The theme of the book of Haggai is: "Rebuild the Temple." In 536 B.C., about 50,000 Jews, under Zerubbabel's leadership, returned from Babylonian captivity. One hundred fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied that Cyrus would issue a decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland after 70 years of captivity (Isaiah 44:24 - 45:7; cf. Jeremiah 25:11).
After they returned, the Jews erected an altar on which they sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord (Ezra 3:26). They also gathered materials with which to build the temple; and in the second year, the work began (Ezra 4:1-24). However, their enthusiasm cooled when they met with opposition from their adversaries, the Samaritans (Ezra 4:2-5), who eventually obtained from King Artaxerxes a decree forbidding the work. The work ceased, and God's house laid waste.
The zeal with which they began their labor was short-lived. These exiled people returned to their homeland with high hopes and great expectations for happiness and prosperity. But their hearts were not sufficiently motivated to cause them to arise and build while enduring inward distractions and outward opposition. They complacently acquiesced to the enforced cessation of their great work. They viewed the temple ruins with a certain amount of despondency, and then turned their attention to their own personal concerns. They were more than willing to leave the temple restoration to another time and stronger hands. Finally, someone discovered Cyrus's original decree and ended Artaxerxes' interdict.
Then the Jews received all kinds of offers of assistance in carrying out the original plans. The temple work, however, did not resume. Even after the opposition lifted, the people continued in their indifference to the work of rebuilding, having neither the interest nor the courage needed to resume. They seemed glad for an excuse to be idle. Interestingly enough, neither danger nor difficulty prevented them from building themselves luxurious houses. But, regarding God's house, they said, "It is not the time (for us) to come, the time for Jehovah's house to be built." (Haggai 1:2) God raised up Haggai, the prophet, to reprove them for their indifference and slothfulness in rebuilding the temple. Haggai rebuked them asking, "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste?" (Haggai 1:4)
Haggai said: "consider your ways." (1: 5,7) Literally, he told them to "set your hearts on your ways." They needed to take a good look at themselves and consider what they had done since they returned from Babylon. They had inadequate food, drink, and clothing (1:6,9). They were not satisfied; nor did they have enough. Their priorities were wrong; therefore, Jehovah blessed them meagerly. Their failure to arise and build was due to their own carelessness (Haggai 1:2). They were concerned about their own luxury and comfort (Haggai 1:4). Their attitude was "let us build our own houses before we talk about the Lord's house."
Much good and important work remains undone because we put off doing it. Remember, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Many Christians have lapsed into the same lethargic spiritual condition that characterized Israel, judging themselves to be righteous because of what they do not do. "Consider your ways." A wax dummy does not lie, steal, or listen to dirty jokes; but he also does not visit the sick, clean the building, teach a class, prepare for Bible study, attend gospel meetings, or worship regularly. Think of what could be accomplished if we all "considered our ways" and followed the instructions God gave in Haggai 2:4: "Be strong... and work." Israel's strength (as is ours) was not in its numbers (Deuteronomy 7:8-9; Judges 7; 1 Samuel 14), but "in the Lord, and in the strength of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)
Among today's professed Christians, there are those who cannot see beyond themselves, and who imagine that a man's chief duty upon this earth is to do the best he can for himself, while the house of God lays waste. Perhaps, it is past the time for us to stop and "consider our ways."
No man can travel life's pathway with any degree of success unless he first considers where that path is leading him. He who does not "consider his ways" is certain to come to grief. Those who rush on blindly will eventually fall into the ditch. The one who desires to be acceptable to the Lord must become intimately acquainted with his own ways. Paul said, "Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobate." (2 Corinthians 13:5) Without this self-inspection, we cannot become aware of our deficiencies. Are we continually examining ourselves that we might grow in our service to Him Who loved and died for us?
Haggai told the Israelites that if they would "consider their ways" and "be strong... and work," they would enjoy the Lord 's promise, "for I am with you." (2:4) This promise should have been sufficient to silence their fears. All our labor is for nothing, if the Lord is not with us. Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) No task authorized by the Lord is too big for us to accomplish, if we are willing to work. Paul said, "I can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
Surely, Israel could remember how the Lord had been with their fathers when they passed through the Red Sea, during all their wilderness wanderings, and their conquest of Canaan. God delivered them from Babylonian captivity. With all that history behind them, how could they now doubt God's promise? How could they be so indifferent?
Today, we have the same promise. "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, 1 am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20) Let us "consider our ways" and set our priorities appropriately. Let us "be strong and work." Let us arise and build the Lord's house.
Brother Galloway makes an excellent point. As Christians, we need to be certain we are busy in His kingdom and putting Him first in our own lives (Matthew 6:33). (KMG)