Haggai 1:12 - Meaning and Application

As Solomon says, a gold earring or a fine gold ornament is beautiful and pleasing, so a wise rebuke given to an obedient ear is precious in God’s sight and in people’s sight (Proverbs 25:12). Here the prophet was a wise and faithful rebuker in God’s name, and he found an obedient ear. The earlier sermon had the effect God wanted, and the people’s obedience was met with God’s favor.

Notice, first, how the people returned to God in the way they should. Everyone who heard that sermon received the word gladly and was changed by it. Zerubbabel, the chief governor, did not think he was too important to accept correction from God’s word. He had been very useful in his time and had helped the church, but he did not use his past service as an excuse for present neglect. He submitted to the rebuke.

Joshua, the high priest, had the duty of teaching others, yet he was willing to be taught himself. He gladly received warning and instruction. The rest of the people, though only a small remnant of the many thousands of Israel, were also quick to yield. They all obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and bowed under his commands, and Scripture records this as their honor (Haggai 1:12). Their Father had said, “Sons, go work today in my vineyard, in my temple,” and they did not only say, “We will go, sir,” they went at once.

They saw the prophet as the Lord’s messenger, and the message he gave as the Lord’s own message to them. So they did not receive it as merely human words, but as the word of Almighty God. They obeyed because the Lord their God had sent him (Haggai 1:12). When we listen to God’s ministers, we must look beyond them to the One who sent them, and receive them for his sake as long as they speak by his commission.

They also feared before the Lord. Prophetic messages had been rare among them for a long time, so now that they had a prophet, and only one, they gave him unusual attention. Their fathers, who had many prophets, had mocked and mistreated them. It is sometimes the same way, when good preaching is scarce, it does the most good. But when heavenly bread is given in plenty, people often treat it as cheap and common.

Because they received this prophet so readily, God soon raised up another one as well, Zechariah (Zechariah 1:1). They feared before the Lord, meaning they had a deep respect for God’s authority and a real dread of his anger. They were among those who tremble at his word. The judgments they had already suffered had not brought them to this fear until God’s word came to explain his providence, and then they feared. A holy fear of God has great power in leading us to obey him. Serve the Lord with fear, for if we do not fear him, we will not serve him.

Then the Lord stirred up their spirits (Haggai 1:14). He first moved them to do their duty and put it into their hearts to begin. God’s word succeeds when God’s grace stirs our hearts to agree with it. Without that grace, we would stay dull and completely unwilling to do what is good. It is by divine power that people become willing.

He also encouraged them in their duty and made their hearts larger with hope and courage (Psalm 119:32). When they first heard the word, they were afraid. But God kept that fear from crushing them. He stirred them up and made them cheerful and bold enough to face any hard things ahead. When God has work to do, he will either find people fit for it or make them fit and stir them up to it.

They then applied themselves to the work with all possible energy. They came and worked in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God. Each person helped as much as his ability allowed, in one way or another, to move the work forward. They did it with their eyes on God, both as the Lord of hosts, the ruler of all power, and as their own God, the God of Israel. Thinking about God’s rule over all things and his covenant love for his people should stir us to serve him and to push forward his kingdom among people as far as we can.

They also acted quickly. Haggai preached this sermon on the first day of the sixth month, and by the twenty-fourth day of that same month, a little more than three weeks later, they were all busy working in the house of the Lord their God (Haggai 1:15). They showed that they were ashamed of their delay. Once they were convinced and called, they were determined not to wait any longer, but to act while the matter was still fresh in their minds. Those who have wasted time need to make it up, and the longer we have delayed doing good, the more urgently we should move once we see our mistake.

Second, we see how God met them with mercy. The same prophet who brought the rebuke brought them a comforting and encouraging word as well (Haggai 1:13). Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke in the Lord’s message, in his name, and as one sent from him, saying, “I am with you,” says the Lord. That is all he said, and it was enough, just as Christ’s word to his disciples was enough: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

“I am with you” means, I will forgive your past neglect, and it will not be counted against you. I will take away the judgments you have suffered for those failures and will act for you, just as I had acted against you. I am with you to protect you from enemies who dislike your work, to bless you, and to give you success. I am with you to strengthen your hands and bless the work you do, for without his blessing those who labor are working in vain.

Those who work for God have God with them. If God is for us, who can be against us? If he is with us, what difficulty can stand in our way?