Haggai 1:12-2:1 – The People Obey the Lord

Hag 1:12

1. “Quarrel” is an expression often applied to the righteous of the people of Israel who survived God’s judgment. The Kvarlevan were not bad people, they had left the comfort of Babylon to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Many other Jews had stayed in Babylon because they were better off there.
   1. Noah and his family were the “remnant” of God’s judgment on the earth (Genesis 6:5-8).
   2. Lot was saved from the judgment of Sodom (Genesis 18:17-33).
   3. God saved Elijah and 7,000 righteous people (1 Kings 19:17-18).
2. The people of Israel thought they would all be saved from Nebuchadnezzar, but God told them instead to repent because He will indeed judge sinners (Amos 5:14-15).
3. For Isaiah, the “remnant” theme was so important that he even named his son “A remnant shall return” (Isaiah 7:3).
4. Paul quotes Isaiah when he teaches that even though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand, only a remnant of Israel will be saved (Romans 9:27).
5. Before the Free Churches were established in Sweden, virtually all Swedish people were members of the State Church. However, this does not guarantee that one will escape judgment, but only those who have turned to God will be saved from judgment.
6. It is not common for people to listen to their prophets, but that was the case here.
7. What caused the people to change was that they understood that what Haggai said was the word of God.
   1. The same thing can happen to us today; when we read the Bible and understand that it is God’s word, it can transform our lives.

Hag 1:13

1. Where it says “the Lord” in English, in the Hebrew basic text it says “YHWH”; that is, God’s name “Yahweh”.
   1. “Yahweh” means “I am who I am” and is sometimes shortened to “I am”
   1. “I am” + “with you” says a lot about the relationship between God and God’s people.

Hag 1:14

1. Even though the people had done wrong, God was quick to bless them as soon as they turned back. God is not slow.
2. God stirred up an eagerness both in the leadership and in the people.
   1. In today’s parlance, we might call this “revival”.
   2. Without this zeal from God, the people would probably have grown weary.
   3. The first to hear this message were the king and the priest. Leadership needs to respond first. God began by awakening the leadership and then touching the people.
3. Not only did they turn their hearts around, but they began to take a firm grip on the mission.
   1. Even Jesus urges us not only to listen to God’s word but also to do God’s word (Matt 7:24-26).
   2. We should not only pray for revival, but also work for revival!
4. In summary: When God’s people listen to God’s word, God is with his people and stirs up a zeal that makes God’s people start working for God.
   1. This fine principle also applies today!