Friday 8 August 2025
You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. (v. 6)
Background
Although we know nothing for sure about who Haggai was, we can date his short prophecy (it is just two chapters) precisely thanks to the information in the first verse along with the reference to the prophecy being delivered in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14. The year is 520 BC and the Temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt after the return from Exile of some of the Jewish nation. The initial enthusiasm to rebuild the city and Temple had stopped due to the political repercussions of opposition from Judah’s neighbours, but now the Persian king Darius had renewed the earlier decree of his predecessor Cyrus for the rebuilding, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were instrumental in drumming up enthusiasm for the project.
Haggai’s message is clearly outlined in this passage. The people have an 'all in good time' attitude to building the Temple (v. 2) even though some seem to have lavished attention on their own home improvements (v. 4). He considers that the lack of prosperity they feel (v. 6) has been due to their neglect for the things of God and specifically the importance of rebuilding the Temple. To put this right he therefore encourages them to gather the necessary materials and get on with building God’s house (v. 8).
In verse 2 God says “These people say…” rather than “my people”. This constitutes a rebuke as in Isaiah 6:9-10 and Hosea 1:9. The criticism is particularly addressed to those rich enough to have ornamented houses; the vast majority of people were living in poverty, but may have wrongly used that as an excuse for not contributing at all to the Temple rebuilding. Haggai sees things in terms of covenant theology in which poor harvests (Deuteronomy 28:38) food poverty (Deut 8:10) and inadequate clothing (Deut 10:18) were understood as judgement on the people's failure to keep their covenant with God.
To Ponder:
- Do you think there is indeed a connection between material prosperity and giving proper respect to God? How does it work?
- How important for us should church buildings be? Do they enable us to worship God or are they just as likely to get in the way of that?
Prayer
Lord God we pray for the poor whose poverty, in a world which has plenty for all, we are most reluctant to blame on their lack of faith in you. Show us on whom the blame more truly, if indirectly lies, and what we can do to build a fairer world for all. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Stephen Mosedale
Stephen is a retired Methodist minister living near Exeter. He served in West Africa and Scotland and was a New Testament tutor at Cliff College.