God’s Work Grinds to a Halt

These were the conditions during the early part of the reign of Darius Hystaspes. The Israelites were in a sad state. They complained and doubted and chose to make their personal interests first. Seeing the Lord’s temple in ruins did not stir them to action. Many had lost sight of God’s purpose in restoring them to Judea, and these were saying, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” Haggai 1:2.RR 201.4

But God raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to meet the crisis. These appointed messengers revealed to the people the cause of their troubles. Their lack of prosperity resulted from neglecting to put God’s interests first. If the Israelites had honored God by making the building of His house their first work, they would have invited His presence and blessing.RR 201.5

Haggai raised the pointed inquiry, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Verse 4. Why do you feel concern for your own buildings and unconcern for the Lord’s building? The desire to escape poverty has led you to neglect the temple, but this neglect has brought on you the very thing you feared.RR 201.6

“You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” Verse 6.RR 201.7

Then the Lord revealed the cause that had brought them to poverty: “‘You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore ... I called for a drought on the land.’” Verses 9-11.RR 201.8

“Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified.” Verses 7, 8.RR 202.1

Haggai’s hearers took the message to heart. The leaders and people dared not disregard the instruction sent—that prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, depended on faithful obedience to God’s commands. Stirred to action, Zerubbabel and Joshua, “with the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet.” Verse 12.RR 202.2