August 4 Study | Give Careful Thought to Your Ways; Obey the Voice of the Lord

By Mark Scott

A man said to his friend, “I think the problem with the world is ignorance and apathy. What do you think?” The friend replied, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”  

 It’s a corny old joke, but it serves to highlight that apathy might be worse than idolatry, and indifference might be worse than immorality. When God’s people do not care, they endanger God’s vision in the world. Such was the problem for the post-exilic prophet Haggai.  

God’s people were coming home after 70 years of captivity. Ultimately 50,000 would come in three waves under Zerubbabel (the leader), Ezra (the Bible teacher), and Nehemiah (the governor), assisted by three prophets: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Haggai (whose name means “festive”) prophesied around 520 B.C. We know little about him, but we do know he was very conscious of his calling, for he used the phrase what the Lord Almighty says several times in this, the second-shortest book of the Old Testament.   

The House Compromised Through Thoughtless Ways  

Haggai 1:5-11 

Nebuchadnezzar had trashed Jerusalem in 586 B.C. For 70 years the city lay in ruins. When God’s people came back, they began to build the altar of burnt offering and the foundations of the city (Ezra 3). But then apathy set in. The people became preoccupied with their own houses. The house of the Lord (i.e., the temple) and the walls of the city were left unfinished.  

The Lord Almighty spoke through Haggai to put the priorities of God’s people back on the right track. He called them to “give careful thought” to their ways; that phrase occurs twice in the lesson text and means “set your hearts” on the right things. The people’s economic impoverishment should have been a clue that they were not obeying God and putting him first (Leviticus 26:19-20; Deuteronomy 28:22-24). Their planting, eating, drinking, clothing, and wages were all compromised. They earned wages but did not become prosperous; they were described as having a purse (bundle or pouch) with holes in it. God divinely chastened the people with lack of dew (so important for the spring moisture of planting) and drought (so vital for the maturation of grain and the future harvest). Lack of grain, wine, and livestock should have given Israel pause.  

But things did not have to be this way. God told them to go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the temple (probably referring to acquiring the trees of Lebanon). God wanted to take pleasure (delight) in the temple again and be honored. Haggai had to move them from their thoughtless ways to thoughtful ways. 

The House Commenced Through Thoughtful Ways  

Haggai 1:12-15 

Haggai’s challenge was accepted. The people came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty their God. This happened by God figuratively building a fire under Zerubbabel and Joshua son of Jozadak (certainly not Moses’ assistant, who was identified as the son of Nun). God stirred up (i.e., roused or incited) the spirit of each of the men. He did the same to the remnant (rest or residue). The fear of the Lord among the people returned and they moved forward appropriately. God promised to be with them in their efforts. 

The House Compared Through Former and Future Thoughts  

Haggai 2:1-9 

God’s people were busy bees. Within 23 days, the work was being noticed and taking shape. Comparisons were made to the former temple (i.e., Solomon’s temple).  

Three rhetorical questions were asked: (1) Who had seen the house’s former glory? Some, maybe even Haggai, were still alive and could remember the glory of Solomon’s temple. (2) How did it look now (i.e., the second temple, which even Herod the Great would put the finishing touches on—John 2:20)? (3) Did it seem like nothing? Maybe some of the people thought it was not as great as the first temple (Ezra 3:12-13). But God encouraged the leaders and the people to be strong, not to fear, and to remember that he was with them. 

Besides, something greater than the temple was coming (Matthew 12:6). God would shake the heavens, earth, sky, and land. This phrase need not have been understood literally. It was used to talk about God reshaping peoples and nations (Isaiah 2:12-21; 13:13; Ezekiel 38:20; Amos 8:8). Specifically, what would be desired by all nations, and how would God’s glory be in the temple once again? When Jesus came into the temple, God’s glory would fill it once again (Luke 2:32). The second temple was not as outwardly impressive as Solomon’s, but it would be greater because Jesus would be there. The church may also be envisioned here (Hebrews 12:26; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20). There will be peace wherever God’s people gather and focus on his thoughts.