CRITICAL NOTES.]
Haggai 1:12-15] The result of reproof. Obey] i.e. To lay to heart, so as to obey what was heard. Fear] The first-fruit of hearing; the second given Haggai 1:13-14] The penitence of the people with their rulers, met with the promise of Divine aid. Messenger] (cf. Malachi 2:7; Galatians 4:14). Message] i.e. invested with his authority and commission.
Haggai 1:14. Stirred] To awaken the spirit of a man is to make him willing and glad to carry out his resolutions (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:26; 2 Chronicles 21:16; Ezra 1:1-5). God gave them energy and perseverance in the work. Did] Thus, filled with joyfulness, courage, and strength, they began the work on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius (Haggai 1:15); that is to say, twenty-three days after Haggai had first addressed his challenge to them. The interval had been spent in deliberation and counsel, and in preparations for carrying out the work [Keil].
HOMILETICS
THE PERFORMANCE OF NEGLECTED DUTY.—Haggai 1:12-15
The effect of the prophet’s words upon the people was powerful and abiding, and upon the very first indication of a change in their disposition, he is commissioned to tell them that God’s favour had already returned, and that he would assist them in their labours. The work is then speedily recommenced under the influence of that new zeal with which Jehovah inspires both leaders and people [Lange].
I. Duty performed in the right spirit. It is a critical time when individuals and societies are warned by the voice of God in his word and works. Weal or woe depends upon submission or rejection. The Jews returned to duty.
1. In a spirit of obedience. “They obeyed the voice of the Lord their God.” (a) Universally. “Zerubbabel and Joshua, with all the remnant of the people.” (b) Sincerely. “According to the words of Haggai the prophet.”
2. In a spirit of humility. “The people did fear before the Lord.” They dreaded Divine wrath, regarded Divine authority, and trembled at the word of God. When the word expounds the providence of God, men often discern their sins, and serve the Lord with fear.
II. Duty performed by Divine help. When God saw the penitence of the people, even before they began to work, he passes from reproof to tenderness and encouragement.
1. By the teaching of the prophet. “Then spake Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, in the Lord’s message.” The direction of the prophet was clear, constant, and authoritative.
2. By the stirring up of the people. “The Lord stirred up” the spirit of prince, priest, and the remnant of the people. Though slothful in themselves, God gave them strength, alacrity, and joy in their work. He strengthens the feeblest hand, warms the coldest heart, and imparts every necessary influence to revive his work.
3. By the manifestation of his presence. “I am with you, saith the Lord.” This includes all other blessings, and is the sure guarantee of success. Nothing more inspirits men, and rouses thorn from torpor, than promise of Divine aid and successful issue of work. But God’s presence is conditioned to the Church by obedience only (Matthew 28:20). “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 12:9).
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
1. For the word to be effectual, God’s authority must be seen and acknowledged in the message and messenger. “Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, in the Lord’s message.”
2. When God is thus seen in his Divine authority and covenant relation, men will submit themselves, and encourage others to do the same. Zerubbabel and Joshua first, and then all the remnant of the people, obeyed.
3. When we consider that God can bless beyond all probability—for here, by one sermon, all the people set about a long-neglected duty, in the midst of many difficulties—it should encourage God’s servants to go on with their work [cf. Hutcheson]. This was the beginning of a conversion. In this one thing they began to do what, all along in their history, and most in their decay before the captivity, they refused to do—obey God’s word [Pusey]. Successful preachers need not ascribe to themselves the merit of the results of their labours. It is the voice of God which makes their hearers listen. Whom God makes strong for his service, he first subdues to his fear [Lange].
Haggai 1:13. “I am with you.” Here all former threatening is recalled, and all former disobedience forgiven [Burck]. All the needs and longings of the creature are summed up in those two words, I with you [Pusey].
1. Consider who speaks—a Divine Being. No other could promise and fulfil. This specially needed to give assurance, joy, and success.
2. Consider to whom God speaks. Jews, weak, harassed, and dispirited. Then to all represented by them. Preachers, teachers, and all Christian workers. How should this promise enspirit and strengthen! “God’s promises are a defence against man’s threatenings” [Mason].
Haggai 1:13-14. The presence of God in our labours:
1. The conditions on which it may be secured;
2. Its influence upon our souls;
3. Its consequences in our achievements [Lange].
Haggai 1:15. The time is diligently noted, to teach us to take good note of the moments, wherein matters of moment have been, by God’s help, begun, continued, and perfected in the Church. This will be of singular use to increase our faith and affect our hearts [Trapp]. Let those who have fallen into spiritual torpor, but are now awakened, endeavour as far as possible to make up for time past, by redoubled diligence for whatever time may be left. The longer we have loitered, the more let us henceforth redeem the time in self-devoting labours for the Lord [Fausset].
“’Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours,
And ask them what report they bore to heaven,
And how they might have borne more welcome news” [Young].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 1
Haggai 1:8; Haggai 1:12-15. Obeyed. The longer the soul hath neglected duty, the more ado there is to get it taken up; partly through shame, the soul having played the truant, knows not how to look God in the face, and partly from the difficulty of the work, being double to what another finds that walks in the exercise of his grace. It requires more time for him to tune his instrument than for another to play the lesson [An old Divine]. Those who give to God only the shadow of duty, can never expect from him a real reward [Flavel].
“Never anything can be amiss,
When simpleness and duty tender it.” [Shakespeare.]