“Consider your ways”

Haggai 1:2-11

Introduction

Today, let us look into the situation during the time of Haggai and see why the LORD asked the people to consider their ways.

Background

Haggai was a prophet of the LORD soon after the Israelites returned from their Babylonian captivity. His name means ‘festive.’

The Jews had been in captivity for such long time that even the Babylonian empire had fallen into the hands of the Medo-Persian Empire in 539 BC. The Jews, as such, came under the Medo-Persian empire. In the first year of the reign of king Cyrus, he gave permission for the Jews to return to their land (Ez. 1:1); and so, under Sheshbazzar, several thousand Jews went back to Jerusalem (Ez. 1-2).

When they arrived, they began to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem, finishing its foundation two years later. They were elated (Ez. 3:8-11). But then, opposition to their building began to mount from the Samaritans, and they could no longer continue to build the temple. This went on for 19 years (till around 520 BC). During this time, the Jews themselves fell into deep slumber and lethargy. They lost their zeal. This was the major reason for the temple not being built.

In 522 BC, Darius became the king of Persia and Babylon. It was during this time that Haggai and Zechariah served the LORD among the people in Jerusalem. In the second year of the reign of Darius (Ez. 4:24), Haggai received word from the LORD that the people must continue to build the temple once again. After much prodding, the people came and worked on the house of the LORD once again (Ez. 5:2; Hag. 1:12-14). This was around 520 BC.

As they started, they were opposed again. But king Darius did not listen to the opposition and gave the Jews permission to continue their work (Ez. 6:1-12) and the temple was finished at last, and was dedicated soon after (Ez. 6:15-18). This was around 516 BC, the sixth year of the reign of Darius (Ez. 6:15).

Let us look at it again

When the captives returned, they worked with fervour. But when they faced opposition, they simply stopped their work for 19 years. This was the reason why Haggai was so strong with his words against them.

They had been saying, the time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house, and they were slack in their attitude. But Haggai told them, “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (Hag. 1:4). Because of this, they failed in their plans; they ate but they could not have enough; they sowed, but harvested little; they drink, but they never had their fill and so on (read Hag. 1:4-11). Why was this happening? The Lord says, “Because my house lies in ruins; while all of you hurry off to your own houses” (Hag. 1:9).

And so, the LOLD told them, “consider your ways.”

What can we learn?

What about us? Isn’t the present conditions of our society, our church, our families becoming like that of the conditions during Haggai’s time? Haven’t we been chasing after wealth, glories and riches without ever considering the condition of the house of the LORD? We see sexual immorality, insolence, pride, corruption, selfishness and others permeating our everyday lives.

Haven’t the most corrupt become the most sought-after person today? The most violent, but loquacious and garrulous people are prospering; while the meek, the Godly, the humble and kind people are surely losing their importance and value in our societies. Hasn’t 2 Timothy 4:3-4 come true already? A time “when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”

I think it has.

I had been thinking for sometime about whether I should write this or not; because to be talking about such a thing when people are currently suffering might be construed as insensitive and lacking understanding. But then, at the same time, I also had to consider the urgency of the issue and of the dangers of being slack towards our duties and responsibilities towards the LORD.

The Jews sowed, they harvested little. They ate, but not enough. The drank, but were not filled. They could never had enough, because they had missed something important – the house of the LORD. Let this serve as a warning to us too. The people, during the time of Zephaniah had said, “the LORD will not do good, nor will He do harm” (Zeph. 1:12). How wrong they were! If this is also what we think today, how wrong we would be! We are talking about ‘ifs’ even though we know that we have already been doing it.

From the time we received the good news, the LORD has been with us all along. We were not rich, but we’ve always had enough for everyone. Our leaders trusted in the LORD, and the LORD provided. We had what we needed, and we were satisfied. We did not have much desires for other things. Because of our faith and trust in the LORD, we had been blessed.

But now, if we follow the trend of following the blessings instead of the one giving them, we will surely be going down a dangerous path. Yes, ‘down.’

Now, we say, ‘all the things that we have are because of our hard work, our intelligence, and our own.’ Our insolence and pride have led us to speak against the church, our spiritual leaders, and we have strayed far away from the word of God, taking liberties to mingle ourselves with the fruits of the world.

We’ve had so much to depend upon that we no longer needed the LORD to provide for us and to guide us. A long time ago, we did not have anything besides the LORD. And so, our spiritual lives were pure and strong. Now, we speak as if we’ve come this far with our own abilities.

These are harsh words, I know, but they are truthful words.

Our needs have not increased much, but our desires have multiplied a trillion-fold. And, as we chase our desires, we stumble and fall and leave the word of God behind somewhere along the way. The poor want more, the rich want more. We eat, but desire something else. This goes on and on.

But it is not too late!

Yes, it’s not too late.

The LORD still waits for us to return to Him with outstretched arms. He says, “I am with you” (Hag. 1:13), when we walk towards Him. Not only this, all that we desire and look for somewhere else, they belong to Him. He says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine” (Hag. 2:8). All we have to do is turn to Him, seek Him first. Then, all these things shall be added upon us (Mat. 6:33). 

It’s all in our priorities.

To do that, the LORD can strengthen us. He says, “Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear” (Hag. 2:4-5).

Many of us are now returning home, because of the pandemic. As we return, let us look into ourselves, our families and see if the LORD’s temple has crumbled. It is time to repair all that has been destroyed.

It is also time to rethink and recalibrate our priorities in our relationship with God as well as the church. We were there working in the big cities, working and enjoying life. Now as God has brought us back to our homes, we might find it in shambles. We might think the future is bleak. But never despair because God says, “I am with you, do not be afraid.”

It is perhaps time to look inwards into God’s purpose. God must surely have a reason for all this. Let us return to Him.