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In the time of King Cyrus, the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity in joy, relief, and thankful to God for their deliverance. They immediately set about re-building the Temple, the place of God's presence so they could honor Him. However, they also set about building their own homes, so they could live. They planted their vineyards and olive groves, which were important money crops and exports. Soon - heartbreakingly soon - the Israelites' focus shifted to personal home enhancement and the Temple was left unfinished and eventually no one was working on it. The LORD started pressuring the Israelites to remind them to return to their first priority. This has similarities to the US now. More on that in a moment.
After 15 years of the Jews failing to work on the Temple despite increasing pressure from the LORD, the pressure the LORD had brought to bear on them had had no effect. So the Word came to Haggai on what to tell them. Haggai urged the Israelites to resume work.
"Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "You havesown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. "Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. "I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:4-11)
Haggai's encouragement shamed them into resuming work on the Temple, shamed them so much they began again with alacrity, only 23 days later! Would that all convictions from the Spirit resulted in such immediate action! Good for them.
Haggai said the LORD asked the Israelites, in effect, hadn't they felt the difference in blessings? Haven't they noticed that things had been getting more difficult? He said that He saw they had been increasingly consumed with material goods to the neglect of their spiritual life. They ate but were not full. They drank but still thirsted. Their purse was full of holes, indicting mis-spending and little saving. Sounds like America now.
The LORD continued, saying that He had brought a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil (which was a drought on local agricultural production and exports). Sounds like America now.
The LORD called for drought on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands. A drought on labor. Sounds like America now. The LORD pressures a people to remind them of whence their blessings come. Sounds like America. As we go forward on this day remembering our origins and celebrating our future, let us remember Who holds the country's future in His hands.
After 15 years of the Jews failing to work on the Temple despite increasing pressure from the LORD, the pressure the LORD had brought to bear on them had had no effect. So the Word came to Haggai on what to tell them. Haggai urged the Israelites to resume work.
"Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "You havesown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. "Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. "I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:4-11)
Haggai's encouragement shamed them into resuming work on the Temple, shamed them so much they began again with alacrity, only 23 days later! Would that all convictions from the Spirit resulted in such immediate action! Good for them.
Haggai said the LORD asked the Israelites, in effect, hadn't they felt the difference in blessings? Haven't they noticed that things had been getting more difficult? He said that He saw they had been increasingly consumed with material goods to the neglect of their spiritual life. They ate but were not full. They drank but still thirsted. Their purse was full of holes, indicting mis-spending and little saving. Sounds like America now.
The LORD continued, saying that He had brought a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil (which was a drought on local agricultural production and exports). Sounds like America now.
The LORD called for drought on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands. A drought on labor. Sounds like America now. The LORD pressures a people to remind them of whence their blessings come. Sounds like America. As we go forward on this day remembering our origins and celebrating our future, let us remember Who holds the country's future in His hands.
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