(Chapter 1:12-15).
On the Twenty-fourth day of the same month the Lord sends a second message by Haggai, who is honored by being called "the Lord’s messenger." How good to realize that though the returned remnant had so grievously failed to carry out the purpose for which they had been delivered from Babylon, yet the Lord does not give them up. He still has His Messenger to deliver His message to the people.
So, too, in our day of weakness and ruin, when evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, we read of "the man of God," and that such an one is to "preach the word; be [urgent] in season, out of season; [convict], rebuke, [encourage] with all long-suffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 3:17; 4:217That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17)
2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2)).
The Lord’s messenger has appealed to the people with a word of rebuke. Happily the people "Obeyed the voice of the Lord their God," and "did fear before the Lord." At once Haggai is sent with this second message of encouragement. Having obeyed the Lord, they can count on the presence of the Lord; "I am with you, saith the Lord." How much blessing is involved in this short message! As one has said, "I am with you is the saving principle for faith in the weakest possible day...and what had they better in the brightest day?"
The remnant that returned from Babylon in that day, even as those who have been delivered from the bondage of human systems in this day, may find themselves in circumstances of great weakness, opposed by many adversaries, and in reproach; but, if the Lord is with them their blessing is certain; the needed succor in all their weakness will be forthcoming; and all needed protection from their enemies assured. So in the parable in John 10, we have a beautiful picture of a flock of sheep wholly dependent upon the Shepherd. Left to themselves sheep are stupid, feckless things, prone to wander and easily frightened, but with the Shepherd going before all is well.
Good it is then for us, like the remnant of old, to obey the word of the Lord, "fear before the Lord," and go forth without the camp "unto Him." Thus acting in simple faith we shall find in every difficulty that arises, in every opposition that we may meet, in any reproach we may have to endure, that we have the Lord present, with all wisdom to direct, all love to comfort, and all power to sustain. Obeying the word of the Lord, and walking in His fear, we can count upon His presence, and ever fall back on His words, "I am with you saith the Lord."
Moreover, if the Lord is with us we shall find, as the remnant of old found, that He will stir up our spirits to "work in the house of the Lord."