From this day on, consider this

Haggai 2:1–23 ESV

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ” 10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’ ” The priests answered and said, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. 15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.” 20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

Haggai ch1 tells us the story of God's people who were living in their own selfishness and yet were not prospering, and the proclamation of God’s Word pointed them to repentant obedience. And now ch2 tells us...

Repentant hearts affirms God's presence, giving strength to live in obedience to Him, a Spirit-blessed life.

From this day on, consider this...God’s presence is with you and therefore He strengthens you to live for Him. HAGGAI 2:1-9

God calls them to repent by working. It was important that they understood their sin, and it was vital that they recognized God’s grace, but all of that would be wasted potential if they did not respond in obedience, which demonstrated their repentance (hence “the just shall live by faith”).

Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV)

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Galatians 3:11 ESV

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 ESV

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Transformed hearts don't happen on their own. God's work is carried out by hands with transformed hearts. This was the point that God was making through verse 3-4, God declares, in light of our sin and His grace, He is with us. So take strength in Him to live by faith!

God concludes with the point that motivates all of this. If they will understand their sin and if they will repent of their selfish ways, then they will experience His presence. God’s presence is directly connected to the success of their work. It is also directly connected to experience joy and satisfaction. Verse 5 points out that because God’s presence is among them, they will not have to be afraid, they can rest in God’s presence.

The promise of God’s presence moves His people to repentance and action. As we see throughout the whole of Scripture, there are many reasons why one will be blessed by following God, but none is more significant than the promise of God’s presence. “Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be at the door of the house of my God than to live in the tents of wicked people” Psalms 84:10.

From this day on, consider this… Sin causes rejection of our sacrifices and offerings to God. HAGGAI 2:10–14

God is leading them down this path to help them understand the depth of sin. This comparison to a corpse illustrates two central truths.

First, their sin has caused them to become spiritually dead and defilement. Second, because they are dead and defiled, no amount of activity on their part would profit them until they had repented of their sin.

God illustrates a central truth that is found throughout Scripture: our sin has separated us from God and has caused us to be spiritually dead. The church in Sardis (in Revelation) is an example of that thought of itself as alive but was dead.

Revelation 3:1 (ESV)

1 “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

The impurity of their hearts and lives shall make the work of their hands, and all their offerings, unclean before God. The case is the same with us, all of our good works, as well as the appearance of godliness, would be for nothing if it was not accompanied by repentance.

When God is not at the heart, our offerings and sacrifices are rejected by Him, no blessing is received. No amount of effort on our part would improve our condition apart from repentant hearts.

Have you been guilty of deceiving yourself to believe you are fine, when in truth you are living in unrepentant sin?

From this day on, consider this… God replaces the curse of sin and death with His unmerited blessing. HAGGAI 2:15–19

In order to live for God, it is necessary to remember where we come from. Those who are deeply aware of their sin will also be deeply affected by grace. This was Jesus’ message in Luke 7 when the sinful woman anointed Him with oil in front of His disciples. In response to their objections, Jesus pointed out...

Luke 7:47 ESV

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Verses 15–19 of Haggai 2 are God’s means of calling the nation of Israel to repentance. It is a call to remember where they had come from so that they could celebrate what God, in His grace, would do. Yes, they had been greatly disobedient; yes, they had long run from God, but that has now changed. They had confessed, they were repentant, they were ready to honor God with their actions, but most of all with their hearts. God built a greater temple—a temple that we would come to know as Jesus Christ, who gives unmerited blessing—grace.

When we begin to realise our works for God, we may expect his blessing; and whoso is wise will understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. God will curse the labor of the wicked, and make bitter the prosperity of the careless; but he will sweeten the cup of affliction to the repentant hearts who diligently serve him.

So we ought to consider where we have come from—a life defiled by sin, and be encouraged by what God has called us to—a life blessed by His presence.

From this day on, consider this… In Christ, you are Spirit-blessed . HAGGAI 2:20–23

Haggai’s closing verses emphasize the future hope of redemption represented by Yahweh’s Messiah at the coming Day of the Lord. Here is also foretold the establishment and continuation of God’s kingdom; by union with his people who are sealed with the Holy Spirit, distinguished from all others. Here also is foretold the changes, even to that time when the kingdom of Christ shall overthrow and occupy the place of all the worldly dominions which opposed God’s will.

The promise has special reference to Christ, who descended from Zerubbabel in a direct line. Our Lord Jesus is the Signet on God’s right hand, for all power is given to him, and derived from him. By him, and in him, all the promises of God are yes and amen.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:4-14 that anyone who is in Christ receives every Spirit-blessings.

“Spirit-blessing” (Lit. εὐλογίᾳ πνευματικῇ) does not refer to the nature of the blessing (as spiritual instead of physical) but to the source of the blessing. It is a gift of God’s Spirit. (by Tim Mackie)

These Spirit-given blessings include:

• Election/choseness (1:4)

• Adoption as God’s children (1:5)

• Grace (1:6)

• Redemption (1:7a)

• Forgiveness of sins (1:7b)

• Knowledge of God’s purpose (1:9)

• Hope of a future inheritance (1:11-12)

• The presence of God’s Spirit (1:13-14)

In Christ, is a declaration of the restoration of the close relationship between God and His chosen people. God not only forgives, He not only redeems, He not only blesses, but He also restores.

CONCLUSION

Haggai tells a message what was initially a kingdom in ruins, slowly dying in its own disobedience, is now a strong and blessed kingdom because God had not forgotten or given up on them. They have sinned, but there is hope yet—this is essentially the message of God.

God is doing what He has always done and will always do: He is encouraging us that even though we are sinful, His grace is greater than our sin. This is the glorious truth of the gospel, that “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8)

How encouraging is it to know that those who have repented and trusted in Christ are God’s “chosen ones”? How can you reflect often today on God’s compassionate love for you?

So from this day on consider this, repentant hearts affirms God's presence in you, giving you strength to live in obedience to Him, a Spirit-blessed life.