sacrifices and rituals could be carried out on a makeshift altar. But God's reputation was at stake. He could not be properly honored to long as the house he called home lay in ruins. The temple symbolized God's presence, and Israel's priorities.
Would rebuilding the temple change Israel's financial situation? Haggai's first words promised nothing. He simply said, "Give careful thought to your ways," and pointed out that Israel's lack of prosperity was God's doing. They had worked hard, but God had withheld the rain their crops needed. A month later (2:1-9) Haggai said that God had glorious plans for Israel, plans that would shake the whole earth. But he referred to God's presence with them, not to good crops.
Only on the last day accounted for in this brief book did Haggai get back to the subject of harvests. He said that God wanted his people to "give careful thought" again - this time to the dramatic difference they would see in their harvests since they had put God first. "From this day on I will bless you," God said through Haggai. |
