by J. Riddle (Cheshunt)
Read Chapter 2.1-9
Just to refresh our memories, the book of Haggai comprises four messages:
We have thought of the first and we come now to the second:
This is addressed, in the first place, to the "senior citizens" in Jerusalem. They had lived long enough to remember the original temple. "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?" So God knew exactly what they were thinking and saying about the rebuilding project! As we would say, ‘not much!’ But God does not censure them. He encourages them. We do not have a hard and unmerciful God. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust," Ps.103.13-14. The second message, therefore, was intended to revive their flagging spirits by giving them confidence for the future, and encouraging them to continue with the temple reconstruction.
We can divide the passage as follows:
- THE MONTH, v1. The message came at a significant time:
- THE MEN, v2. The message is addressed individually and collectively:
- THE MESSAGE, v3-9. It covers past memories, v3; present encouragement, v4-5; and prospective glory, v6-9.
"In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai." There are at least two important lessons here:
The second message was delivered four weeks after work had recommenced on the temple. See 1.14-15, "They came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, in the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king." So work had restarted, but some people were already discouraged. We all know that discouragement is never far away. A buoyant start is not always followed by undiminished enthusiasm! But God did not intend to let His people give up once they had started the work! He therefore spoke to them again through Haggai, and He continued to speak. Zechariah had a message for them in the "eighth month," 1.1, Haggai in the "ninth month," 2.10, and Zechariah again in the "eleventh month," 1.7.
This reminds us that we need the word of God at all times. We need it to ‘get us going,’ and we need it to ‘keep us going.’ Paul laid excellent foundations when he visited Thessalonica. The two epistles abound with references to his oral teaching there. The assembly had been reared on a balanced spiritual diet covering doctrine, practical living, church order and prophecy. Check it out! But they needed further help and encouragement. Paul therefore sent Timothy to "establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith," 1Thess.3.2. However well assemblies have been founded, and however good past teaching has been, we cannot dispense with the Word of God. We need to constantly hear His voice. We notice, then, that God continued to speak to His people through Haggai and Zechariah. They needed His help and encouragement as much in ch.2, as they had in ch.1!
The "seventh month" has further significance. The second message was delivered when the Jews celebrated the "feast of tabernacles," see Lev.23.23-43, and Ezra 3.4. This commenced on the "fifteenth day of the seventh month," and lasted for seven days (that is, until the twenty-first day), after which there was an "eighth day." It was the last festival in the Jewish calendar, and took place after Israel had "gathered in the fruit of the land." It was a time of great rejoicing and, bearing in mind the prophetic significance of the Jewish calendar, anticipated the coming glorious millennial age. Bearing in mind the recent drought, 1.11, there probably wasn’t much to celebrate, and in any case, we are not specifically told that the feast was kept that year. But the "feast of tabernacles" also looked back to the beginning of their nationhood, and their deliverance from Egypt: "Ye shall dwell in booths seven days that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt," v42-43.
But now, Israel was again in virtual captivity. After all, they were only a small group in a country that had been annexed by a foreign power. There was no apparent prospect of a glorious national future! It must have been thoroughly depressing for them! But God had good news for them! But before this, however, we must notice:
"Speak now to Zerubbabel the sons of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people." There are important lessons here:
"Speak now to Zerubbabel … and to Joshua the son of Josedech … and to the residue of the people." Haggai was not to delay. He was to address the situation immediately. Delay could prove dangerous. Discouragement could spread, and the whole project could be in jeopardy. Urgency permeates this chapter. We have already noticed the repetition of "now." See v2,4,11,15,18. So often, things begin to go wrong, and good men stay silent. Whilst elders must not be abrasive, and act like ‘a bull in a china shop,’ they must address assembly problems without delay. This is particularly true where moral and doctrinal issues are concerned, for "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," 1Cor.5.6; Gal.5.9. We should also recognise the urgency of the Lord’s work: perhaps He is saying to us, "Son, go work today in my vineyard," Matt 21.28. How often we fail when an opportunity occurs to witness for Christ. The Lord says, "Speak now," but so often we keep quiet!
a) It was addressed individually. Leaving aside for a moment the important role of Zerubbabel and Joshua, let’s just register the fact that these two men are named. The word of God was addressed to them personally. We all ought to say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" We must all feel the ‘cutting edge’ of God’s word.
We have already discussed the roles of Zerubbabel and Joshua, but it certainly will not hurt to remind ourselves that good leadership involves healthy public lives, and healthy private lives. Or, to put it another way, a healthy life before men, and a healthy life before God. Or, to put it in yet another way, a healthy ‘princely’ life, and a healthy ‘priestly’ life. (Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoiachin, and great-grandson of Josiah: his royal descent is traced in Matt.1.12-13). Paul refers to the need for good leadership in Rom.12.8, "He that ruleth with diligence." That can never be achieved without spending time in the presence of God. It is worth noticing that kings and priests were not always in harmony. See, for example, 2Chron.28.16-21. We must also notice that so far as Israel was concerned, the roles were never united in one person. (Melchisedec was both king and priest, see Gen.14.18, but that was long before Israel’s national history commenced!) But the Lord Jesus will combine both roles: He will "build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both," Zech.6.12-13.
b) It was addressed corporately. "Speak now to the residue of the people." As we shall see, this was not a case of dealing with the ‘other ranks,’ after saluting the officers! The description, "residue of the people," emphasises their value and importance. It was a divine compliment! But we must notice that God addressed individuals and companies of people. The word of God touches our individual lives, and our collective assembly lives. We are not left to do as we please personally, or collectively. God has a pattern for local church life, and it must therefore be second to none. Anything else must be inferior. God does not have alternatives.
But what about this expression, "the residue (sheerith) of the people?" Compare 1.12&14, "the remnant (sheerith) of the people." Perhaps, from their point of view, it was added cause for despondency. After all, that’s all they were: just a "remnant": not everybody came back from Babylonia. But these were people who turned their backs on Babylon, and set their hearts and their faces on the ‘place of the name!’ It was only the people who came back that heard the voice of God! God acknowledged their loyalty to Him.
—to be continued (D.V.)