Haggai 1:1-6
The Time Has Not Yet Come
Read the passage
1In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating
2that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”
3Then the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet, saying:
4“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”
5Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways.
6You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Haggai dates the LORD’s message to the first day of the sixth month in Darius’s second year. It comes to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the high priest. God addresses the leaders about a decision the people have made: the time has not yet come to rebuild His house.
The LORD asks why the time is suitable for their own paneled houses while His house lies in ruins. Their choices reveal a difference between what they say matters and what they are willing to do. The temple keeps waiting while their own homes receive attention.
He tells them to consider their ways carefully. They plant much and harvest little, eat and drink without satisfaction, and put on clothes without becoming warm. Wages seem to disappear into a bag full of holes. These are serious frustrations in the work by which they live.
The LORD asks them to look at that pattern rather than keep repeating that it is not time to build. The following verses will explain His part in their poor harvests. Here His question exposes the priorities that have left His house neglected.
The people’s problem is more than failing to complete a building project. Their worship of the LORD has been pushed behind their own concerns. His word calls them to examine what their use of time and resources says about the place He has in their lives.
How We Know
Ezra 5:1–2 records Haggai and Zechariah prophesying to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. It then names Zerubbabel and Jeshua as the leaders who began rebuilding the house of God, with the prophets helping them. Jeshua is the form of Joshua’s name used in that account. Ezra supplies the narrative setting for the rebuilding Haggai urges.
Questions
1 To whom does the LORD send Haggai’s message?
AnswerZerubbabel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the high priest, in the second year of Darius.
2 What are the people saying about the temple?
AnswerThey say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.
3 What contrast does God point out?
AnswerThey live in their own paneled houses while His house lies in ruins. Their own concerns receive attention while His house waits.
4 What does the bag with holes picture?
AnswerTheir wages fail to provide the benefit they expect, just as their planting and other efforts leave them unsatisfied.
What This Means for Us
The people can find time for their own houses while saying that God’s house must wait. Their choices expose a priority their words do not admit.
Look at something God has clearly called you to do that you keep postponing. Compare it with what has received your time recently. Agree on one step you can take, and make room for it instead of waiting for every competing concern to disappear.
Prayer
Father, show us where our choices leave little room for You. Help us receive Your correction and give our time and attention to the responsibilities You have entrusted to us. Amen.