Haggai 1:2 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built. This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. There are several ways of accounting for the delay which occurred in the work of re-erecting the temple in Jerusalem. 1. In part it arose from the returned exiles being preoccupied in seeking to secure to themselves material prosperity. 2. Then they were daunted by the opposition they had to encounter as they engaged in this work. The powerful neighbouring tribes, being alike antagonistic to the restoration of Jerusalem as the centre of the pure and unadulterated worship of God, combined to place obstacles in the way of the repairers of the breaches. 3. Further, they had grown somewhat accustomed to being without the structure. Comparatively few of them had seen "the first house." 4. It is to be feared also that they had lost, through the changes they had experienced, that strong sense of the need of the Divine abiding presence in their midst. Influenced by such considerations as these, and forgetful that "good is best when soonest wrought," they kept postponing carrying out the great undertaking to which they had pledged themselves, and excused themselves by saying, "The time is not come," etc. (ver. 2). This habit of delay is far too general, and is not limited to any age or race. It prevails widely today as in all past times; and in no respect more so than in matters affecting man's relation to God. Time was when man was wholly devoted to his Maker's praise. God formed him in his own image, holy, spotless, pure; but he mournfully fell. He who had been the temple of God became a moral waste. "Ichabod" became inscribed upon the once consecrated spiritual man.. Every power of the soul became corrupt, every propensity became drawn to that which is evil. "The gold became dim, and the most fine gold changed." And the voice of God calls us to the glorious work of rebuilding tills temple. He has presented to us, in the perfect life of his own Son, the pattern after which we should seek to raise in ourselves the superstructure of a holy life, and offers us his gracious aid so that we may build into our character the noble materials of truth and virtue, wisdom and love. And it is just at this point that the temptation to delay meets men. 1. They are not insensible to the claims of God, nor are they altogether indifferent about attending to these, but they say, "The time is not come," etc. (ver. 3). 2. They are immersed in other matters at present: (1) the cares of the world; (2) the pursuit of riches; (3) the pleasures of life, absorb them; they are preoccupied just now; they say, "The time is not come" (ver. 3). 3. They reason that there is the whole future yet before them, and that ample opportunity will be given them in due course. So they go on robbing themselves of "aspirations high and deathless hopes sublime." "Procrastination is the thief of time; Year after year it steals, till all are fled, And to the mercies of a moment leaves The vast concerns of an eternal scene." S.D.H. Parallel Verses KJV: Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. |
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