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¹ In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
² Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.
³ Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
⁴ Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
⁵ Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
⁶ 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.
⁷ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
⁸ Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.
⁹ Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
¹⁰ Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
¹¹ And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
¹² Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, 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 did fear before the Lord.
¹³ Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.
¹⁴ And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
¹⁵ In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
🛠️ A Wake-Up Call to God’s People
“Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?” – Haggai 1:3-4
Haggai Chapter 1 is a direct and stirring call to action. Set in the second year of King Darius, the prophet Haggai delivers a piercing message to the people of Judah. Though they had returned from exile, they became so preoccupied with their own comfort that they neglected rebuilding the temple of the Lord. This chapter uncovers the spiritual consequences of misplaced priorities—and God’s merciful response when His people turn back.
God uses Haggai to challenge the people’s complacency. The land is barren, their efforts fruitless, and their harvests meager—all because they’ve abandoned His house. However, the message is not without hope. When the people respond with reverence and obedience, God promises to be with them.
📜 Structure of Haggai Chapter 1
Verses 1–4: The Rebuke
The word of the Lord comes to Zerubbabel and Joshua, rebuking the people for saying, “The time is not come” to rebuild the temple. Meanwhile, they live in luxurious homes while the house of God lies desolate.
Verses 5–11: The Consequences of Neglect
God urges them: “Consider your ways.” The people have sown much and harvested little. Their wealth slips through their fingers because they’ve ignored the spiritual foundation of their lives. The drought and barrenness of the land reflect their spiritual state.
Verses 12–15: The Obedient Response
Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people obey the voice of the Lord. In response, God stirs their spirit and encourages them with these powerful words: “I am with you.” The chapter ends on a hopeful note, showing the first steps toward restoration.
💡 Key Themes
✨Misplaced Priorities
God’s people chose their own comfort over His commands. This passage reminds us how easily we justify delay when it comes to serving the Lord.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…” – Matthew 6:33
✨Spiritual and Physical Consequences
Their efforts were futile because their hearts were misaligned. When God isn’t first, even the best plans fall apart.
✨God’s Presence in Obedience
When the people turn back, God meets them with encouragement: “I am with you.” Obedience invites divine presence and blessing.
👤 Key People
- Haggai – The prophet chosen to deliver a clear, challenging message.
- Zerubbabel – The governor of Judah, a leader who obeys God’s call.
- Joshua – The high priest, who leads the spiritual renewal.
- The Remnant – The people of Judah who respond with reverence and action.
🔥 Why This Chapter Matters
Haggai 1 reminds us that divine priorities come before personal comfort. God doesn’t call us to neglect our needs, but He does call us to seek Him first. Rebuilding the temple wasn’t just about bricks—it was about rebuilding hearts and restoring worship.
💭 Let’s Reflect
- Are there areas in your life where God’s house is “lying waste” while you focus on your own plans?
- How can you “consider your ways” and put God first today?
- Do you trust that obedience will lead to God’s presence and provision?
❓Ready to Go Deeper?
👉 Click here to begin reading Haggai Chapter 2