Haggai 1

Bible Passage: Haggai 1

Little is known of the author of this book.

His name was mentioned in the book of Ezra,

the year 520BC when king Darius reigned in Persia,

and his name means “festival” in Hebrew,

but his main purpose was to deliver his messages of few.

First Message

From the time when the captives had first returned,

Ezra led them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

However sixteen years had passed by,

and still the people had not completed it with swiftness,

for their personal affairs had interfered with God’s business.

Remember how King Solomon finished it in seven years,

It was because he had put God first before himself.

Second Message

The next part of the message is in the last four verses;

as Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnant of the people,

obeyed the voice of the Lord and the words of Haggai.

And the people feared the presence of the Lord,

because of their simple obedience to His word.

“I am with you,” says the Lord…

that was His message to the people,

as spoken by the prophet Haggai.

So He stirred the spirits of the leaders and the people,

and they came and worked on the house of the Lord.

A Message To You

This is only the first of the two messages of few.

The simple importance of the first message:

reorder your priorities if you have to,

because it’s important that God comes first in everything,

before our own lives and dreams or wants and things.

He controls everything and knows all things.

Has He ever broken a promise He speaks,

or never kept a covenant He makes?

His second message reminds us to,

fear God and keep His commandments and follow through.

It seems that we’ve heard this message so often,

too many a time too but… just but,

we may have forgotten to listen once again.

Amidst the busy schedule we often need,

a gentle reminder that God is there for us whenever we plead.

Though times seem rough and people grow weary,

though those around begin to become weak and lost,

though we may become so busy and tired,

these are the times when it seems dark and lonely,

and the house of God seems empty or unlively.

God sends us this message right now,

only a whisper we might hear if we stop to listen.

“Consider your ways!”

Does God’s house lie in ruins as we dwell in our own homes?

May God guide to return to our heavenly home.