Haggai Calls for Faithful Service

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis week’s lesson starts us into the next unit of lessons for the month – Faithful to Prophesy.  In our lesson last week, we saw the u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/the-service-of-godly-leaders/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u00229450u0022u003eleadership of godly leadersu003c/au003e – Haggai and Zechariah – and how it encouraged the Jews in completing the rebuild of the temple.  Our lesson this week actually gives us a peek into the encouraging words that came from the Lord through the prophet Haggai to encourage the rebuilding of the temple.  This week’s lesson is being taught from u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai+1%3A1-11u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eHaggai 1:1-11u003c/au003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eTime to Get to Worku003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur lesson opens with an introduction to Haggai and the time in which he prophesied to the Jews in Jerusalem.  The time of Haggai’s prophecy, we are told, came in the u003cemu003esecondu003c/emu003e year of Darius (v.1).  This is some important information for us when we consider that last week we saw that the rebuild of the temple was completed in the sixth year of Darius’ reign in Persia (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+6%3A15u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eEzra 6:15u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe are also given information in this verse that we have seen relayed to us in the book of Ezra.  We are told that in the second year of Darius’ reign, Haggai prophesied to Zerubbabel, who led the first wave in their return  to Jerusalem along with Joshua, the high priest at that time.  In the book of Ezra, we are told on two occasions that Haggai was prophesying to the Jews and these two men at that time (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+5%3A1-2%3B+6%3A14u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eEzra 5:1-2; 6:14u003c/au003e).  So, this confirms for us that the Haggai of this book is the same Haggai spoken of in the book of Ezra.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eJews slow to rebuild templeu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, something we saw in our lesson last week was that it took quite some time for the Jews to complete the rebuild of the temple.  We saw that the rebuild of the temple met adversity from adversaries who did not desire for the temple to be rebuilt.  At the very same time, we saw that the Jews became lax in the rebuilding of the temple. The Jews became lax in the rebuild partly due to the constant adversity, however, we will see that there was something else that caused the Jews to be a bit lax in the rebuild.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThose that had returned in the first wave to Jerusalem had laid the foundation and rejoiced in the laying of the foundation of the temple (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+3%3A10-11u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eEzra 3:10-11u003c/au003e).  Yet, as we know, the work had come to a stop.  What we did not see in the book of Ezra and what we see here is that those who had returned to Jerusalem had reached a point to where they began to believe that the time was not right for them to rebuild the temple (v.2).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs we will see in the next couple of verses, the Jews had rebuilt their homes and were satisfied with being able to dwell in their homes (vss.3-4).  Through Haggai, the Lord said to the Jews, “Is time for you to dwell in your ceiled (furnished) houses, and this house (the temple) lie waste?”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennBecause they had been met with adversity in rebuilding the temple, the Jews had begun to rebuild their homes.  They had not met the same kind of adversity in rebuilding their homes so that is what they stuck with doing.  To be honest, I believe that all of us can actually understand this train of thought.  However, the Lord u003cemu003equestioned u003c/emu003ethem when it came to this matter in how they were moving.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003ePutting God firstu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennGod tells them to consider their ways (v.5).  What were the Jews doing that was wrong?  What did they need to consider about their ways?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSomething that I brought up in teaching last week’s lesson at church was the idea that some people view moving with humbleness, gentleness, and fervent love as moving in a manner that would one to being a pushover.  Let me tell you something, when you are compassionate about something, the last thing you will ever be is a pushover!  Compassionate people are fiery people!  Compassionate people are the kind of people that will keep pushing forward regardless of what stands before them!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe Jews started out being very passionate about rebuilding the temple, however, at the first sign of adversity, their passion became passionless; there was no fire.  You see, there should have been some fire when it came to rebuilding the temple but the Jews became lax because they didn’t meet any adversity in rebuilding their homes.  Let me tell you something – adversity is meant to be run through and overcome!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn this lack of drive, the Jews, whether they realized it or not, began to put themselves over the Lord rather than putting God first.  This is an idea that many people struggle with – putting God first.  This is also a topic that I have taught and preached about in the past.  We have to learn how to put God first in our life, even over our own personal desires.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThis, again, will sound very strange to some when it comes to putting their own desires u003cemu003eafter u003c/emu003ethe Lord.  Yet, we must learn how to be u003cemu003edependent u003c/emu003eon the Lord; trusting in His guidance, depending on his protection, and providence.  The Jews, as we will see, were doing things but in return for their labors, they were not u003cemu003egaining u003c/emu003emuch or even satisfied with their labor (v.6).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, Solomon touched on this very same thought when he spoke about how our labor is vanity when we labor without the Lord or do not put Him first (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eccl.+1%3A1-3u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eEccl. 1:1-3u003c/au003e).  Solomon then pointed out about the Lord, “God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good u003cemu003ein His sightu003c/emu003e; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eccl.+2%3A26u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eEccl. 2:26u003c/au003e).”  You should not want to simply be a gatherer and collector and not even end up being happy!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eConsider your wayu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAgain the Lord said to the Jews, “consider your ways (v.7)!”  Did they want to continue living in a manner where they were not putting the Lord first?  There was work for the Jews to do that they had been putting off.  To be clear, again, we put the Lord first by being u003cemu003eobedient u003c/emu003eto Him, His will, and His desire before any other.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe Lord commanded the Jews to get back to building the temple so that He, the Lord, would u003cemu003etake pleasure in itu003c/emu003e and be glorified (v.8).  Some of us may think that the Lord really wanted the temple to be rebuilt and He would take pleasure in the temple itself but I have thought about this that I want to share with you.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennFirst, I do not believe that the Lord cared much about the temple being rebuilt; I don’t think that was what was important to Him.  My thoughts on this matter comes from something that we read the Lord say in the book of Isaiah.  In Isaiah, God said through the prophet, “Heaven u003cemu003eisu003c/emu003e My throne, and earth u003cemu003eisu003c/emu003e My footstool.  Where u003cemu003eisu003c/emu003e the house that you will build Me? And where u003cemu003eisu003c/emu003e the place of My rest?  For all those u003cemu003ethingsu003c/emu003e My hand has made, and all those u003cemu003ethingsu003c/emu003e exist, but on this u003cemu003eoneu003c/emu003e will I look: On u003cemu003ehim who isu003c/emu003e poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is.+66%3A1-2u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eIs. 66:1-2u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe Lord, I want you to understand, is more concerned for the one who is lowly, of a contrite spirit, and u003cemu003etrembles u003c/emu003e(respects) His word.  In other words, there is nothing that we can make for the Lord – like a temple – that would please Him!  No, what pleases the Lord is u003cemu003eobedienceu003c/emu003e to His word.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, God was going to take pleasure in the Jews u003cemu003eobeying u003c/emu003eHis command to rebuild the temple and in their obedience, the temple would be completed, thanks to Him, and this blessing would glorify Him!  It is when we are obedient to the Lord that we actually glorify Him.  God will do for those that are obedient to His word and those that are obedient will be greatly blessed.  When we are not obedient to the Lord, that is when we find great struggle and adversity; this actually added to the Jews adversity in completing the temple (vss.9-11).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIf there is anything that we should take away from this lesson is that we should be diligent in putting the Lord first.  When we put God first in our lives, our steps will be ordered.  When your steps are ordered by the Lord, you will truly be blessed.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e