EGW WritingsHaggai 1

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 162, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 162, 1897, par. 1

The Sabbath is past, and there was so large a number present to attend the dedication of the house of worship that we could not be accommodated in the upper room of the school building. The church was done. I had not allowed myself to go upon the ground since the foundation was laid. I felt that the building was under the especial supervision of God; and it was so. The circumstances had been arranged by the Lord, without any of our wisdom. There were leading carpenters who receive high wages for their work; but this we had not considered at all. The word of the Lord came to me unexpectedly in the night season, calling my attention to the first two chapters of Haggai. Both chapters were to be carefully studied.

12LtMs, Lt 162, 1897, par. 2

“Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways,” etc. [Haggai 1:2-5.] “Arise and build.” [Nehemiah 2:20.] I will send you copy of these messages written.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 56, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 56, 1897, par. 1

I must speak to you, Brother Haskell, Brother Hughes, Brother Wilson, and Brother Daniells. When we parted with you last evening, I said, We will not hasten the building of the meetinghouse, but last night has changed my ideas materially. I received instruction which I cannot now put on paper fully. The instruction given me was to give to the people the words of the prophet Haggai, “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord from the prophet saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste,” be left without attention, without coming [into] your calculation? “Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. ... Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.” [Haggai 1:2-5, 8.]

12LtMs, Lt 56, 1897, par. 2

The question was asked, Shall the house of the Lord be left as the last consideration? Read this chapter of inspiration, and take heed unto it. The first and second chapters contain lessons for us. I received instruction to speak to the people, and tell them that we are not to leave the house of the Lord until the last consideration. There is no place of worship we can secure in which to assemble. In the cities, halls can be obtained, but the place in which we worship is becoming too small for us. This is not according to the will of God. Our first consideration should be to build a house for the Lord.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 175, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 175, 1897, par. 64

This is a great enterprise for this part of the country. Our school being established here demands that we arise and build. We cannot present to the Lord any meager offering. We want, when this work is done, to have done our best according to the light God has given. We want to hear from the Lord the word of approval as did the remnant who obeyed the voice of the Lord their God coming to them through Haggai the prophet, when “they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 1:14. The word of approval came, “I am with you, saith the Lord.” Haggai 2:4. “Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.” Zechariah 1:16. Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 are chapters appropriate for our study. We are to learn our lessons from these chapters, for history will be and is being repeated.

12LtMs, Ms 175, 1897, par. 67

I spoke to a room full in regard to building a house for the Lord. I spoke from Haggai, chapter 1. This had been urged home upon my mind, also chapter 2. I also urged the people to show honor to God at once by building a house for Him, where we could worship God in all humbleness of mind, where we could kneel down to worship God, and could serve the Lord becomingly and in order.

12LtMs, Ms 175, 1897, par. 68

I have a message from the Lord in regard to building a house for God. I read Haggai first and second chapters, and Ezra, third chapter. I bore a clear and decided testimony, and appealed to all to rise up and build a house for the Lord. Elder Haskell spoke to the point, and we know the people felt indeed in earnest in the matter to do all they could.

12LtMs, Ms 175, 1897, par. 94

I wrote a short letter to Brother Baker. We had our reading of the Word with the family. Then my heart was drawn out in most earnest prayer to the Lord in behalf of those who were preparing the way for the chapel to be built. The angels of God can and will be on the ground to direct the work and control the judgment of everyone who shall set his hand cheerfully to the work. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.” Haggai 1:7, 8.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 97, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 97, 1897, par. 5

But that night light was given me from the Scripture in the first and second chapters of Haggai. The matter I wrote then I will send you, if it has not been already sent. The next mail brought me a letter with a donation of £200 for the meeting house in Cooranbong. This made £300 wherewith to make a start. We then set men at work to clear the land.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 65, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 65, 1900, par. 10

“I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.” [Verses 18-20.] Read also the first chapter of Haggai.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 65a, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 65a, 1900, par. 9

“I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.” [Verses 18-20.] Read Haggai chapter one.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Ms 29, 1911

Haggai

25LtMs, Ms 29, 1911, par. 52

Please read the first chapter of Haggai. The dearth of means in the treasury is the sure result of work that God cannot sanction. Men have tried to rob their brethren of their rights and have selfishly grasped all the available means to turn to the advantage of the Review and Herald office. They have tried to justify themselves by saying, I am doing it for the cause of God. Human preferences and prejudices have swayed the minds of those who confederated to sustain methods contrary to the Word of God. Selfishness has led those who ought to be true to principle to make crooked paths for their feet.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 116, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 7

“In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say.” [Haggai 1:1, 2.] They do not act like the people whom the Lord has chosen and led and guided to glorify His name in the world. God calls them “This people,” not, My people. “This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet saying, Is it time, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 8

“Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.” [Verses 2-5.] Why have you been so passive? Why have you done so little? Why did you feel concern for your own buildings and unconcern for the Lord’s building? What have you gained by serving self at the sacrifice of the best interests, which should create a burning zeal for the Lord? Nothing has prospered with you while you have neglected your duty to the Lord. The thought to escape poverty by not building has brought upon you that which you feared. “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink; but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” [Verse 6.]

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 10

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.” [Haggai 1:7-11.]

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 11

What was the result of this message? “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Josedech, 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 did fear before the Lord. Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, and they came and did work in the house of the Lord their God.” [Verses 12-14.]

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 33

It was after Haggai’s second message that the people felt that the Lord was in earnest with them. They dared not disregard the repeated warning that their prosperity and the blessing of God was dependent upon their entire obedience to the instruction given them. As soon as they decided that they would do the words of the Lord, His message of reproof changed to words of encouragement. O how merciful a God we have. He says, “I am with you.” [Haggai 1:12, 13.] The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. He assured the people that if they were obedient, they would place themselves in a position where He could bless them for His own name’s glory. If God’s people will only rely upon Him, and believe in Him, He will bless them. He will be a present help to all who will serve Him in preference to serving themselves. When the Lord sees that there is a heart to do His will, His people will know of the doctrine. He will be with them. The presence of God includes everything. We have a sure refuge, a never failing Friend.

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 35

It is dishonoring to God for our churches to be burdened with debt. This state of things need not exist. It shows wrong management from beginning to end, and it is a dishonor to the God of heaven. Read and study prayerfully the fourth chapter of Zechariah. Then read the first chapter of Haggai, and see if this representation does not apply to you. While you have thought much of your own selves, of your own selfish interests, you have either neglected to arise and build, or have built on hired money, and have not made donations to free the church buildings from debt. Will you consider what it is your duty to do? Year after year passes by, and very little sacrifice is made to lessen the debt. The interest swallows up the means that should be used to pay off the principal.

12LtMs, Ms 116, 1897, par. 39

“Now therefore, saith the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe ye, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. ... Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man to his own house. Therefore the heavens over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.” [Haggai 1:5, 6, 9, 10.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 90, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 90, 1897, par. 1

We received your welcome letter, with the draft enclosed. We thank you, my Brother and Sister Lindsay, and your mother, for this donation to our meetinghouse. In the past I have been handicapped in regard to the means wherewith to arise and build. But if we had moved out by faith, I have not a doubt but that the means would have been furnished. The Lord had been stirring my mind on this subject. In the night season I was addressing the people, saying “Arise and build.” [Nehemiah 2:20.] “This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for ye, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. ... Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house: and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.” [Haggai 1:2-5, 8.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 13 [Nos. 1000-1080]

MR No. 1066—Building God’s House To Be Given First Consideration

13MR 355.1

I must speak to you, Brother Haskell, Brother Hughes, Brother Wilson, and Brother Daniells. When we parted with you last evening, I said, We will not hasten the building of the meeting house; but last night has changed my ideas materially. [Haggai 1:2-8, quoted.]

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 50—Tithes and Offerings

PP 527.2

A striking illustration of the results of selfishly withholding even freewill offerings from the cause of God was given in the days of the prophet Haggai. After their return from the captivity in Babylon, the Jews undertook to rebuild the temple of the Lord; but meeting determined opposition from their enemies, they discontinued the work; and a severe drought, by which they were reduced to actual want, convinced them that it was impossible to complete the building of the temple. “The time is not come,” they said, “the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” But a message was sent them by the Lord’s prophet: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:2-6. And then the reason is given: “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.” Verses 9-11. “When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands.” Haggai 2:16, 17.

From Splendor to Shadow

God’s Work Grinds to a Halt

SS 295.3

Such were the conditions during the early part of the reign of Darius Hystaspes. The Israelites were in a pitiable state. They murmured and doubted and chose to make personal interests first, while viewing with apathy the Lord’s temple in ruins. Many had lost sight of God’s purpose in restoring them to Judea, and these were saying, “The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” Haggai 1:2.

SS 295.5

Haggai addressed the searching inquiry, “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?” Verse 4. Why do you feel concern for your own buildings and unconcern for the Lord’s building? The desire to escape poverty has led you to neglect the temple, but this neglect has brought upon you that which you feared.

SS 296.1

“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Verse 6.

SS 296.2

Then the Lord revealed the cause that had brought them to want: “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore ... I called for a drought upon the land.” Verses 9-11.

SS 296.3

“Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified.” Verses 7, 8.

SS 296.4

The message given through Haggai was taken to heart. The leaders and people dared not disregard the instruction sent—that prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, was dependent on faithful obedience to God’s commands. Aroused, Zerubbabel and Joshua, “with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet.” Verse 12.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 46—“The Prophets of God Helping Them”

PK 573.2

Such were the conditions existing during the early part of the reign of Darius Hystaspes. Spiritually as well as temporally, the Israelites were in a pitiable state. So long had they murmured and doubted; so long had they chosen to make personal interests first, while viewing with apathy the Lord’s temple in ruins, that many had lost sight of God’s purpose in restoring them to Judea; and these were saying, “The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” Haggai 1:2.

PK 574.1

To those who had become discouraged, Haggai addressed the searching inquiry, “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” Why have you done so little? Why do you feel concern for your own buildings and unconcern for the Lord’s building? Where is the zeal you once felt for the restoration of the Lord’s house? What have you gained by serving self? The desire to escape poverty has led you to neglect the temple, but this neglect has brought upon you that which you feared. “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Verses 4-6.

PK 574.2

And then, in words that they could not fail to understand, the Lord revealed the cause that had brought them to want: “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.” Verses 9-11.

PK 575.1

“Consider your ways,” the Lord urged. “Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified.” Verses 7, 8.

PK 575.2

The message of counsel and reproof given through Haggai was taken to heart by the leaders and people of Israel. They felt that God was in earnest with them. They dared not disregard the repeated instruction sent them—that their prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, was dependent on faithful obedience to God’s commands. Aroused by the warnings of the prophet, Zerubbabel and Joshua, “with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet.” Verse 12.

PK 575.3

As soon as Israel decided to obey, the words of reproof were followed by a message of encouragement. “Then spake Haggai ... unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel” and of Joshua, and “of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” Verses 13, 14.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Ms 110, 1893

8LtMs, Ms 110, 1893, par. 13

The end of all things is at hand and iniquity abounds, because men have transgressed the law and broken the everlasting covenant given on condition of obedience, and because of continual transgression. Isaiah 59; Ezekiel 20:12, 18; Amos 5:11-20; Micah 6:6-15; Haggai 1:5, 6; Hosea 6:1-11; 8:12, 13; Joel 1:2-7, 11-20. There we have the prophecies of the state of our world just prior to the second coming of the Lord thy God. The world will become more and [more] under the sway of seducing spirits as they turn away from God and His righteous government. Men professing godliness will indulge their own traits of character. Unless they are conscientiously under the control of God, they will become self-indulgent and self-centered.

Education

Honest Business Dealings

Ed 143.3

“Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.... Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it.” “When one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.” “Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste.” “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings.” “Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.” Haggai 1:5-9; 2:16; Malachi 3:8; Haggai 1:10.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 10 [Nos. 771-850]

Shall Our Churches Be Weighed Down With Debt?

10MR 125.3

“Now therefore saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.... Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man to his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit” (Haggai 1:5, 6, 9, 10).

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 2 (1869 - 1875)

Lt 8, 1873

2LtMs, Lt 8, 1873, par. 11

Nothing can do us real good without the blessing of God. What God blesses is blessed. Therefore “a little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” Psalm 37:16. The little with the blessing of God is more efficient, and it will extend farther. The grace of God will make a little go a great ways. When we devote ourselves to the affairs of the kingdom of God, He will mind our affairs. The Word of God says of them who devoted their interest solely to their own affairs, “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:6.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 62, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 62, 1894, par. 31

The Lord says, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” [Verse 7.] Do not, like the slothful servant, ask, Wherein have I return? Wherein have I robbed thee? God has laid out the truth plain and clear before every one who has embezzled his Lord’s goods. God is in earnest with us. We make desperate efforts to accumulate money, and there may be flattering appearances of our success, but God says, “I will blow upon it, I will scatter their substance as the wind scattereth the chaff.” [See Haggai 1:9.]

Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900 (vol. 4)

The Hastening Pace

4BIO 318.2

Ellen White spoke at the worship service on Sabbath morning. She had no difficulty in selecting a text for the sermon, and read from Haggai 1:14 and 2:4, the call for God’s people of old for the building of a house of worship. This had been urged upon her mind. She reported the matter in this way: