Daily Devotions
Haggai
"Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses?"
Text: Haggai 1:4
GOD’S POINTED REPLY
God was forthright in His answer to the excuse that the returnees came up with.
“Then the word of the LORD came
by Haggai the prophet, saying,
‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in paneled houses,
and this temple to lie in ruins?'”
Haggai 1:3-4
1. “Then the word of the LORD came”
a) The answer came from God Himself.
b) This “word of the LORD” was therefore authoritative.
2. “By Haggai the prophet”
a) Haggai was once again mentioned as the prophet of God.
b) He was given a message from the LORD.
c) His part was to proclaim God’s word clearly.
d) He must boldly challenge the wrong of the returnees.
3. “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in paneled houses?”
a) The argument put forward by the returnees was that this was not the right time.
b) The Lord questioned their argument:
i) The returnees had devoted time to rebuild their lives.
ii) They had time to rebuild their houses.
iii) Some of them were “paneled houses”.
iv) These houses must have been beautiful and had been built at great expense!
v) Was this the right time to devote so much energy and effort to build their fortunes?
4. “And this temple to lie in ruins?”
a) The work of the temple had begun.
b) The foundations had in fact been laid.
c) But the work had been hindered by their enemies.
d) The work of rebuilding the temple had ceased.
e) The focus was no longer on the temple building.
f) The enemies had also opposed the Jews at every turn, but they had persevered.
Why was this spirit of perseverance not applied to the temple project?