A Message to Consider
Haggai 1:1-15
Intro:
Haggai preached three (3) messages to the returning Jewish people. The first (1st) to there hands, the second (2nd) to there hearts, and the third (3rd) to there heads.
Haggai calls the people to consider their ways in neglecting to build God’s house: The evil of this neglect to themselves: And the honor to God of attending to it.
(Jamieson-Fausset Brown Commentary)
It’s important to know that nine (9) of the twelve (12) minor prophets preached there messages after the return from captivity. History tells us that it had been about eight (8) years since the return when Haggai and Zachariah had come on the scene. It is important because, the Lord had delivered them eight (8) years ago and still nothing had been done for the house of the Lord. (John Wesley’s Notes on the O.T. and N.T.)
Today I would like to look at the message on the works of the hands.
1. Notice the Message of Haggai Vv.1-6
Vv. 1 says “came the word of the Lord by Haggai”
~It’s important for us to know that Haggai is just giving to us the Word from the Lord,
not his own words.
Vv. 2 says “thus speaketh the Lord of host saying…”
~confirming the words to Haggai and to all the people, that the message comes form God.
Vv.3 says “the word of the Lord by Haggai” again
~Now that it has been established in Vs. one (1) and two (2) where the message is coming
from, he is ready to speak for the Lord or on His behalf.
~We really need to pay attention to who it is that is speaking.
A. What does he tell the people?
“you say the time is NOT come to build”
~Meaning, you have no time for God, although it has been 8 years since he has
brought you out of captivity, but still you have no time for Him or His house.
~When we can find both time and means to build for ourselves ceiled houses, but
neither for the Lord’s house, it is plain that we love our own private interests better
than God’s cause. (unknown)
B. What does he say to the people again?
Vv. 4 says…..
Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
1. It not Haggai saying these words but the Lord, the Lord is saying just because things
are good in your house, why should mine lay in waist?
Vv. 5 says…
Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
1. Consider your ways is pretty harsh to a people that are called God’s chosen people.
2. The word (ways) has the meaning of (a road or a journey) or a (manner of life)
A. What road are you traveling on?
B. What journey have you taken, and where are you going?
C. Is this way going to be your manner of life, worried about you only?
D. He tells them all they have going on in Vv. 6 and still my house lays in waist
That Vv. 5 is pretty harsh and to the point, wouldn’t you say so?
2. The Message Now changes to Hope Vv.7-8
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD
~Again He tells them to consider your ways.
~Why does he say this to them again?
A. He has shown them all they have done for themselves in the first six (6) verses, and
what they have not done for the Lord, that’s why it is given the second (2nd) time.
B. Sometimes it takes us a few times to get the message.
1. He says…there is still time to consider. Vv.7
2. He says…there is still time to build. Vv.8a
3. He says…there is still time to be blessed. Vv.8b
4. He says…there is still time to glorify God. Vv.8c
3. The message is now of with Holding Vv. 10-11
Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
~If we are unwilling to do for God, the easy and right things he needs, can we expect God
to do for us the little things that we need?
~God needs us to be obedient to his call, no matter the cost.
~Unwillingness to work for the Lord, caused a drought in the Land,
1. What have we not done for the Lord that we know we should have been doing, that has
caused us to be in drought?
2. What are we willing to see happen in the Land before we get motivated to work for the
Lord?
Remember the 1st time we were in war w/ Iraq. The churches were full, thinking it was the end of time.
When things get tough, we will do our best to be found doing the work of the Lord.
But when things are ok, we forget God.
~They cried out to Him while they were in captivity, but now that they are our of it, they
have forgotten God.
4. The message is now of HOPE Vv. 12-15
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
A. All people got right. Vv.12
B. They heard the message and the messenger, and changed. Vv. 12 (Haggai-Zerubbable)
C. They heard the voice of the Lord. Vv. 13c “I am with you”
D. The people did the work. Vv 14
E. It took two (2) years to get it done. (how bad was it)?
Closing
When will we listen to the voice of the Lord?
When will we get motivated to do the work?
For the Cause
Bro. Stepp
11/16/08
