Willing and Joyful Obedience

Haggai 1:12-15

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the LORD." 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.

The obedience of God’s people rose out of their conviction for neglecting the LORD and His house.  They listened to God chastise them for putting their own desires and interests above the doing their utmost for the Highest first.  The challenge and rebuke to set their hearts on what mattered for eternity was heard and met at last.  They looked with fresh eyes at the ruin of God’s house in disrepair and the words of Haggai the messenger and spokesman for their LORD hit them in the heart and penetrated deeply into their souls.  They feared the LORD and His presence among them because they realized the seriousness of sin and their owed devotion and honor to worship Him which they had neglected.  Haggai addressed them all with encouraging words that he was with them in this regard and endeavor.  He also reminded them that God was with them to do the work on the temple of God as a pattern and picture of our work on these temples of our bodies individually (Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13) and corporately as the church (1 Peter 2:5).  The work was ultimately God’s and not theirs in the sense of their willingness and ability to engage and complete the reconstruction as a reflection of our repentance and subsequent work of sanctification.  God stirred up the leaders, priest, and people to return and work on the house of God where worship and atonement for sins (1 John 1:9) would once again take place.  This remnant of the called and chosen people of the LORD were willing and enabled to complete the work.  We of the remnant of all who hear the gospel and are chosen and called with them work now together in building a habitation of God in the spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22).  May we who read this account by Haggai respond in joyful and willing obedience to work on God’s house, individually and corporately to His glory, honor, and praise.  It is a poignant reminder for willing and joyful obedience in our individual and corporate sanctification, building the house of God in and with us.