Then spake Haggai the LORD’s messenger in the LORD’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
Haggai spoke as the Lord's messenger, delivering the Lord's own message to the people that He was with them. The promise came after they obeyed His instruction and feared Him, turning the word of reproof for leaving His house unfinished while they attended to their own houses and selfish interests into encouragement to return to rebuilding. The call was to make building a house to honor Him their first consideration, rising up at once without delay to provide a place to worship Him humbly and in order. His presence and blessing follow that decision to obey, coming with reliance on Him and willingness to serve Him rather than self, bringing favor, guidance, blessing, and success. The same assurance belongs to His people today who rely on Him, believe in Him, and have a willing heart to do His will, while scarcity, debt, and failure follow work He cannot approve when His house is neglected for personal advantage.
Words and Historical Setting
Haggai spoke as the Lord's messenger, bearing the Lord's own message to the people. That message belonged to a rebuke for leaving the temple unfinished while the people attended to their own houses. The rebuke was for thinking much of selfish interests while neglecting to build, or building on hired money.
The chapter calls the people to rise up at once and build a house for the Lord without delay. Building the Lord's house was to receive first consideration and was not to be left until every other concern had been addressed. The house to be built was to show honor to God. It was to provide a place to worship Him in all humbleness of mind, to kneel before Him, and to serve Him becomingly and in order, and when dedicated to God it was to stand as a witness to the truth believed.
After the people obeyed the instruction and feared Him, the message of reproof became encouragement. He assured them that He was with them. That assurance supported their return to rebuilding the temple and their renewed work upon it.
Obedience and Present Application
The promised presence follows the decision to obey, turning reproof into encouragement to support renewed work on the temple. The call is to rise at once and build without delay a house that honors God and provides a place to worship Him in humbleness of mind, kneeling before Him and serving Him becomingly and in order, which when dedicated stands as a witness to the truth believed, demanding earnest response and faith of the right quality. Those who obey where they are directed receive favor, guidance, blessing, and abiding presence to make the work succeed, for His presence is linked to obedience, reliance on Him, and willingness to serve Him rather than self, as a refuge and unfailing help. His presence enables Him to bless obedient people for the glory of His name and to help those who serve Him rather than themselves.
The chapter warns that scarcity of means follows work He cannot approve, including selfishly taking the rights of others and using resources for personal or institutional advantage. In the building of the Cooranbong meeting house, the message of the first two chapters encouraged the people to proceed with the work rather than hesitate. The verse applies to churches that neglect building or maintaining the house of God while attending to their own interests, showing that debt and failure to sacrifice to reduce it reflect neglect of the work given them.
The rebuke for thinking much of selfish interests while neglecting to build, or for building on hired money, applies to churches burdened with debt, which dishonors God and shows wrong management from beginning to end. It calls for doing duty through sacrifice and donations to free buildings from debt by paying off principal instead of letting interest swallow up means year after year. When stewards unite in using the Lord's resources to relieve the burdens on His institutions, the Lord cooperates with them and is with them in restoring His house. Those who realize the nearness of the Lord's coming must act their faith, and when one of His instrumentalities languishes or is in peril, those heart and soul in the work must show interest and be one in mind and heart with heavenly intelligences so they can be worked by them. The assurance also belongs to people today who rely on God, believe in Him, and have a willing heart to do His will, whom He will be with and help to know His teaching.
Haggai spoke as the Lord's messenger, delivering the Lord's own message to the people that He was with them. The promise came after they obeyed His instruction and feared Him, turning the word of reproof for leaving His house unfinished while they attended to their own houses and selfish interests into encouragement to return to rebuilding. The call was to make building a house to honor Him their first consideration, rising up at once without delay to provide a place to worship Him humbly and in order. His presence and blessing follow that decision to obey, coming with reliance on Him and willingness to serve Him rather than self, bringing favor, guidance, blessing, and success. The same assurance belongs to His people today who rely on Him, believe in Him, and have a willing heart to do His will, while scarcity, debt, and failure follow work He cannot approve when His house is neglected for personal advantage.
Words and Historical Setting
Haggai spoke as the Lord's messenger, bearing the Lord's own message to the people. That message belonged to a rebuke for leaving the temple unfinished while the people attended to their own houses. The rebuke was for thinking much of selfish interests while neglecting to build, or building on hired money.
The chapter calls the people to rise up at once and build a house for the Lord without delay. Building the Lord's house was to receive first consideration and was not to be left until every other concern had been addressed. The house to be built was to show honor to God. It was to provide a place to worship Him in all humbleness of mind, to kneel before Him, and to serve Him becomingly and in order, and when dedicated to God it was to stand as a witness to the truth believed.
After the people obeyed the instruction and feared Him, the message of reproof became encouragement. He assured them that He was with them. That assurance supported their return to rebuilding the temple and their renewed work upon it.
Obedience and Present Application
The promised presence follows the decision to obey, turning reproof into encouragement to support renewed work on the temple. The call is to rise at once and build without delay a house that honors God and provides a place to worship Him in humbleness of mind, kneeling before Him and serving Him becomingly and in order, which when dedicated stands as a witness to the truth believed, demanding earnest response and faith of the right quality. Those who obey where they are directed receive favor, guidance, blessing, and abiding presence to make the work succeed, for His presence is linked to obedience, reliance on Him, and willingness to serve Him rather than self, as a refuge and unfailing help. His presence enables Him to bless obedient people for the glory of His name and to help those who serve Him rather than themselves.
The chapter warns that scarcity of means follows work He cannot approve, including selfishly taking the rights of others and using resources for personal or institutional advantage. In the building of the Cooranbong meeting house, the message of the first two chapters encouraged the people to proceed with the work rather than hesitate. The verse applies to churches that neglect building or maintaining the house of God while attending to their own interests, showing that debt and failure to sacrifice to reduce it reflect neglect of the work given them.
The rebuke for thinking much of selfish interests while neglecting to build, or for building on hired money, applies to churches burdened with debt, which dishonors God and shows wrong management from beginning to end. It calls for doing duty through sacrifice and donations to free buildings from debt by paying off principal instead of letting interest swallow up means year after year. When stewards unite in using the Lord's resources to relieve the burdens on His institutions, the Lord cooperates with them and is with them in restoring His house. Those who realize the nearness of the Lord's coming must act their faith, and when one of His instrumentalities languishes or is in peril, those heart and soul in the work must show interest and be one in mind and heart with heavenly intelligences so they can be worked by them. The assurance also belongs to people today who rely on God, believe in Him, and have a willing heart to do His will, whom He will be with and help to know His teaching.