How time flies when we are tied up in ourselves. Haggai writes that his prophecy comes in the second year of Darius, king of the Medes, which would be 520 B.C. The Jews’ first return to Judah was declared by Cyrus, king of Persia, in 536 B.C. so 16 years have passed since the beginning of the return.
Neither Ezra or Haggai are part of the first group to leave Babylon but the Israelites who volunteered to return and rebuild number 42,360 2 so we could expect the Temple to be rebuilt shortly thereafter. But alas,
When God speaks through Haggai, it is to call into question what has not happened in the preceding sixteen years. They have put off what they set out to do as they became distracted and caught up in taking care of their own dwellings. While in Babylon, restoring the Temple in Jerusalem had been a rallying cause but now that they are back in the motherland, personal comfort and the urgency of self-care have become priority. Not only basic housing but enhanced dwellings. So God gives the “Consider your ways” challenge. To give clarity in priorities, God notes,
You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 4
Fruitlessness was the consequence of not putting God in the priority they had embraced when they set out to serve Him. They are now spending their efforts upon themselves but coming up empty. Still, after sixteen years of self-preoccupation, God encourages them to renew the work neglected so He could turn their productivity—as they do His work, He will provide for them instead of withholding:
What did getting on with the Temple accomplish? On the 24th day of the 6th month of the second year of Darius 6 they came and began to work on the Temple and on the 3rd day of the 12th month of the 6th year of Darius 7 the work was completed.
Do we see any relation between our productivity and our relationship with the LORD? Could it be we should consider our ways to see whether we continue to honor God the way we intended when we last vowed allegiance to Him? Is our use of time timely before Him?