Haggai begins his prophecy on "the first day of the month." This is significant. The Hebrew word for "month" means "new moon." In Numbers 28, the Lord institutes the New Moon celebration that is to be marked by sacrifice, resting, and feasting. So, on the very day that Jews are to be at the temple worshipping God, the prophet begins his indictment of their negligence in rebuilding the temple. He first speaks to the civil and religious leaders of the nation – Zerubbabel and Joshua – and then addresses the people. Like a prosecutor in a lawsuit, Haggai indicts the people for their excuses and their wrong priorities: they are more concerned about building their own houses rather than rebuilding the House of the Lord that lies "waste." Furthermore, he points out that the reason for their current economic impoverishment is their disobedience. Still, if they start to rebuild, which begins with a very practical step – harvesting timber – they will please and glorify the Lord.
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.