MPV Commentary

Neglecting to Build God's House: The Evil of This Neglect to Themselves: The Honor to God of Attending to It: The People's Penitent Obedience under Zerubbabel Followed by God's Gracious Assurance.

1. In the second year of Darius, the king of Medo-Persia, and in the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar, the Lord spoke through Haggai, His prophet, to address the people of Judah. The Lord was speaking specifically to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, who had been appointed by Cyrus, and Joshua, the high priest.

The time for rebuilding God's house had come, but the people were reluctant to start. They claimed that it was not yet the right time, citing the fact that they still had two years left in their seventy-year captivity. However, this was a mere excuse, as the true reason for their delay was their selfish desire to enjoy the comforts of life without making sacrifices.

2. The Lord rebuked the people for their lack of concern for His house and their own well-being. He pointed out that while they were busy building their own homes and enjoying luxuries, God's house remained unfinished and neglected. This was a clear indication of their priorities and values.

3. The Lord called on the people to consider their ways and examine their actions. They had been neglecting their duty to God, thinking that by doing so, they could avoid poverty and hardship. However, this approach only led to further suffering and poverty. Instead of cheating God, they had been cheating themselves.

4. The people's selfishness was evident in the way they spent their time and resources. They were busy building their own homes, but neglecting God's house. They thought that by doing so, they could accumulate wealth and enjoy a comfortable life. However, this approach only led to disappointment and poverty.

5. The Lord reminded the people that He takes pleasure in His people when they honor Him with their lives. When they prioritize God's house and work together to build it, He will be glorified and honored. This is in stark contrast to their current situation, where they were busy building their own homes while neglecting God's house.

6. The Lord pointed out that the people's actions had consequences. They had neglected God's house, thinking that by doing so, they could avoid poverty and hardship. However, this approach only led to further suffering and poverty. Their crops were withering away, and their labor was being wasted because of their disobedience.

7. The Lord called on the people to go up to the mountains and gather wood for the construction of God's house. This was a necessary step in rebuilding the temple, and it would be a sign of their commitment to honoring God.

8. The Lord promised that He would take pleasure in the work being done to rebuild His house. He would be glorified and honored when His people worked together to build Him a house where He could dwell among them.

9. The people had been hoping to accumulate wealth by neglecting God's house, but this approach only led to disappointment and poverty. They thought that they could get away with disobeying God, but their actions had consequences.

10. The Lord pointed out that heaven itself was withholding its blessings from the people because of their disobedience. This was a clear indication of God's displeasure with their actions.

11. The Lord declared that He was the one who called for famine and drought to come upon the land. These were not random events, but rather a direct result of the people's disobedience.

12. The Lord reminded the people that they had been given a second chance to obey Him. They had heard His message through Haggai, and now it was time for them to take action.

13. The Lord assured the people that He would be with them as they worked on rebuilding His house. This was not just a promise of physical presence, but also a guarantee of spiritual support and guidance.

14. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel and Joshua, giving them the courage and perseverance to continue working on the temple. They collected the necessary materials and began the construction process.

15. On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, three months after Haggai's first message, the people finally started building God's house. This marked a significant turning point in their relationship with God, as they began to prioritize His house and work together to build it.