BIG IDEA:
THE LORD IS WITH THOSE WHO OBEDIENTLY COMMIT TO PERFORM HIS WORK FOR HIS GLORY
INTRODUCTION:
The Lord works in our hearts through His revelation to stir up our hearts to carry out His work. His revelation demands a response of obedience. His leaders should set the example and galvanize corporate support for working together to promote the glory of God. The reassurance of the presence of God with His obedient people provides the confidence and security to carry out the task – no matter how difficult and no matter the obstacles.
I. (:12) THE PROPER RESPONSE TO THE AUTHORITATIVE, COMMANDING WORD OF GOD
A. Unified Response – on the part of all the key leaders and all the people
1. On the Part of the Key Leaders
a. Zerubbabel – Political Leader
“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel”
b. Joshua – Religious Leader
“and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest”
2. On the Part of All the People
“with all the remnant of the people”
Hanko: The people are referred to now as the remnant, not as “this people.” In that way God shows that he still cared for them as he had when he brought them back from Babylon. For us, however, that name “remnant” not only to reminds us of their small numbers – less than 50,000 had returned from Babylon – but to show us that the church is always but a remnant among men, and that her size and insignificance, does not in any way excuse her from her calling to be built up a spiritual temple and a dwelling place of God. It reminds us, too, that the word of encouragement which God sends through Haggai was necessary because of their small numbers and other discouragements.
B. Obedient Response – Revelation Demands a Response of Obedience
1. Revelation Demands a Response of Obedience Because of Its Divine Source
“obeyed the voice of the Lord their God”
God’s Word is
– Authoritative – Not human, but Divine in its Origin
– Commanding – Calls for submissive action
– Clear – Perspicuity of Scriptures
2. Revelation Demands a Response of Obedience as it is Faithfully Communicated by God’s Appointed Messenger
“and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him”
How do we respond to God’s appointed messengers?
How do we distinguish between those genuine prophets whom God has sent vs those self-appointed false prophets who run on their own?
C.. Reverent Response
“And the people showed reverence for the Lord.”
How did they show reverence? How do we show reverence?
Mackay: “Fear” is often used to refer to that attitude of reverence and awe that should characterize us before God. . . But the expression here is not the usual one, but rather “feared before the Lord” which indicates consternation and fright. It is used to express the people’s fear of the fire of God at Sinai (Deut. 5:5) and later of their fear of the king of Babylon (Jer. 42:11; see also Ex. 9:30; 1 Kgs. 3:28). On this occasion it might have arisen from their consciences being smitten by awareness of their former lapses. They had not carried out all the plans they had made. They had failed to do what God required. The solemn reality came home to them of how dreadful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31). How different this was from the way their forefathers had resented and spurned the messages brought by the former prophets.
II. (:13) THE PERSONAL REASSURANCE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE = HIS PROTECTION, AND PROVIDENTIAL PROVISION
A. The Messenger of the Word of Reassurance
“Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord,”
B. The Authority of the Word of Reassurance
“spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people”
Not giving false hope or false promises of peace and provision
C. The Significance of the Word of Reassurance
“saying, ‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.’”
– Divine Protection
– Providential Provision
Mackay: Reminders of God’s presence with his people are often accompanied by a “Fear not” (2 Chr. 20:17; Isa. 41:10; Acts 18:9-10). The reality of God’s reconciled and restored presence was signified by the Tabernacle and Temple.
Hanko: The words that Haggai brought are the heart of every word of encouragement God gives us. He does not tell us what is ahead, he never tries to reassure us by minimizing future difficulties or by promising that there would be none. All he ever really says is this, “I am with you.” We must remember that in all our work and not judge the value and profit by visible results, by the lack of difficulties, or by our own perceptions of the work.
III. (:14-15) THE PEOPLE’S RESOLVE TO PERFORM THE LOFTY WORK OF THE LORD
“consider our high calling” – not some mundane, insignificant work we are called to perform; this work concerns the very glory of God
Mackay: “Stir up” is literally “wake up” (it is the word used in Zech. 4:1). The people had become lethargic – with respect to divine things, at any rate. God makes them willing and glad to carry out what is required (Ps. 110:3; 2 Cor. 9:16).
A. Energized by the Spirit of God
1. The Lord Stirred Up the Key Leaders
a. Zerubbabel – Political Leader
“So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah”
b. Joshua – Religious Leader
“and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest”
2. The Lord Stirred Up the People
“and the spirit of all the remnant of the people”
B. Committed to Engage the Lofty Task and Work Hard for God’s Glory
1. Overcoming the Inertia to Get Started
“and they came”
2. Working Hard for God’s Glory
“and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God”
Obedience is not just a determination to do the right thing; it involves carrying out the action itself – good intentions are not enough
Cf. lessons from Book of Nehemiah
We know from chapter 2 that the people needed repeated encouragement to continue to take up the work and persevere and see it through to conclusion.
C. Date Stamp
“on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.”