Haggai 1 explained: Your Houses Built, God's House in Ruins

When and to whom (v. 1)

This is 520 BC, about eighteen years after Jews began returning from exile, when Persia ruled the region. The message goes to the two leaders: Zerubbabel, the governor and a descendant of King David, and Joshua, the chief priest.

"Not yet" for God's house (vv. 2-4)

Work on the temple had started years earlier but stopped after local opposition, and the people kept saying the time wasn't right. Haggai points out they had found time to build themselves houses with wood paneling, a sign of comfort, while the temple's site lay in ruins.

Look at how things are going (vv. 5-6)

"Give careful thought to your ways" asks them to look honestly at their lives: lots of work, poor harvests, never enough food, drink or warmth. Wages seem to vanish as if dropped into a purse with holes.

Build, and see why (vv. 7-11)

God tells them to fetch timber and build, then gives the reason for their hardship: they rush after their own houses while God's lies waste. The Hebrew word for drought sounds like the word for ruin, linking their ruined harvests to the ruined temple.

The people respond (vv. 12-15)

Leaders and the "remnant," meaning those who had returned from exile, take the message seriously, and God answers simply, "I am with you." Just over three weeks after Haggai first spoke, they begin work, though most likely gathering materials at first, since foundations are mentioned later (2:18).

Key verse: Haggai 1:4

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether Haggai's link between neglecting God's house and poor harvests still applies to people today, or belonged only to ancient Israel's particular situation.

Something to think about

When something you say matters to you keeps getting put off with "not yet," what usually lies behind the delay?