In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
“The LORD of Armies says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now, the LORD of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways:You have planted much
but harvested little.
You eat
but never have enough to be satisfied.
You drink
but never have enough to be happy.
You put on clothes
but never have enough to get warm.
The wage earner puts his wages
into a bag with a hole in it.”The LORD of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house; and I will be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD. “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?” This is the declaration of the LORD of Armies. “Because my house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.
So on your account,
the skies have withheld the dew
and the land its crops.
I have summoned a drought
on the fields and the hills,
on the grain, new wine, fresh oil,
and whatever the ground yields,
on people and animals,
and on all that your hands produce.”Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people obeyed the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD.
Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, delivered the LORD’s message to the people: “I am with you—this is the LORD’s declaration.”
The LORD roused the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They began work on the house of the LORD of Armies, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.
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God illuminated the people’s misplaced priorities, showing them their paneled houses (made of expensive and rare wood) while his temple lay in ruins. What personal comforts, finances, or ambitions must you confess are taking priority over God’s kingdom?
God tells the people to “consider your ways.” As you allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate how you spend your time, money, and energy, what hidden idols does this honest self-examination reveal?
For further insight, read this devotional written by Kraig McNutt, M.Div.
The Glory They Couldn’t See
based on Haggai
“Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory?…Doesn't it seem to you like nothing by comparison?” —Haggai 2:3
Newer does not necessarily mean better. Have you ever rebuilt something, and the moment you stepped back to say, "I'm finished," you realized it just wasn't the same? Something was lost, even though it was new.
Let's go back to the time of Haggai. The Jewish exiles were home, at last. They had come back to Jerusalem after several decades in captivity, to rebuild the temple. An exciting time, right? But what a contrast we see.
After the new foundation was laid, we see the young men shouting for joy and the older men weeping aloud (Ezra 3:12). Why? Because they recalled the beauty and splendor of Solomon's original temple and realized that newer did not mean better. How ironic.
What some saw as new and exciting, others saw as sad and grievous. This one was but a shadow of the former reality. It didn't measure up—not a bit! And the Lord did not just ignore the ache the older men felt, as we read: "Doesn't it [this house] seem to you like nothing by comparison?" (Haggai 2:3).
And it is here that a word comes from the Lord. What was the timing of that word? It came on the twenty-first day of the seventh month—the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was the week Israel lived in tents to remember God dwelling with his people in the wilderness.
What was that word? "The final glory of this house will be greater than the first" (2:9).
Greater? Yes, greater. This didn't compute for the older generation. Less gold, to them, could never add up to greater glory. But that's not God's way of doing math.
You see, Haggai is looking at a lesser house—yes—but also at a promise no one could see yet. Four hundred years of silence will go by, and then, in John chapter one we will read, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Literally, speaking of Jesus, He tabernacled among us. "We observed his glory." The greater glory just stepped into space and time.
Does the “glory” seem behind you? Maybe it's a career, a marriage, a ministry transition.
Haggai's message is simple—don't measure by what you can see. The Lord is not finished—and even now, he dwells with you!
O Most High, I wait for You. My sins are great, but Your mercy is richer. Cleanse me with Your Son's blood and subdue my flesh by Your Spirit. Give me a tender, wakeful conscience that grieves when I sin. Make my conduct consistent, whether I am alone or in company, in prosperity or adversity. Let me never be satisfied with my current spiritual progress, but continually add virtue to my faith. Help me carry Your divine truth into ordinary life, so its promises may guide, caution, and comfort me every day.
— Adapted from The Valley of Vision, “Spiritual Growth”
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