The Prophet's "Success" (Haggai 1:12-15)
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
(Hag 1:12-15 NKJV) Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua
the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the
people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of
Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people
feared the presence of the LORD. {13} Then Haggai, the Lord's
messenger, spoke the Lord's message to the people, saying, "I am with
you, says the LORD." {14} So the LORD stirred up the spirit of
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of
Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all
the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of
the LORD of hosts, their God, {15} on the twenty-fourth day of the
sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.
Haggai gets through to these rather apathetic Jews - they listen and
obey and are blessed! This obedience starts with a high regard for
God and the people He sends into our lives to speak to us. Look at
the accolades Haggai receives- firstly he is called "the prophet",
"the Lord's messenger", and his words are called "the voice of the
Lord" and "the Lord's message". It was recognised that "the Lord
their God had sent him" and that somehow the presence of Haggai was
also the presence of the Lord in their midst "the people feared the
presence of the LORD". So we see that Haggai, his words and his
mission are given respect by an obedient people.
Haggai's presence had a dramatic impact on the people that Scripture
describes as "stirring up the spirit" of the people of God. "So the
LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the
high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people;".
Amongst other things the human spirit is the centre of communion with
God, of wisdom and intellect and decisions involving sheer willpower.
Thus stirring up the spirit seems to involve moving people out of
apathy and into obedience. It galvanises the mind and the will into
action due to the reception of a clear word from God. It was as if
Haggai sounded a trumpet that resounded deep inside them and moved
them to act. His words, coming in the power and presence of God,
went deeper than the ears and mere mental assent but they triggered
something deep within so that there was a powerful response. Paul
describes his preaching in a similar way "(1 Cor 2:13 NKJV) These
things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but
which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with
spiritual." The prophet reaches into the spirit with words that come
from God.
Finally the people resolved to obey and received the blessing of
God. "Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of
Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people,
obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the
prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared
the presence of the LORD. {13} Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger,
spoke the Lord's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says
the LORD." The prophet succeeded in getting the people to obey God
and to receive blessing from Him which is implicit in the statement
"I am with you says the Lord". In the next chapter we will see that
the curses on the nation cease and blessing flourishes. Not too many
OT prophets actually saw success - but Haggai did - he was received
with respect as a prophet and saw the task he called them to
completed.
What is the difference between Haggai's "success" and Jeremiah's
"failure". The attitude of the people! These Jews of Haggai's day are
called "the remnant" - despite their apathy they love God and are
chosen by Him. When He calls they eventually respond (if somewhat
slowly). He disciplines them but does not destroy them. They are like
most Christians today. The people of Jeremiah's day were not the
remnant but the generation on whom judgement was to come. They were
doomed from the start. They loved idols and despised the word of the
Lord. They saw Jeremiah not as "the presence of God" in their midst
but as a pest and a nuisance to be imprisoned and humiliated.
Do you want to obey God and receive His blessing? Well when He sends
someone into your life with a word for you then regard that person
highly, listen to the word attentively, receive it in your spirit
then get up and obey it.
Prayer:
Lord remove from our hearts that critical and sluggish spirit that
frustrates your purposes. Invigorate our spirits so that we hear You
clearly and promptly and willingly obey You. Lead us into obedience
and blessing. Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!