Obey obey obey

"You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Hag 1:6

Isn't that true... when we disobey God, there's often that feeling of uneasiness. We may go about normal 'daily life' things but there's something missing and I know I've experienced it: that when I eat, I dont feel full and drink but am not satisfied.

Just like the Israelites, when we walk in disobedience and carry our stubborn, unbelieving heart, everything becomes meaningless. Meaningless, meaningless.. and what was the conclusion of that? Ecc 12:13 "Now that all has been heard: here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Take meaningless to meaningful as you fear God and keep his commandments --> which points to our relationship with God and obedience!

With disobedience, we cannot enter into God's rest as we learn from Hebrews 4:6 "It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience."

***

When we're given a task by God, we should not worry and should not fear. In Hag 1:13, it says that Haggai, the Lord's messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: "I am with you," declares the Lord." HE IS WITH US!

Awesome.

and again Hag 2:3-5 "'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now?'" (((In the face of discouragement...))) "'Does it not seem to you like nothing? But 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, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'This is what i covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'"

Take your church or ministry group. Are numbers dwindling? In comparison to years of former glory where congregations were 5 times this amount? Are you discouraged? Take God's words.. I believe they apply just as much to our situation as the Israelites. God never breaks his covenant and what he covenanted with them, remains standing with us. Do not fear and have peace (Hag 2:9).

Context of Haggai

(Here is what I understand :) Let me know if something is blindingly wrong!?)

The timing of this book is around 520BC when the Israelites who had been exiled to Babylon were allowed to come back to their home land. But their home land was in ruins (that's what happens when enemies kick you out!) and there was the call to begin rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah at the time and they began by building the Altar in 536BC. However the work on the temple slowed because people/workers were more concerned about building their own homes than finishing God's work. Haggai was sent by God (along with Zechariah and Malachi, the other two post-exilic prophets) to encourage the leaders to continue building and finish the task!

When I write this, what immediately comes to mind is Matt 6:33 and the parallel between the Lord saying through Haggai:

"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" (Hag 1:4) and

".. seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt 6:33)

Parallels because in 520BC and Jesus's time on earth and right now (our time on earth!) we should be seeking first God's kingdom.. It's about the focus of the exiled people then and our focus now. Is our focus on our own houses and comforts or is it on God and what He wants?

1st Post 1st Thoughts

Haggai is short yet sharp with strong connections to other books in the Old Testament as well as recurring themes in the New.

Looking forward to fleshing it out!