Will you please turn to the book of Haggai, the prophet Haggai?
There are only two chapters, but I feel I have to read at least one chapter. So we will read the first chapter.
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.
Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste?
Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.
Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put into a bag with holes.
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.
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 My house that lieth waste, while ye run every man unto his own house.
Therefore over you the heaven is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, 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 Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke 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 Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked 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.
We know that there are altogether twelve so-called minor prophets. The prophecies of these twelve minor prophets cover approximately four hundred years. To put it in a more general term, we may say that they prophesied from around 800 BC to about 400 BC.
These twelve minor prophets can be divided into three periods in their prophecies. The first period is what we call the Assyrian period, roughly from 800 BC, or a little earlier, to 625 BC, when Nineveh was destroyed.
The second period is what we call the Babylonian period. Some prophets prophesied during that period, and it runs from 625 BC to around 538 BC, when Babylon was destroyed.
The last period is the Medo-Persian period, from the destruction of Babylon in 538 BC to around 400 BC. Sometimes we call this the post-exilic period.
Now, with the prophet Haggai, we enter into the third period: the Medo-Persian period, or the post-exilic period.
We know that the children of Israel, because of their unfaithfulness to God, were taken into Babylonian captivity. But God was faithful to His promises and faithful to His covenant. So, after seventy years, God stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of the Medo-Persian Empire to allow the children of Israel, who were captives at that time, to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of God.
In order to understand the background, we know there are altogether five books in the Old Testament that deal with this post-exilic period—that is, after the exile, when they returned.
There are altogether five books. Two books are historical: Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra deals more with the religious aspect—that is, the rebuilding of the temple and the beautifying of the temple service.
Then we find Nehemiah, which deals more with the civil aspect of the people of God: the rebuilding of the wall and how to strengthen the life of the people together as the city of God.
So these two books deal with the history of that time. There are three other books that deal with the prophecies during that period: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
So actually this morning we are entering into a new period, a new stage. Haggai is the first one whom God raised up to speak to the people—the remnant who returned from Babylonian captivity—to rebuild the house of God.
We know that captivity began in 606 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came and took some of the children of Israel captive into Babylon. So captivity actually began in 606 BC.
The return of the remnant from Babylon was in 536 BC. They came back under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. The next year, around 535 BC, they laid the foundation of the temple.
But after the foundation of the temple was laid, we know that they were attacked and accused by the Samaritans, who were their neighbors. Because of the persecutions and oppressions, the work of building the temple was ceased for about fifteen or sixteen years.
It was not until around 520 BC that the rebuilding began to resume under the prophecy of Haggai. In 515 BC, we see that the temple—the so-called second temple—was finished. That is the background of these books.
Now, the children of Israel who came back from Babylon to Jerusalem were only a remnant. In other words, most of the Jews who were taken captive into Babylon, after seventy years, just remained in captivity. They did not bother to uproot themselves and return to Jerusalem.
So only a remnant, a small number, whose spirits were stirred by God, were willing to give up what they had already built up during their seventy years and return to Jerusalem, which was a barren place, a ruined place.
They returned for the only reason: to rebuild the temple of God. We know that during the time of captivity, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.
During that period, if we read the Scriptures carefully, God is no longer called the God of the heavens and of the earth. He is addressed almost always as the God of the heavens, but He is not addressed as the God of the earth, because on the earth there was no testimony.
The children of Israel were supposed to be the vessel of the testimony of God on earth. But because Jerusalem was destroyed, the temple was destroyed, and the children of Israel were in captivity, God had no testimony on this earth. He was called the God of the heavens, but not addressed as the God of the earth, although He is.
But when the remnant returned, they returned to rebuild the temple, that God might have a name upon this earth. To put it another way, they returned for the testimony of God.
They did not return for their own interest. If they had been concerned with their own interests, they would have remained in Babylon, because through the years they had built up their houses, built up their businesses, and everything was established.
But thank God, a remnant returned, and they wanted to rebuild the temple of God. That was the only reason why they returned.
But unfortunately, when they were oppressed, when they had troubles, when the enemies began to surround and attack them, their hands were weakened. The work they came back to do was stopped for about fifteen or sixteen years.
During those fifteen or sixteen years, of course, they had to be occupied with something. So instead of building the house of God, they began to build their own houses.
They did not build merely a hut or a cabin; they built ceiled houses—that is, paneled houses. In other words, they spent all their money, energy, and time building their own houses.
Now, during that whole period, they did not say that they would not build the house of God. They said, “Well, one day we will still build the house of God, but this is not the time. We will wait until the time comes, and then we will begin to build the house of God.”
That kind of mentality postponed the house of God for about fifteen or sixteen years. As time went on, even though they had not forgotten it, they actually entered into a period of festivity with regard to the building of the house of God.
So God raised up a prophet by the name of Haggai. Haggai means festive, or the festivals of God. God raised up that man to bring in the festivals of God, to bring in the joyful atmosphere, that joyfulness in the Lord.
Now, Haggai was an old man. We do not know much of his background, but we know that he must have been an old man. He probably was one of those who had seen the old temple.
As a boy, he must have seen the old temple, the temple built by Solomon. So by that time he must have been in his eighties, or perhaps older—an old man.
But God raised up that old man. As a matter of fact, you find that his whole period of prophecy was only four months, and he delivered only four messages.
Yet, in that short period of four months, with only four messages, you find that the heart of God’s remnant was stirred up and the temple was rebuilt.
He must have been one of the old men. You remember Ezra: when the remnant came and laid the foundation of the house, the old men who had seen that house before wept for joy. But the young men, who had never seen the house before, shouted for joy.
So Haggai must have been one of those old men who wept for joy. He was the one raised by God to stir up the remnant to rebuild the temple.
Before we go on, I think we need to make a spiritual analogy, because we believe that the book of Haggai has much to do with us today.
The prophecy of Haggai is not directed to the children of Israel in general. It is not directed to the children of Israel who remained in Babylonian captivity. The prophecy of Haggai is directed exclusively to the faithful remnant who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of God.
Yet we find that, because of difficult circumstances, they had not forgotten why they returned, but they did not do what they returned to do. Instead, they were building their own houses. These are the people whom the prophet Haggai addressed.
Now, brothers and sisters, in spiritual analogy, we know that the church of God is God’s chosen vessel. In the church, He puts His name.
Where two or three are gathered together unto My name, there am I in the midst of them.
The church is the vessel for the name of the Lord Jesus. The church is a vessel of the testimony of Jesus. How will the world know the Lord Jesus except through the church? The church is to present Christ Jesus to the world as He is. This is the calling of the church.
But unfortunately, historically, in the fourth century AD, when Constantine the Great, the Roman emperor, adopted Christianity, the world came into the church and began to rule over the church.
Christ is the Head of the church. But after Constantine adopted Christianity, if you read history, you find that in the council he called together, he was presiding over the council. In other words, the world had come into the church and governed it.
Gradually it changed. When you come to the sixth century, instead of the Roman Empire, which had been destroyed, you find that the Roman Catholic Church began to rule over the church of God. So the church came under the religious world. The church was in captivity.
During all these years, the church was in captivity—first under the secular world, then under the so-called religious world.
But thank God, even so, in every century and in every generation, God always raised up a remnant: few in comparison, despised, persecuted, and misunderstood. Yet God always raised up some to maintain the testimony of Jesus.
There were always some who returned, as it were, from Babylon to Jerusalem—from confusion to the simplicity, purity, and peace that are of God. These few, through the centuries, maintained the testimony of Jesus in the world.
They were persecuted by the Roman world, and later they were persecuted by the religious world, the Roman Catholic system. Many were martyred. Many were killed. But thank God, throughout the centuries there were always those who were faithful to God, to His Word, and to the testimony of Jesus.
In the sixteenth century AD, we have what we call the Reformation. Historically speaking, we say that the recovery work of God concerning His testimony began in the Reformation.
Even before that, we know there had been recovery all the time. But in the Reformation it was a new beginning because it was worldwide, as it were, and of a massive nature.
During the Reformation, the most important thing that happened, we always say, was justification by faith. But actually, even more important than that was the open Bible—a Bible for everybody, in your own language, in your own time, so you could read it.
Justification by faith was also a truth recovered during the Reformation. But unfortunately, the Reformation did not go back to God’s original purpose for His church.
So, instead of the international or worldwide Roman Catholic Church, you find national churches springing up in different places. Afterwards, you find the so-called dissenters and independent churches coming forth.
So, brothers and sisters, even though there was a recovery, it was not recovered to its fullness. Since the Reformation, through the centuries, you always find a remnant. God calls a remnant to return to Jerusalem—to the purity and simplicity of Christ—to maintain the faith, keep the truth, and deny not the name of the Lord Jesus.
They return to the Bible and return to God’s original purpose. You find that there were always some people trying to return, even during the time of the Reformation. If you read the history of the Reformation, you will find that those who wanted to return fully to the Bible were persecuted by the reformers.
This is the general history. So, brothers and sisters, as we come to the close of this age, we believe that God is calling even more earnestly. Out of the so-called church, which is in captivity and captured by a religious system, God is calling people to return to Jerusalem, to the simplicity of Christ, and there to maintain the testimony of Jesus.
This book is especially addressed to such people. Thank God, nowadays we find all over the world people who are not satisfied to remain in captivity, bound by a religious system.
They really seek the Lord. They want the fullness of Christ. Because of this, they want to return to the simplicity and sincerity of Christ. They want to be gathered together simply unto the Lord. They want to be open to all God’s people for fellowship. They do not want to be divided.
They want to build up the temple, the house of God, as the testimony of Jesus. Throughout the world there are people like that, in different stages and in different degrees. Thank God, in our time there are such people all over the world—unknown to the world, unknown even to the religious world, but known to God.
Strangely, these are the people who are also misunderstood, persecuted, and despised. But they are maintaining the testimony of Jesus, and their job is to rebuild the house of God, that God may have a place to put His name, that God may dwell among His people, and that God may do His work through His people.
These people are called to do one thing. The remnant returned to Jerusalem only for one purpose—not for many purposes, but for one purpose. They returned to build the house of God. That is the purpose.
Brothers and sisters, is it not true that our call is just for one purpose? God calls us out of the world. God calls us out of the religious world. For what reason? One purpose: to build the house of God.
We are to be built together as God’s house for God to dwell by His Spirit, that the name of Jesus may be lifted up and that He may be glorified. That is the whole purpose why we are here.
During those days, these remnant ones came back and started to build. But oppression came, attacks came, difficulties came, and problems came. Because of these things, the work was stopped.
They did not give up completely, but they did not go on building the house of God. Instead, they began to build their own houses. Now, brothers and sisters, do we not have the same temptation?
Oftentimes we forget why we are here. We are here for one purpose: to build the house of God. But sometimes, because of difficulties, we begin to build our own houses instead.
Look into the condition of the Jewish remnant at that time. Why did they cease building the house of God? It is true that the Samaritans attacked them. The Samaritans tried to weaken their hands. They even got the king to give an order that the work should cease.
But, brothers and sisters, these were not the true reasons. When they resumed the rebuilding, those situations were still there. So you find that the reason why they ceased to build the house of God was actually an inward reason.
When they first came back, there was a thrill. There was excitement: “Oh, we have come back to build the house of God out of ruin.” It was very heroic, and there was something that excited the soul.
But when you really get down to the daily labor, very quickly you find that the zeal, the enthusiasm, begins to fade away. Or, to put it in stronger terms, they began to leave their first love.
When they had their first love, they had strength. But when the first love gradually faded, of course the work began to dwindle until it came to a complete stop. So the problem actually was with first love.
When we read Revelation, the letters to the seven churches, do we not see the same thing? Here you find the controversy of God with His people: “You have left your first love.” What God really desires is the first love.
Oftentimes, when the thrill of revelation, when the thrill of a new vision, begins to fade away, somehow our first love also begins to cool off.
As you read the prophecy of Haggai, you find there is a key word there. That word is the word God addressed to His people in that particular condition: people who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the house, yet were not building it.
God has a special word for such people, and that word is consider. Five times in this short book of Haggai, God says, “Consider, consider, consider, consider, consider.”
What is meant by “consider”? The word “consider” actually means, “Set your heart upon.”
You are engaged in building your own houses. You are so busily engaged that you do not think anymore. You take things for granted. The circumstances are difficult. It is too difficult to build the house of God. We have to wait for a better time. So how are we going to occupy the time we have in our hands? Let us build our own houses.
As they built for fifteen years, brothers and sisters, you find they did not think anymore. They thought they were doing the right thing. Their spirit began to be dulled and to go to sleep.
So God said, “Consider. Think. Set your heart upon. Ponder over what is going on. What is happening? Repent, and return to do the first work.”
Brothers and sisters, do we not need the same word? As time goes on, things begin to become more routine, and gradually you find that our spirit becomes dull. We take everything for granted. We think that everything is all right. It is fine.
But, brothers and sisters, the Lord has to send His prophet to His people to stir them up. The Lord said, “You say, ‘It is not time to build the house of God.’ Is it time for you to build your own houses?”
Brothers and sisters, you find that time is a big problem. God is the God of eternity. He is timeless, but He created time.
He created time to do certain work. He gave us time that in time we may do His work. Time is opportunity. Time is work. Time is a gift of God given to us.
But the thing is, how do you use your time? There is only this time, such time. The question is: how do you use the time God has assigned to us?
The Jewish remnant said, “It is not the time to build the house of God.” Why? Because there was too much trouble. But God said, “Is it time for you to build your own houses? You allow My house to lie waste, and you run to build your own houses. Is it time for you?”
You either use your time to build the house of God, or you use your time to build your own houses. Which house are you building?
You remember when our Lord Jesus was on earth. In John 7:6, He said to His brothers in the flesh:
Your time is always ready, but My time is not yet come.
In other words, when our Lord Jesus was on earth, time was a very important factor to Him. He always waited for the time of His Father. When His Father’s time came, He did the work.
He never used the time given to Him for Himself. He always used the time God had given Him—and it was only thirty-three and a half years—according to God’s timetable.
But to His brothers in the flesh, the Lord said, “Your time is always ready.” Instead of seeking to do the will of God in the time apportioned to them, they took time into their own hands and used it for their own purpose.
Therefore, their time was always ready. They could go anywhere they wanted to go whenever they wanted to go. They could do anything whenever they wanted to do it, because it was their time.
Brothers and sisters, the time God apportioned to the Jewish remnant to build the house of God, they said, “No, it is not the time to build the house of God.” But they took it into their own hands and said, “It is time for us to build our own houses.” Their time was always ready.
When you are trying to use time for God, the enemy will try every way to frustrate you, to make it so difficult that you think, “Well, this is not the time.” But if you are trying to use time to build your own interests, your own houses, and your own kingdom, you will find it is always ready, because the enemy will help you along.
There will be no opposition. It is always ready.
Do we not discover the same thing? Time is something that everybody is fighting for. God is fighting for the time He has given us, but the enemy is also fighting for the same time.
You remember Pharaoh. When God delivered a message to Pharaoh and said, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me,” Pharaoh said, “All right, I will make the children of Israel do hard labor to such an extent that all their time and energy will be occupied, and they will not think of going away to serve God.”
Is not the enemy doing the same thing with us today? Brothers and sisters, we are not just people of the world. We are not even just God’s people, period. We are God’s people who have returned to build the house of God.
The enemy is trying his very best to rob all our time, to make us occupied with our own interests, with things of this and that, so that we have no time to build the house of God.
Where are God’s people when the time of prayer comes? Where are God’s people when the time of fellowshipping over the Word of God comes? If we are able to come once a week and spend two hours, we think we are the best Christians in the world.
But are you building the house of God? This is not building the house of God. Building the house of God should be our occupation. It should have priority over all things.
Oh, brothers and sisters, we have not given up building the house of God, but we say, “This is not the time.” The Lord says, “Is it time for you to build your own houses?”
Yes, you need a house to live in, but you do not need a paneled house to live in. We have to be occupied. If you are not occupied with building the house of God, surely you will be occupied building your own houses.
So the controversy with God’s people today is a controversy over time.
God said, “Consider. Consider your ways.” The first “consider” is in Haggai 1:6. Consider your ways. Consider what you are doing.
God said, “You sow much, but you gain little. You eat, but you are not satisfied. You drink, but you are not filled. You clothe yourselves, but you do not gain warmth. You earn wages, but you put wages into a pocket with holes.”
In other words, nothing fulfills; nothing satisfies. Why is it? Stop and think about it. During those fifteen or sixteen years, when My house lay waste and you were building your own houses, you put much into it, but how much satisfaction did you get?
Brothers and sisters, are you satisfied? Are you still spiritually hungry? Do you think you have put much labor into it and get only a little out of it? Do you think that you are earning wages and putting them into pockets with holes?
Nothing is satisfied. Nothing is fulfilling spiritually. Brothers and sisters, are we still in hunger and thirst, in spiritual poverty? Why is it? Stop and think about it. Why is it?
It is because the Lord said, “You are under discipline. When you are out of My way, you are under My discipline. You brought it home, and I blew upon it. You are under the discipline of the Lord.”
Think. Consider your ways.
The second “consider” is in Haggai 1:8: “Consider your ways.” The second consideration is looking forward. The first is looking backward—looking at what you have been doing. The second is looking forward.
Go to the mountains. Take the wood. Bring it down. Build the house, and I will be pleased, and I will be glorified.
Brothers and sisters, if we want to build the house of God, we have to go to the mountains. It means spiritual elevation. You cannot get the materials for the building of the house on the plain.
In other words, if you mix yourself with the world, you are not able to get the materials for the building of the house of God. You have to be set apart. Climb the mountains, get to the heavenlies, and there, in communion with God, receive all the spiritual materials for the building of the house of God.
If you do, the Lord said, “I will be pleased. I will be glorified.” Brothers and sisters, whom are you pleasing? Whom do you want to glorify? Whom are you living for?
Are you living for yourself, to please yourself and to glorify yourself? Or are you living for God, to please Him and to glorify Him?
To build the house of God glorifies God. It pleases God, because this is what God wants. He wants to dwell among His people. He wants to put His name there. He wants to give His peace there.
These are the two considerations that the prophet brought to the Jewish remnant. Thank God, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people feared God. They were stirred.
Then the word came to Haggai the second time. God’s messenger brought this message to the people: “I am with you. I am with you.”
Brothers and sisters, there is no promise more precious than this: “I am with you.”
If God is with us, who can be against us? If God is with you, you can work to build the house of God in spite of all the opposition. It shall be done.
So God promised the remnant, “I am with you.” God stirred the spirits of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant, and they began the work of building the house on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius. So the work resumed.
Thank God that they listened. Brothers and sisters, I do believe that God is challenging us today on this matter of time.
Oftentimes we say we have no time. Yes, we are busily occupied. But we have to make time for the Lord. He shall have the first place.
The building of the house is what we are here for. God gives us time for that one and only purpose. If we do not use the time for that purpose, we have wasted the time that God has apportioned to each one of us.
Haggai was an old man. He would soon pass away. His time would be gone. So he was so burdened that the house should be built.
The second message—every message begins with the word of the Lord—came in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month. In other words, less than a month after they started to build from the foundation up.
God sent Haggai to them and said, “What do you see? You have started the work for about a month, and what do you see?”
Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
Now, Haggai was one who saw the glory of the former house—that is, Solomon’s temple. So he said, “Well, what do you see now?”
Of course, they were just starting. But even with the beginning, you could see that, even when it was finished, it could not compare in any way with King Solomon’s temple. The resources were so limited, the people were so few, and they were in an unpeaceful situation, not like Solomon’s time, which was a time of peace.
Even if they finished the house, it could not be compared with Solomon’s temple. Because of this, some people became discouraged. “It is so little. What is the use of building it?”
Very quickly, despair and disappointment came to the hearts of the people. So Haggai was sent by God to tell them, “Be strong.”
According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and My Spirit abodeeth among you: fear ye not.
In other words, God strengthened them. God said, “I am with you. My covenant is with you. My Spirit is with you. Do not be afraid. Be strong. Continue on.”
For God says, “One day I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the land and everything. The desire of the nations shall come, and the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former.”
Now, how many houses does God have? Some people have a winter house, a summer house, a house in Washington, and a house in Richmond. But, brothers and sisters, God has only one house.
Solomon’s temple was His house. It was destroyed. The temple rebuilt by the remnant is called the second temple. But is it another house for God? No, no. You think you are building a second temple? No. “I have only one house.”
This little thing is part of the one house that God is after. Even though it is very little and very small, yet it is His. It is part of what He is after.
God is continuing to work on it until one day everything will be shaken and the desire of the nations shall come. Of course, that is the Messiah. Christ shall come, and He will build the house.
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
A glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Remember, the little thing you are working on is part of that thing. It is there. It is not apart from it; it is a part of it. It will be there. It will be in there.
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former glory. The glory of Solomon’s house cannot be compared with a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish, to be presented to Christ as His bride. This is the house.
Oh, brothers and sisters, if you see this, you will not be discouraged. When you look around, sometimes you find so little, almost nothing. Why bother?
It is more comfortable to go to a big cathedral, listen to wonderful music, and be soothed by pleasing words. Why bother to put your shoulder to the work, with your tears, trying to build something which is nothing in human eyes?
Brothers and sisters, if you see that vision—the glorious church—the Lord says, “It is there. You are part of it. That is what I am building, and I will give My peace to you.” Is that not enough?
The third message came after three months had passed. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year, the word came.
It uses a kind of parable. The priests carry holy flesh—that is, sacrifices offered—in the skirt of their garment. If it touches bread, pottage, wine, or any food, will it make those things holy? The priests said, “No.” Holiness does not spread like that.
But if someone touches a dead body and then touches these things, do those things become unclean? Yes. Uncleanness contaminates.
After three months of putting their hands to the building of the house, their financial situation had not changed. They had been under discipline because they sowed much but received little, and they put much energy into things but received very little.
When they started to listen to God’s Word and began to rebuild the house of God, they thought everything would change and that God’s blessing would come. But three months had passed, and they were still under discipline.
They went to a heap of twenty measures and found only ten. When they came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. They were still under discipline. They could not understand why the blessing had not come.
“We have obeyed God. We are now building the house. Why does not blessing come?” So the prophet told them, “It is because when you sowed the seed at that time, you were still unclean. So everything was unclean.”
But now, from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day, God said, “Consider.” Before the foundation was laid, you were under discipline. You are still under discipline because what you sowed was unclean.
This was in the ninth month, which is our November or December. The spring sowing had not yet come. The Lord said, “What you are having is the past. You are still under discipline. But from this day onward, the blessing will come. I will bless you.”
You find three considerations there: consider, consider, and consider. God says, “Think about it. The blessing will come.” What a comfort this must have been to those people.
So, brothers and sisters, sometimes we feel, “Well, we are now doing the will of God. Why is it that the blessing does not come?” It takes a little time, but God’s promise is always true.
Finally, on that same day, another message came. It is a wonderful message. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the word of God came through Haggai:
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.
Here you find Zerubbabel is a type of Christ. As Zerubbabel was used by God to build the so-called second temple, so here we find his antitype: Christ is the One who will build the house of God.
God will shake the heavens and the earth. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken off, that Christ may become all in all. He is the signet of God. He will put His stamp upon everything.
In that day, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. All things in heaven and earth and underneath the earth shall be under His feet.
So, brothers and sisters, we are looking forward to that day: the coming of Christ.
Now, this is the book of Haggai. Shall we pray?
Dear Lord, we do believe that Thou hast a word for us today.
Lord, we are before Thee, exposed and laid bare, with nothing hidden. Oh, shine Thy light upon us. Speak to each one of us.
Deliver us from running to build our own houses. Turn us, that we may together build Thy house.
Oh, our desire is that Thy house shall be built, that Thou shalt have a dwelling place, a place of rest among Thy people. Do not allow us to rest until Thou canst enter into Thy rest among Thy people.
Lord, we do praise and thank Thee that even though what we can see is little, almost nothing, Thou dost comfort us that it is within Thy house.
Lord, we are looking forward to the day when the house shall be completed, and Thou shalt come back and claim it to be Thy own. Lord, we want to give it to Thee.
In the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.