DOES THE LORD’S HOUSE LIE IN RUINS?

Tom Moore

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Haggai 1:1-15

INTRODUCTION

About 600 years before Christ, Judah was taken captive to Babylon...

Jerusalem with its temple was plundered and burned

Seventy years later, the Jews were allowed to return

It was the Lord's intention that the Jews rebuild the temple...

He stirred up Cyrus of Persia to let them do this...

Ezra 1:1–5 ASV

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whosoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Jehovah, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. 5 Then rose up the heads of fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem.

But once the people returned to Jerusalem, other things began to take precedence

God then sent Haggai to the Jews with a simple message...

The message was “Build the temple!”

The message has an application for the church today

Turning in our Bibles to Haggai 1, let's take a closer look at...

DISCUSSION

HAGGAI’S MESSAGE TO ISRAEL

THE ATTITUDE OF THE JEWS...

Haggai 1:1–2 ASV

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, It is not the time for us to come, the time for Jehovah’s house to be built.

Their reasoning can be inferred from...

Haggai 1:3–4 ASV

3 Then came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste?

They were too busy building their own homes!

They put building their own homes before the Lord’s house!

Their attitude is made clear in

Haggai 1:9b ASV

While the Lord’s house lay in ruins...

...everyone was concerned with their own home!

THE MESSAGE OF HAGGAI...

Haggai 1:4 ASV

4 Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste?

The Lord’s challenge...

Haggai 1:5 ASV

5 Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.

Things had not been going well...

Haggai 1:6

They should have been building the temple...

Haggai 1:7-8

Because they had put building their homes before the Lord’s house...

They prospered little; what little they had the Lord blew away...

Haggai 1:9 ASV

The Lord even called for a drought in judgment upon them...

Haggai 1:10–11 ASV

10 Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholdeth its fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.

The preaching of Haggai proved successful; in reverence the people obeyed and completed the construction of the temple

Haggai 1:12–15 ASV

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 Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah. 13 Then spake Haggai Jehovah’s messenger in Jehovah’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah. 14 And Jehovah 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 did work on the house of Jehovah of hosts, their God, 15 in the four and twentieth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Since this was written for our admonition...

1 Corinthians 10:11 ASV

11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

Let’s now consider...

HAGGAI’S APPLICATION TO THE CHURCH

WE FACE A SIMILAR TASK...

Not the building of a physical structure

For God does not dwell in temples made with hands...

Acts 17:24 ASV

24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

The temple of God is now the church...

1 Corinthians 1:2 ASV

2 unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours:

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ASV

16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

Though a spiritual structure, God’s temple is still undergoing construction

The foundation is the work of Jesus, apostles and prophets...

Ephesians 2:19–22 ASV

19 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

It grows as people are converted by the preaching of the gospel...

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 ASV

5 What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him. 6 I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow-workers: ye are God’s husbandry, God’s building.

It grows internally as those converted do their part...

Ephesians 4:15–16 ASV

15 but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; 16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

So we have a similar task to “Build the temple!” (a never-ending task)

HAGGAI'S MESSAGE IS VERY APPLICABLE...

Does the Lord’s house lie in ruins, while we run to our own homes?

The Lord’s house (the church) does lie in ruins if we...

Allow other things to keep us from doing our part to evangelize the lost

Neglect to do our part in edifying the body of Christ

Whatever our abilities and opportunities, we have a responsibility in the building of the Lord’s house today

It may involve teaching or serving

Romans 12:3–8 ASV

3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. 4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; 8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Peter 4:10–11 ASV

10 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 11 if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

It may involve going or sending...

Romans 10:14–15 ASV

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

Through exercising our abilities, we can build the temple of God today; otherwise the Lord’s house will lie in ruins!

Is it time to dwell in paneled homes, and let the Lord’s house lie in ruin?

Evidently some think so, if they say: “I will serve the Lord as soon as I...”

“...finish my schooling”

“...get on top of the responsibilities of my job”

“...raise my children”

In each case, is not the bottom line the same?

The Lord’s house lies in ruin

While we go about our own way with our own lives

In Haggai’s day, it was not time to put other things before the Lord’s house; nor is it time to do so today!

We must put the kingdom of God first...

Matthew 6:33 ASV

33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We must put the Lord first...

Matthew 10:37–39 ASV

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Might we need to “consider our ways”?

Are things not going the way they should?

Perhaps there is a divine reason for the “drought” in our lives?

Perhaps the Lord in His providence is telling us something!

If we will put the Lord and His kingdom (house) first...

God will provide our necessities...

Matthew 6:31–33 ASV

31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God will multiply our seed for sowing...

2 Corinthians 9:6–11 ASV

6 But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: 9 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever. 10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: 11 ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

If we neglect the Lord’s work...

We won’t have God’s providence helping us

We may even experience God’s loving discipline

Haggai 1:9–11 ASV

9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith Jehovah of hosts. Because of my house that lieth waste, while ye run every man to his own house. 10 Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholdeth its fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.

1 Corinthians 11:31–32 ASV

31 But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Hebrews 12:5–11 ASV

5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 11 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.

CONCLUSION

We saw that the Jews took to heart the message of Haggai...

Haggai 1:12 ASV

What we did not stress was the Lord's response:“I am with you, saith the Jehovah.” (Hag 1:13)

The phrase “I am with you” is interesting

It is similar to the promise made by Jesus in the Great Commission...

Matthew 28:18–20 ASV

18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Thus we have the assurance that if we observe all that Christ commanded...

He will be with us always

Even as God was with Israel