Haggai 1:12-15
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, just as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people, saying, “ ‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord.”
14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of armies, their God,
15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.
Positive Response
The people’s response
It is written, “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, just as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord” (v 12). (1) First, the leaders responded positively to the message proclaimed by Haggai. Zerubbabel was the political leader, and Joshua was the religious leader. Blessed are the people who have leaders who fear God. (2) Next, “all the remnant of the people” likewise responded positively. The term “remnant” can refer to a small number of true believers, but in the book of Haggai it simply means “the remaining minority.” (3) The reason such a positive response arose was that Haggai’s words were understood to be the voice of the Lord. They recognized the authority of the Lord who was speaking through Haggai and feared the Lord.
The Lord’s response
The Lord was pleased with the people’s positive response. “Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people, saying, ‘I am with you,’ declares the Lord” (v 13). (1) Haggai is called “the messenger of the Lord.” He received the word from the Lord and conveyed it to the people as it was. That is the mission of a prophet. (2) The word of the Lord was, “I am with you.” For the people who were in distress and fear, there was no greater encouragement than this promise. Here is the principle: “Come close to God and He will come close to you” (James 4:8a).
The people’s action
Finally, the people took action. (1) They began the work of rebuilding the temple. “On the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month” (v 15). In other words, the people took action 23 days after Haggai’s first message. (2) It is rare to find a prophet like Haggai who moved the people in such a short time. Behind this was the work of the Lord (the Holy Spirit). Blessed are those whose hearts are stirred by the Holy Spirit. We also need such encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
Today's prayer
Father God Jesus Christ, pour into me the vision and strength necessary to carry out Your will. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.