Chapter 10

CONSIDER MY WAYS

HAGGAI, CHAPTER 1, shows a confrontation with God. The
heroes had failed. Their one great mission had been aban
doned. They had settled down to accept failure as normal
and the result was poverty in every aspect of life.

Then came Haggai with his searching cry: “Consider your
ways.” This was a challenge to stop and really take stock
of the life they were then living. The people dared to listen
to God, and slowly but surely the message came through.
They had their priorities wrong. They were quite ready to
build a house for God after they had managed to cope with
the pressing problems all around them. God’s call told them
to reverse the order: build the house for God and then trust
Him to work out the hopeless issues of daily living.

The turning point of the story, we saw, was when the peo
ple obeyed and made the tremendous decision to leave every
thing and to build the house for God. We saw the response
of God to their humble repentant hearts: He did something
new. God did not wait until the house was completed, as in
the days of Moses and Solomon. He sent out the thrilling
news: “I am with you.”

We saw how the heart of God had been yearning over His
people, waiting only to see them respond to His command.
Now in this section we will look at chapter 2 of Haggai and
see what happened when God almost could have been saying,
“Consider My ways; now see what I will do!”

Chapter 2 begins with the people reconimencing the build-
ing. For over fifteen years nothing had been done and now
they reported for duty once more. The first thing God did
for them was to restore their confidence, to build up their
spirit of enthusiasm. It was one matter, under tremendous
emotion, for them to say they would build once more; it was
quite another matter to get to the actual physical effort in-
volved. Enthusiasm is one thing; fulfillment is another.

And so God read their thoughts and realized the way their
minds were turning. They were comparing the magnificence
of Solomon’s temple with this pitiful seventeen-year-old aban-
doned building. There was no comparison. Some of the very
old men who had seen the temple of Solomon were talking
about it to the young men. As is usual with older men, they
talked about the good old days, of the gold that was every-
where on the temple, that shone and glistened in the sun-
shine, in their days.

God spoke: “Who is left among you that saw this house
in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your
eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” (2:3) . But then He
went on to remind them of the most important thing in the
temple. “Yet now be strong, 0 Zerubbabel.. . 0 Joshua...
all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am
with you, saith the LORD of hosts” (v. 4). The Lord was
actually with them, there and then. This was greater than
Solomon’s temple had experienced while it was in building.
In verse 5 God also adds, “My spirit remaineth among you:
fear ye not.” Not only was God there, He was going to
remain there—so, away with fear.

Then Haggai started to prophesy. Filled with God’s Spirit,
he told of the future of the house of the Lord: “I will shake
all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will
fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts” (v. 7)
Some commentators see “the desire of all nations” as point-
ing ahead to the Lord Himself: He will come, and God will
fill this house with glory. What a tremendous thought!

God answered, as it were, the people who were talking
about the gold of Solomon’s temple and of how poor this
new temple would be in comparison. “The silver is mine,
and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” (v. 8). God
already had the gold; what He wanted now was the glad
hearts of His people.

God then gave a tremendous promise: “The glory of this
latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the
LORD of hosts” (v. 9). How could such a poor forgotten
building excel the glory of the golden temple? But that was
the promise of God.

And then God added one more precious promise: “And
in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts” (v. 9)
They had known no peace for years, only poverty and frustra-
tion. But here was God saying to consider His ways.
You will recall that the people had been trying to straighten
out the social and economic situation before they got down
to the business of making God real. You will remember that
God told them they had their values wrong: first make God
real, then the rest will follow.

Now see how the Lord demonstrated this in His promises.
First He spoke, as we have just seen, concerning the temple.
Then He went on, as we shall now see, to deal with the trou-
ble. Three times the Lord urged the people, “And now, I
pray you, consider from this day and upward” (v. 15), “Con-
sider now from this day and upward. . . . Consider it” (v. 18).
What they had to consider was the failure in the agricultural
program. Everything had gone wrong. Then they had to
consider that from that very day, “before a stone was laid
upon a stone in the temple of the Lord,” God was going to
bless them.

Just imagine how these words would encourage the people
in their poverty: “Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the
vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive
tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you”
(verse 19). God was dealing with the practical matters of
life.

In many areas where the church is today, there is an increas
ing emphasis on what is called the social gospel. I see it
especially as I travel to countries where the standard of living
is low, and the people are struggling to make a living. I hear
the same emphasis that was made by the people in Haggai’s
day: “Sure, we will preach the gospel and bring the people
to the Lord, but first of all, let us get the economic situation
under control. Let us go ahead and organize new methods
of farming, let us teach them so that they can have a better
standard of living. Then when they are economically sound
and have managed to cope with their problems, we will
preach the gospel and tell them about their need of Jesus.”
This sounds humane and is in line with modern activist
thinking, but does it work? Do people come to God when
they are at peace and have found a measure of satisfaction?
Does outward security and sufficiency make for virile Chris
tian living?

History points to just the opposite. Jesus said in Luke
5:31, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they
that are sick.” The scriptural order is seen in Haggai. First
give God His rightful place, and then the solutions to needs
will follow. Notice especially there was no long time lapse
between the two events of obedience and blessing. There is
no reason why the two should not happen almost simultane
ously, so long as right and true relationships are established
with the Lord.

Remember also why we are using this story of “the heroes
who failed. We are seeing it especially in relation to believers,
those who really trust the Lord, and in the matter of rebellion
and independence from God. So far these people have given
us an illustration of what happens when true Christians fail
to make Jesus real in their lives. When they fail to apply the
pattern and truth of the temple in their own lives, then they
too are left without the presence and power of God. They
can be engaged in a perfectly legitimate work, as were the
people in Jerusalem. Building a home is no sin; developing
a farm or ranch is no sin. What they were doing was not sin
as such, but it was a substitute for what they were called out
to do.

What we all need to realize, as believers, is the one purpose
for which we were called. The whole Christian life is an
increasing experience of involvement with Christ. First we
meet Him at the cross, and by His death He saves us from
our sins and assures us of a home in heaven. All this comes
to us through an involvement with the saving death of Christ.
Then, having been saved by His death, we go on to a devel-
oping involvement with His saving life. As I yield my life to
Him to use as He will, and as I recognize His indwelling
presence, seeing my whole being as the temple of the Holy
Spirit, then my Saviour is able to use me for His glory and
in His service. There are many Christians whom the Lord
cannot use because He cannot get His hands on them. They
are busy running their own lives, working out their own
particular brand of independence. It sometimes takes noth-
ing less than a shock experience to get them to consider their
ways.

In the previous chapter we saw Ezra mention the two men
who were used to call the people back to God. One was
Haggai, whose story we have just read. The other was Zecha-
riah, whose book follows Haggai’s.

This Zechariah was a remarkable prophet. He gave some
exciting prophecies concerning our Lord. In Zechariah 9:9
we read the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.
In chapter 11 comes the prophecy of the thirty pieces of silver
being paid for the price of Jesus, later flung down on the
floor of the house of the Lord, and finally used to purchase
the potter’s field (vv. 12, 13). One prophecy has yet to be
fulfilled: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the
mount of Olives” (14:4). This speaks of His coming again.
I mention the above so that we can see the caliber of this
man who joined Haggai in stirring the hearts of the people
in Jerusalem.

His main work was to encourage the people when they
had made a start. Let us see how God used him to tell the
people, “Consider my ways.”

The people began to build “in the four and twentieth day
of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the King”
(Hag 1:15). Notice that God’s Word pinpoints the very day
in history when the heroes began again. Zechariah 1:1 says,
“In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came
the word of the Lord unto Zechariah.” So Zechariah began
prophesying two months after the rebuilding commenced.

His main emphasis was the reality of the presence of God
and also the great love of God for these struggling people
who had given up so much for God, only to fail. We read,
“Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem
with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of
hosts” (v. 1:16) . Notice the assurance of God’s presence and
the assurance of completion. This time building will not
cease, leaving the temple to stand empty again.

Then comes a lovely phrase which has passed into our
English language as a figure of speech: “For he that toucheth
you toucheth the apple of his eye” (v. 2:8). How precious
they were to God.

Following this we read in verses 10 and 11, “Sing and
rejoice, 0 daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell
in the midst of thee, saith the LORD . . . I will dwell in the
midst of thee.” As the temple was in the center of their city,
and God was in His temple, so He was in the midst.

Zechariah had some special words for Zerubbabel, the
prince. These statements have long since passed into the
vocabulary of many Christians. We will recognize the chal
lenge: “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This
is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by
might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of
hosts” (v. 4:6). We like to use these words in our own con
nection, but notice that they especially applied to this prince
as he tried to motivate and lead the people.

See these encouraging words for the leader: “The hands
of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his
hands shall finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of
hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of
small things?” (vv. 4:9, 10) . That last phrase, the day of small
things, is in current English usage, but see how it would
especially apply to the building they were doing. Some of
the people present might despise it; the heathen around
would certainly despise it; but God did not despise it!

Zechariah presented a beautiful, complete picture of what
God had for His people. His prophecy pointed to a coming
day as well, but we can see it especially in reference to these
heroes who failed.

Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will
dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be
called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts
the holy mountain.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and
old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man
with his staff in his hand for every age.
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls
playing in the streets thereof.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the
eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it
also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my peo
ple from the east country, and from the west country.
And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst
of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be
their God, in truth and in righteousness (Zec 8:3-8)

Just think, all this love and all this blessing was in the
heart of God, waiting for these people to turn from their
independent ways of failure. For fifteen years God waited to
pour it out on His people. It was theirs through all the
wasted empty years, but it only came true when they came
back to dependence upon God, when they came back and
began a new behavior pattern based not on their own efforts,
but on God’s presence and God’s power.

Certainly it cost them “blood, toil, tears and sweat,” but
the One in control was God, and blessing was inevitable.

And God says the same to us today; there is so much love,
power, and blessing all ready for us to enjoy, if we, too, will
come and admit our failure, make Jesus real in our hearts,
and start a new behavior pattern.