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Haggai overview
Haggai overview
One can only imagine the joy of hearing that Cyrus was allowing the people to return to their homeland. For many of them they had never seen Judea (having been in captivity for 70 years, many would have been born and raised in Babylon). Having made the long trip (approximately 1000 miles) they began with exuberance to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. While THEY were excited about doing this, the people who had been living there during the 70 years of Jewish absence were NOT thrilled. They did all they could to hinder the building of the temple. They succeeded and for nearly 20 years nothing more was done. Only the altar was built and functioning. The people had returned in 536 BC. Now 20 years have gone by and it is 516 BC.
There is always a reason! WHY has the temple not been built? The people say 'it is not time to build' although God had said it was! "Consider your ways" says the Lord. God then raised up Haggai and Zechariah to motivate the people into building the temple.
Why wasn't it time to build the temple? Because their personal agenda had superseded God's purposes. The problem with life is that living often gets in the way of serving God. The real problem is that people rationalize such. A Jesus warned in the parable of the sower, that "as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature" (Lk 8:14). Here in Haggai we have a real life example of such.
Yes, they needed houses, farms, and businesses. They also needed to have God in the center of such living. The greatest commandment is still the greatest need: "love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and body. Balancing the needs of life with love of God gets tricky. The cares of this world take on such importance that God gets demoted to 2nd place (or lower). Work, family, and even recreation are placed ahead of God.
Haggai's comment is ever needed: "Consider your ways". Paul encouraged people to 'examine themselves'. Where is God in your priorities and purposes?
Hugh DeLong
