Haggai 1:7-11
Go Up Into the Hills
Read the passage
7This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways.
8Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD.
9You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.
10Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its crops.
11I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The LORD again tells the people to consider their ways carefully, then gives them a task: go into the hills, bring lumber, and rebuild His house. The next step does not need to remain an intention. It requires them to begin the work they have postponed.
God also tells them why He wants the house built: so that He may take pleasure in it and be glorified. The temple is a place of worship, and its neglect concerns the honor due to Him.
He explains the disappointing harvests. They expected much and brought home little; what they did bring home, He blew away. His house remains in ruins while each person is busy with their own house. The drought is His judgment on that neglect.
The loss reaches fields, mountains, grain, wine, oil, people, animals, and the work of their hands. The LORD names Himself as the One who summoned it. Their troubles should lead them to reconsider their priorities and return to the work He has commanded.
Haggai speaks with a specific word from God explaining this community’s hardship. We have no warrant to use every poor harvest or financial struggle as evidence that someone has neglected worship. The passage does call God’s people to hear His correction and honor Him in what they do.
How We Know
Deuteronomy 28:38–40 warns Israel that covenant disobedience will bring much planting with little harvest, vineyards without wine to drink, and olive trees without oil to use. Haggai describes corresponding losses and identifies them as the LORD’s judgment. The connection places this drought within God’s earlier warnings to Israel, rather than making it a general explanation for every family’s hardship.
Questions
1 What practical task does the LORD give the people?
AnswerGo into the hills, bring lumber, and build His house.
2 Why does He want the house built?
AnswerSo that He may take pleasure in it and be glorified.
3 What reason does the LORD give for their disappointing harvests?
AnswerHis house remains in ruins while each person is busy with their own house. He has summoned a drought because of their neglect.
4 What does the drought affect?
AnswerThe land and its produce, people and animals, and all the labor of their hands.
What This Means for Us
The LORD’s command joins practical work to His glory. Bringing lumber matters because it serves the worship He has called for.
Consider an ordinary task that helps your family or church worship and serve God. Do it with care, even if no one notices. Ask whether your plans make room for His honor, rather than measuring every responsibility by the benefit it brings you.
Prayer
LORD, help us honor You in ordinary work. Make us willing to hear correction and act on what You have made clear. May our service please You and give You glory. Amen.