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!