Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 411
HAGGAI
On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a
message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, gov
ernor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying,
‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”
Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why
are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is
what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You
drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your
wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with
holes!
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s hap
pening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild
my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought
your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins,
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your
own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew
and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields
and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all
your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin
everything you have worked so hard to get.”
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high
priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message
from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet
Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord.
Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from
the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!”
So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the
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