Haggai 1: God confronts their self-centeredness.

Haggai 1: God confronts their self-centeredness.

Collin Leong. Jan 4, 2025


(v1-11) The Command To Rebuild The Temple

(v1-4) In the second year of Darius the king, the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zarubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: "Thus says the LORD of host: these people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD. Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 

Exp: Darius I (Darius Hystaspes) of Persia reigned in 522–486 BC. The Jews had returned from exile in 538 BC under Cyrus’s decree but halted temple work due to opposition and indifference. But after a few years, they get complacent and were distracted by improving their own lives and comfort. This reflects misplaced priorities - living in paneled houses while neglecting the temple, the symbol of God’s presence.

(v5-6) Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of host: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have you fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

Exp: They worked hard, but was ineffective; they try to enjoy, but never satisfied; they earn salaries, but it disappears quickly. Material pursuits without spiritual alignment lead to dissatisfaction.

(v7-11) Thus says the LORD of hosts: consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, but behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new win, the oil, on what ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.

(Exp) Haggai said there was a drought on the land of Israel, and also economic struggle that God has brought to them, in order to wake them up from their distractions and ambitions for themselves. In the covenant, God already warn them that this will happen if they are distracted and turn aside to serve other "gods", which in this case is their own prosperity. (Deut 11:14, 16-17)


(v12-15) The People Obey The Lord

(v12-15) Then Zerubbabel  and Joshua with all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet sent by God. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai spoke to them with the LORD's message, "I am with you, declares the LORD." And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the 24th day of the 6 months and second year of Darius the king. 

Exp: It only took 24 days, from the beginning of Haggai message till the time they started the work on the temple. Haggai say "the people feared the LORD."  (v12) Why did they fear the LORD? Firstly, the realized that their land is no longer fruitful as before, and it reflects the lack of blessings upon them because they neglect the temple. Secondly, they still remember that exile to Babylon, when their parents and grandparents disobeyed the prophets sent by God. They definitely do not want to be exiled again. If God has disciplined us before for disobedience, we should "fear" the LORD, not because we are afraid of Him, but because we learned to honor Him and to appreciate Him for bringing us back to the right track.

But notice that their spirit was stirred up by the LORD, not by themselves (v14).  The verb “stirred up” in Hebrew means to awaken, arouse, or incite. It conveys divine initiative - God actively moves them from passivity to action. Once stirred, they act. The text preserves both divine sovereignty (God stirs) and human obedience (they build). This stirring echoes earlier covenant moments (e.g., God hardening Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus, or stirring Cyrus in Ezra 1:1). It shows that major covenant shifts depend on God’s initiative.


Key Messages

Haggai 1 opens with a prophetic rebuke to the returned exiles who have delayed rebuilding the temple while focusing on their own houses. The chapter contrasts misplaced priorities with divine expectation: the people’s neglect of God’s house has led to economic frustration and spiritual barrenness. Through vivid imagery—paneled houses, drought, withheld dew, and empty purses—Haggai shows that prosperity is tied to obedience and reverence. The chapter climaxes with the people’s repentance and renewed zeal, as leaders and community respond in unity to God’s call. Haggai 1 thus transforms apathy into action, showing that honoring God first restores blessing and purpose.

1. Misplaced Priorities Rebuked (vv. 2–4)

The people claim “the time has not yet come” to rebuild the temple, while living in paneled houses. God confronts their self-centeredness.

Application: Spiritual neglect often hides behind excuses. In practice, we must examine whether comfort and personal projects have displaced devotion to God’s work.

2. Consequences of Neglect (vv. 5–11)

Despite hard labor—sowing, eating, drinking, clothing—the people remain unsatisfied. God explains that He withheld blessing because His house lay in ruins.

Application: When God is sidelined, efforts feel empty. In practice, true fulfillment comes only when priorities align with His kingdom, not our own gain.

3. Call to Action and Obedience (vv. 8)

God commands: “Go up to the hills, bring wood, and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified.”

Application: Obedience is tangible. In practice, honoring God requires concrete steps—time, resources, and effort directed toward His purposes.

4. Communal Response and Renewal (vv. 12–15)

Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant obey, fearing the Lord. God stirs their spirit, and they begin rebuilding together.

Application: Renewal is communal. In practice, leaders and people must unite in reverence and action, creating momentum for God’s work that transforms the whole community.



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