Then spake Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, in the Lord’s message unto the people.
The message of Jehovah
This means in his official capacity as a messenger or ambassador of Jehovah, with the authority of Him in whose name he spake. There is something very beautiful in the sudden change of tone manifest in the message of God. The people had not yet begun to work, but as soon as they showed a disposition to do so, the stern and reproving tone of God is changed for one of the most exquisite tenderness. It is as if He hastened to forget their former unfaithfulness, and to assure them that, in spite of all, He was not only willing to be with them, but actually was with them as soon as their hearts turned towards Him. This presence of God is regarded rightly as being the highest blessing that could be bestowed on them, and the surest guarantee of success. They had the same jealous enemies yet round them that had arrested the work before, but God assures them that now He was with them, and nothing should be allowed again to hinder the work. (T. V. Moore, D. D.)
The Lord’s messenger proclaiming union
I. Jehovah’s messenger. Ministers are messengers. It is not every man that gets into a pulpit that is a messenger. God only can appoint messengers.
II. The Lord’s message. Their message is one of mercy, of everlasting life. It is the Gospel. Salvation as the gift of God. Not of works. All boasting is excluded.
III. The message is to the people. Jehovah’s elect are a peculiar people, a purchased people, a special people, elect and redeemed. We cannot tell who the elect are.
IV. The special message in the text. “I am with you.” Jehovah is always with His people, and has been, and will be so everlastingly. (J. J. West, M. A.)