, yet they had caught the vision that this thing was for God. The answering call from the throne of heaven to this people with hearts that had been touched was one that brought strength to the people. ‘"‘Be strong, O Zerubbabel ... Be strong, O Joshua ... Be strong, all you people of the land’"‘ (2:4). What a difference to a people who previously had been doing things ‘back to front’. It wasn’t an easy come-back. Hard work was required then to reverse a negative trend. The same is still true today if we are to see divine blessing among us.

Once more the prophet asks the people to consider. Before they thought to lay a stone for the temple they were being impoverished. After the foundation stone was laid and things were left unfinished, they were still impoverished. But here comes the divine promise, ‘"‘From this day on I will bless you’"‘ (2:19). Would they believe the promise of their God? Our God is still waiting to bless us.

(Bible quotations from the NIV)

MACDONALD, M.D. | Jun 2006
Minor Prophets? Major Issues!