Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD. Sermons
I. THE SPIRIT THAT WAS CHERISHED. 1. It was the spirit of obedience. "They obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet" (ver. 12). 2. It was the spirit of reverential fear. "And the people did fear before the Lord" (ver. 12). "Whom God would make strong for his service he first subdues to his fear." 3. This obedient and devout spirit was cherished by all. Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the high priest, and all the remnant of the people alike made this full surrender of themselves to the service of their God (ver. 14). II. THE EFFECTS THAT FOLLOWED. 1. The Divine favour was experienced. Haggai was again commissioned to speak to them in the name of the Lord, and to say to them for God, as his messenger, "I am with you, saith the Lord" (ver. 13). The abiding sense of God's presence with them had made the heroes of their nation the men they were. Moses could face the whole Israelitish tribes when they were murmuring against him and against Aaron; David could confront the mail-clad Goliath; Daniel could be steadfast in the performance of his religions duties despite the lions; Ezekiel could utter burning denunciations against ungodly nations; - because they realized in their inmost hearts the consciousness of the presence and power of God. And now this same presence was pledged to them, and in the Divine might they would be able to overcome every obstacle. The promptness with which this assurance was given is instructive. "God is waiting to be gracious, and will meet the returning wanderer even before his hand has begun the work of service." 2. The spiritual life was quickened. "The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel," etc. (ver 14). He gave new life to them all, so that they were ready with zeal and alacrity and with holy courage to do his bidding. 3. The good work was advanced. "And they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God" (ver. 14) - S.D.H.
Obeyed the voice of the Lord their God. 1. The Word of God in the mouth of His servants will not take effect till His authority be seen and acknowledged in it, and His servants looked on as coming in His name. They look on this message as "the voice of the Lord, and the words of Haggai."2. It will be a notable means to make the Word effectual, when beside the absolute authority of God, speaking in His Word, His interest in His people is considered and believed by them, and that He who speaks, reproves, and directs, is their confederate God, whom they should be loth to offend or disobey, so much the rather as His relation stands, notwithstanding their faults; for thus is the Lord named here, "The Lord their God." 3. When God is seen speaking in His Word as a party to the sinner, and when His love is believed for all that, even in His reproving it will make the guilty and smitten sinner to stand in much awe, will both break and melt him, and will make him look on his former ways, wherein he hath lain secure, with much affrightment and horror; for the fruit of the former is, "And the people feared before the Lord." 4. When the awe of God, speaking in His Word, in His majesty and goodness, hath had place in the heart, it will put men to give obedience in some measure to what is commanded; for the people, in this temper, "obeyed the voice of the Lord." 5. It is a sweet and blessed like case, when men in power are patterns and encouragements unto others, in submitting to the Word of the Lord in the mouth of His servants, and when a people's affliction doth not hinder their respect to the commandments, as is here marked. 6. It may encourage the servants of God to go on with their work, when they consider what a great blessing God can, and sometimes doth give to their endeavours beyond all probability; for here, by one sermon, all the people are set about a long-neglected work, in the midst of many difficulties. (George Hutcheson.) Homilist. I. Duty followed IS OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE VOICE. "The people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God," etc. God has a voice to men.1. His voice is revealed. He speaks to them in nature, history, the Bible; in these last days, specially, by His Son. The Divine voice is ascertainable. It can be distinguished from all other voices that fall on the ear of the human soul. 2. His voice is authoritative. Obedience to this voice is right, wise, urgent. II. Duty followed SECURES THE DIVINE FAVOUR. "Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord." This promise means more than presence. He is with all; He fills the universe; He is with the evil and the good. It means to bless, to enlighten, guide, support, dignify, and make happy. God is always on the side of the dutiful. III. Duty followed IMPLIES DIVINE ASSISTANCE What prompted these men who had so long neglected duty to set now in earnest about it? "The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel," etc. Men will never give themselves to duty unless the Lord stirs them up. This He is constantly doing. By — 1. The admonitions of providence. 2. The dictates of conscience. 3. The preaching of the Gospel. 4. The strivings of the Spirit. (Homilist.) People Darius, Haggai, Jehozadak, Josedech, Joshua, Shealtiel, ZerubbabelPlaces JerusalemTopics Afraid, Ear, Face, Fear, Feared, Haggai, Hearken, Hearkened, Jehozadak, Jehoz'adak, Josedech, Joshua, Message, Obeyed, Priest, Prophet, Remnant, Rest, Reverence, Shealtiel, She-al'ti-el, Showed, Voice, Zerubbabel, Zerub'babelOutline 1. The time when Haggai prophesied.2. He reproves the people for neglecting the building of the house. 7. He incites them to the building. 12. He promises them, being forward, God's assistance. Dictionary of Bible Themes Haggai 1:128479 self-examination, examples 7145 remnant Library Vain Toil'Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.'--HAGGAI i. 6 A large emigration had taken place from the land of captivity to Jerusalem. The great purpose which the returning exiles had in view was the rebuilding of the Temple, as the centre-point of the restored nation. With true heroism, and much noble and unselfish … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Lost Earnings The Abiding of the Spirit the Glory of the Church The Last Days of the Old Eastern World How those are to be Admonished who Desire not the Things of Others, but Keep their Own; and those who Give of their Own, yet Seize Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology. Haggai Links Haggai 1:12 NIVHaggai 1:12 NLT Haggai 1:12 ESV Haggai 1:12 NASB Haggai 1:12 KJV Haggai 1:12 Bible Apps Haggai 1:12 Parallel Haggai 1:12 Biblia Paralela Haggai 1:12 Chinese Bible Haggai 1:12 French Bible Haggai 1:12 German Bible Haggai 1:12 Commentaries Bible Hub |