Haggai 2:1
In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
The verse fixes the coming of the Lord's word through Haggai to the twenty-first day of the seventh month. That day fell less than a month after work on the temple was resumed. The message thus dated was directed to the governor of Judah, the high priest, and the people.
It assured those engaged in building the temple of God's presence with them and encouraged them to continue building. The greater glory promised for the temple would not lie in outward splendor but in God's presence. That glory would surpass the glory of the former temple because the Desire of nations would be present in it.
The message about building a house for God sets forth in parables what God approves and what He condemns. It urges God's people to build a house for Him as a place in which to worship and serve Him humbly and in an orderly and fitting manner. Together with the rest of the first and second chapters, it provides guidance for proceeding with the building of a meeting house or chapel for worship, applied to the building enterprise immediately at hand.