Haggai 1:1,2 – The Importance of Leadership

The Israelites had been conquered by two different superpowers over the course of two hundred years, first Assyria, which conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, then Babylon, which conquered the southern kingdom of Judah. Now, after 70 years in captivity, the Persian kingdom, which had conquered Babylon, had released any Jew who wanted to return to Israel to do so, and had appointed a Jew from the line of David, Zerubbabel, as governor of the territory. A recognized Jew from the line of Aaron, Joshua, was high priest.

They had begun work on restoring/rebuilding the destroyed temple by first rebuilding the sacred altar where all sacrifices were to be made (Ezra 3:1-6). Then they raised money and began work on the temple, laying its foundation (Ezra 3:7-13). There was some discouragement because this foundation was obviously not as glorious as the temple of Solomon.

Then Israel’s “enemies,” the Samaritans “set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building” (Ezra 4:4). Work on the temple ceased. For years the foundation sat there and the people went about living their lives without a temple, without a way to offer sacrifices to God, without a place to make atonement, without a place to direct their worship.

Into this situation the prophet Haggai, sent by God, speaks God’s message to His people.

^1:1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Yahweh came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: ² This is what Yahweh Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Yahweh’s house.’” (Haggai 1:1,2)

God doesn’t speak first to the people in general, but to the leaders. That makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, who is responsible for motivating and activating people to do what is needed? And here is the political leader and the spiritual leader of the people, who need to work together to move the people in the right direction. Do they feel guilty? Do they believe they have shirked their God-given responsibility?

Who are you leading? Who depends on your motivating and activating them to right behaviors? What has God spoken to you to get you fulfilling your responsibility? Yes, you have needs of your own. Yes, you have been discouraged about leading those you lead. Yes, the energy needed to lead seems hard to conjure. But God works through leaders, and He has called you to leadership in your realm. Are you listening for Him?