Haggai 1:9-The Lord Disciplined the Remnant of Judah Because They Failed to Complete the Rebuilding of His Temple Lesson # 16

Haggai 1:1 On the first day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year, the Lord spoke this message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak: 1:2 The Lord who rules over all says this: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’ ” 1:3 So the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai as follows: 1:4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses while my temple is in ruins? 1:5 Here then is what the Lord who rules over all says: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. 1:6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” 1:7 “Moreover, the Lord who rules over all says: ‘Pay close attention to these things also. 1:8 Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored,’ says the Lord. 1:9 ‘You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?’ asks the Lord who rules over all. ‘Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! 1:10 This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce. 1:11 Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.’” (NET)

The prophet Haggai under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit asserts in Haggai 1:9 the remnant of Judah was expecting much but instead there was little.

The reference to “much” (hǎr·bē(h)) is referring to a large harvest, and the reference to “little” (meʿǎṭ) refers to a small harvest.

This is indicated by the Lord’s statement in Haggai 1:10 in which He asserts that He prevented the earth’s atmosphere to produce dew on the ground and consequently the earth’s produce.

This is followed by a second declaration which is in addition to the first and asserts that when the remnant of Judah brought this small harvest home, the Lord blew it away.

The Lord through the prophet poses a question to this remnant as to why the He did this to their harvests.

He promptly answers by asserting that the reason He did this was because of His temple, which existed at the time in a state of disrepair while each member of the remnant of Judah was busying themselves with their own homes.

These assertions in Haggai 1:9 make clear that the Lord was disciplining the remnant of Judah for failing to complete the task of rebuilding His temple in Jerusalem while they busied themselves with their own homes.

This discipline is based upon Deuteronomy 11:17 and 14-15.

Now, as we noted in our study of Haggai 1:4-8, that because of the chiastic structure of Haggai 1:4-9, the first declaration in Haggai 1:9 parallels or corresponds to the first declaration in Haggai 1:6 that the remnant of Judah planted much but harvest little.

We also noted that because of this chiastic structure, the Lord’s question, which He poses to the remnant of Judah and His answer to this question in Haggai 1:9 parallels or corresponds to the rhetorical question He poses this remnant in Haggai 1:4.

This chiastic structure also indicates that the emphasis of Haggai 1:4-11 is Haggai 1:8 in which the Lord commands the remnant of Judah to complete the rebuilding the temple by procuring lumber for the project.

Haggai 1:10-11 explains the meaning of the second economic disaster which was drought.

A comparison of Haggai 1:4-9 with Haggai 1:10-11 reveals that the reason for the drought is the same reason for the first economic problem the remnant of Judah was experiencing, namely, failure to complete rebuilding of the Lord’s temple.

In other words, they were having economic and agricultural disasters because He was disciplining them.

The rhetorical function of Haggai 1:10-11 and its interpretation as divine discipline for failing to complete the rebuilding of the temple is based upon Deuteronomy 11:17, 14-15.

In Haggai 1:4, the adjective ḥā·rēḇ, “ruins” here in Haggai 1:9 is expressing the idea of “unfinished disrepair” and pertains to a structure being in need of repair and not brought to an end or completed state.

It does not mean “ruin” which pertains to the remains of something destroyed, nor does it mean “desolate” since this word expresses the idea of being devoid of inhabitants.

Ezra 3:2-3 asserts that the priests were offering sacrifices on a rebuilt altar.

In fact, significant work had already been done to rebuild the temple since Ezra 3:10-11 asserts the builders had established the Lord’s temple, which resulted in the priests and Levites giving thanks and praise to the Lord.

However, Ezra 4 reveals that the project never came to completion because the enemies of Judah successfully persuaded the Persian monarch Artaxerxes to stop the projection.

Therefore, the temple was not in ruins but rather was still in a state or disrepair.

So therefore, Ezra 3-4 make clear that significant work had already taken place in rebuilding the temple, but the project was never completed because the remnant of Judah was forced to stop by King Artaxerxes at the behest of Judah’s enemies.

Thus, this adjective ḥā·rēḇ in Haggai 1:4 and 9 is expressing the idea of the temple being in a state of disrepair.

Therefore, the rhetorical question in Haggai 1:4 and the one which He answers Himself in Haggai 1:9 are expressing the Lord’s indignation with the remnant of Judah.

Haggai’s point is that it is utterly repulsive for the remnant of Judah to assert that it was not yet time to complete the rebuilding of the Lord’s temple while simultaneously in stark contrast they were building homes for themselves and furnishing them and some cases doing so elaborately.

In other words, it is shameful that they ensured their own personal security and comfort while forsaking the completion of rebuilding the Lord’s temple.

The rhetorical question in Haggai 1:4 and the one in Haggai 1:9 which the Lord promptly answers were designed to cause the remnant of Judah to reflect on their priorities.

What did they place a greater priority on, their own comfort and interests or those of God?

As was the case in Haggai 1:2, 5 and 7, and now here in Haggai 1:9, the God of Israel describes Himself as “the Lord ruling over the armies.”

This expression also emphasizes the divine origin of Haggai’s message to the remnant of Judah.

It would also be a reminder to this remnant of Judah that the God of Israel was in control and not the human rulers on the earth who might be hindering this rebuilding project or preventing them from performing this task.

If the God of Israel is the Lord ruling over the angelic and human armies, then this remnant has no excuse for not rebuilding the Lord’s temple.

If the God of Israel wants this remnant to rebuild His temple, they should waste no time in doing so since no one will be able to stop this task from being accomplished if God is sovereign and ruling over human and angelic armies and rulers.