In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
The twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king dates both the message urging the building of the Lord's house and the beginning of that renewed work by the returned Jews. The work had stopped because of opposition while the people put their own houses first, and drought and hardship exposed the consequences of neglecting God's house. The renewed effort came after the prophet's warnings moved the people to act. It came after God assured the people of His presence and stirred their leaders and the remnant to action, and they began the work on that date.
The Lord's house is not to be left until last or neglected while people attend to their own houses. Building a proper house for God in which to assemble and worship is to be given first consideration without delay. That call means building a place where God's people can worship Him humbly and in order. The chapter is to be read and heeded because Haggai 1 with Haggai 2 contains lessons for God's people now.
For church members today this applies to not neglecting church buildings or leaving them burdened with debt through selfishness and poor management.
The twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king dates both the message urging the building of the Lord's house and the beginning of that renewed work by the returned Jews. The work had stopped because of opposition while the people put their own houses first, and drought and hardship exposed the consequences of neglecting God's house. The renewed effort came after the prophet's warnings moved the people to act. It came after God assured the people of His presence and stirred their leaders and the remnant to action, and they began the work on that date.
The Lord's house is not to be left until last or neglected while people attend to their own houses. Building a proper house for God in which to assemble and worship is to be given first consideration without delay. That call means building a place where God's people can worship Him humbly and in order. The chapter is to be read and heeded because Haggai 1 with Haggai 2 contains lessons for God's people now.
For church members today this applies to not neglecting church buildings or leaving them burdened with debt through selfishness and poor management.