The Pulpit Commentary — Haggai — Section 17

Vere. 12-16.-The liearty response. The human spirit is so backward in respect to the performance of the duties e.nd the fulfilment of the obligations it is under in rela- tion to the higher life, that it requires stimulus, and acts of renewed dedication to the service of God cannot fail to be epiritU!l.lly helpful. There a.re moments in life when we become specie.Uy impressed as God's servants with a sense of his claims to our most devoted service, e.nd when holy emotions rise within us, moving us to a more unre- served consecration of ourselves to his service. And we do well to ma.ke these impressions permanent by placing upon them the eta.mp of holy resolution. It is wonderful how soon, if we do not take this course, these impressions and emotions vanish, We should therefore foster all holy impulses, and take advantage at once of all emotions and aspirations which would constrain us to render to the Lord our God a. t1'uer s1:1rvice ·than we have rendered in the past. Such impressions a.re buds we should· not nip, sparks of heavenly fire we should not extinguish, the breathings of God's own. Spirit, from the influence of which it is a.t our peril that we remove ourselves. The interest in these closing verses (12-15) lies in that they present to us a. bright example of this wise course being pursued. The earnest address of the aged seer touched the hearts of his hearers ; they became painfully conscious of past omission. and shortcoming and neglect of c.uty, and were led to consecrate them- selves anew to the service of him who had brought them up out of captivity and to their own land, I. THE SPIRIT ·THAT WAS CHERISHED. 1. It was the spirit of obedience. "They obeyed·tht1 v:oice ofthe Lord their God, a.nd 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 bis fear." 3. This obedient and devout spirit was cherished by all. Zerubba.bel the governor, Joshua. the high priest, and all the remnant of the people a.like 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 na.me of the Lord, and to say to them for God, as his messenger, "I am with y<¥11,, saith the Lord " (ver. 13). 'l'he a.biding 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-chd Goliath; Daniel could be steadfast in the performance of his religious 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 Goel. And now this so.me presence was pledged to them, a.ad in the Divine might they would be able to overcome every obstacle. The promptness with which this assurance we.a given is instructive. '' God is waiting to be gracious, and will meet the returnin~ wanderer even before his hand has begun the work of service." 2. The spiritual life was quiclcened. "The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel," etc. (ver. 14). He gave new life to them all, so that they were ready with zea.l and alacrity and with holy courage to do his bidding. 3. The good work was advanced. " And they came e.nd did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God" (ver. H).- S. D. H. Vers. 1, 2.'-Duty re·uealed. "In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, oame the word of the Lord by Hag~ai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, '!'his people say, Thp time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built." Haggai is the first of the three prophets who lived and taught after the restoration_ of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity. It is geuerally supposed that he returned with the Hebrew exiles under Zerubbabel and Joshu11 the high priest, in the year B.o. 536. He prophesied in the reign of Darius Hystaspes, who ascended the Persian throne n.c. 521. He and Zrchariah were employed by Jehovah to excite and encourage the 16 THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. (OR, I. 1-16,