Ezra 5:1, 2 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo… Through the hostility of the Samaritans, who obtained authority from Artaxerxes, the work of building the temple was interrupted. This interruption seems to have commenced under Cyrus (Ezra 4:5). It was continued under the brief reign of an upstart who feigned himself to be the brother of Ahasuerus; and it was carried on "unto the second year of Darius king of Persia." Thus the work was stopped for about sixteen years. "Then the prophets," etc. Here notice that - I. THE INSPIRATION OF PROPHECY IS ROUSING. 1. The people now needed rousing. (1) During the stoppage of the building they had cooled in their zeal for the house of the Lord. Had they examined their hearts they might have seen this, and they might have inferred from it that God must be displeased. But they had not the courage to do this. Query - Are we not slow to examine our own hearts, and to draw faithful inferences from their state? (2) If they looked around they might have seen the tokens of Divine displeasure. For, year after year, the heavens refused their dew, and the scanty harvests were smitten with "blasting, and with mildew, and with hail." Query - Are we not slow to see the hand of God in our afflictions? Reflect - What greater calamity could befall us than that God should leave us to ourselves! 2. Haggai brought home the truth to them. (1) His first commission was to awaken them to a sense of their growing selfishness and apathy (see Haggai 1:1-5). Query - How far are we ever justified in quietly "dwelling in cieled houses" while the work of God is neglected? (2) Then he reminded them that the blast upon their harvests was from God, and incited them to arise and build (see Haggai 1:6-11). (3) This message from God had the desired effect (see Haggai 1:1-12; comp. text). What part Zechariah took at this early date we are not particularly informed. 3. They were satisfied with the credentials of the prophet. (1) What these were we are not told. Miracles might have authenticated him. This was notably the case with Moses. Or he may have foretold the drought through which they had passed. In this way Samuel "was established to be a prophet of the Lord" (1 Samuel 3:19, 20). (2) In whatever way it may have been, Haggai so prophesied, "in the name of the God of Israel," that there was no doubt about him. Look at this expression (see Exodus 3:13-20; Exodus 33:19; comp. also Numbers 14:17), where "power" is put for "name," as in Exodus 34:5, 6). Reflect, gratefully, that we have the truth of God upon the clearest testimony. The Scriptures are authenticated to us not only by miracles, but by the ever-accumulating evidence of prophecy, and by the deep experiences of the heart. II. THE INSPIRATION OF PROPHECY IS SUSTAINING. Ñ "And with them were the prophets of God helping them." 1. It sustains under the burdens of the work of God. (1) The work is stupendous. Many interests are involved in it. Many workmen are engaged in it. If all these were loyal, still the work would be heavy. (2) Haggai therefore, four and twenty days after his first commission, again appeared with needed words. "Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord." What a blessed assurance! How spirit stirring! (Haggai 1:13, 14; see also Exodus 33:14, 15.) 2. It sustains against the murmuring of God's people. (1) Sons of Belial will for very perversity cause trouble. There are also crotchety persons among the godly who embarrass their leaders. And there are croakers who have a morbid pleasure in disparaging the good things of the present by comparing them with the things of the past (see Ezra 3:12). (2) Haggai, seven and twenty days after his former message, again appeared to strengthen the hands of the faithful against these. In doing this he uttered a very glorious prophecy, showing how by the presence of Jesus in this disparaged building it should come to exceed the glory of the temple of Solomon (see Haggai 2:1-9). Note - This prophecy should convince the Jews. They admit that the Shekinah never came to the second temple; that temple is now no more. If the presence of Jesus did not constitute the greater glory of the second house, what did? 3. It sustains against the assaults of enemies. (1) Opposition reappears, now led by Tatnai and Shethar-boznai, who question the right of the Jews to resume the building which had been stopped by command of Artaxerxes (vers. 3, 4). (2) Zechariah now appeared. He opened his commission by exhorting to repentance (Zechariah 1:1-6). Note - When trials come we should search our hearts, and, if we see cause, amend our ways. (3) Haggai also followed with words of encouragement, and assurances that, despite the opposition, the work would be prospered. Zechariah subsequently gave them like assurances. These messages came at seasonable intervals to help the leaders and the workers. Reflection - All these encouragements belong to those building the spiritual temple, for the prophecies have an ulterior reference to gospel times. Let us use the inspirations of prophecy. - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. |
    |