READINGS ON HAGGAI (1) (SUMMARY)
[p. 445] READINGS ON HAGGAI (1) (SUMMARY)
It is to be noted that in the minor prophets generally those in public authority are not the people of God. Here Darius, one of the Medes, is in authority, but not hostile. It corresponds in a certain sense with our own times. We are at liberty to pray for those in authority, yet having inwardly the sense that God is with us.
Despite these facts there were certain conditions that the enemy could use, and was using, conditions of ease, and the neglect of the things of God (verse 2). There was neglect of the rights of God in His house, what belongs to Him, as the assembly is His. It is God’s assembly, and the Holy Spirit is here in it, but He can be hindered by conditions. We shall see as we proceed how God was ready to come in there, and is ready to do so now. Indeed, not only will God come in, but He has come in. We have proved it week after week for years, but we want more, more spiritual power.
“This house” is what we are as of the assembly. But think what God is losing by want of real interest in the things of God!
The prophetic service is seen nowhere in the Old Testament more distinctly than in Haggai. The prophets were always there and available. The same kind of ministry enters into the whole of the minor prophets, ministry for the last days.
The governor and the high priest are those that are in authority spiritually, not public authorities but those that are in our care meetings. But here they are not functioning as they should. Then “the remnant of the people” is also spoken of; that includes the [p. 446] sisters as well as the brothers. The word ‘remnant’ has a peculiar place in the ministry of the minor prophets, as also the phrase “Jehovah of hosts”, which shows that God has plenty even if they are not now available.
Question as to the “signet” (chapter 2: 23). In view of the peculiar place that this man, Zerubbabel, has the reference is undoubtedly to Christ. The signet suggests that God’s stamp is to be on everything.
Chapter 1 of this book indicates what was at fault, and chapter 2 gives the great result. Haggai and Zechariah were serving together; “Two are better than one”. The Lord sent the disciples out two by two at one time. As a result of the prophets’ labours in quick time there was a remedy, and the work began to be done. It was not attempted to be done, it began to be done.
What influence the sisters would have in such a matter! We must not leave the sisters out in these meetings. The Lord has given us help on that. The sisters must be there, and in full force-spiritually. Hannah corresponds with this, in the service of prayer. Although her composition is called a prayer, it was really an ascription of praise to God.
Houses come in here much and sisters have much to do with houses, so that instead of wainscoted houses it is a matter of the house of God.
There is such a thing as “standing by”, persons not exactly acting, but standing by (Zechariah 3: 7).
“Go up to the mountain”, that means real exercise, and then “Bring wood”. In our case we must seek out persons that need help and get them right, so that there will be material for the house. “Bring wood”Bring it! That would refer to persons who are converted and have the Spirit, these are the only ones who can be of any use to us.
Haggai is the Lord’s messenger with the Lord’s message. John 20 tells us that the disciples went to their own homes, but Mary remained behind and she got something. This prophet is a messenger and Mary became a messenger to the brethren. She had a message too, a very beautiful thought, and she delivered the message. What the sisterhood is in this sense! What can be done by them! It is a remarkable matter to look into.
Phoebe was then cited, and J.T. said that she must have gone to Rome on business, and the saints were to assist her in that regard. He then told the brethren that a large amount of money had been given by a sister who is now with the Lord, to be used to reprint about twenty volumes of the Collected Writings, so that they may be available to the brethren, adding, ‘and they are to be read, not to leave on our shelves’. He further remarked, ‘The sister is with the Lord, but the money is with the brethren’.
Remark as to the scarcity of time for reading. The scarcest thing I know of is time. There is so much to be done, we must addict ourselves to what is profitable.
Verse 8 of our chapter is most stimulating. “I will take pleasure ... I will be glorified”. Then the prophet rebukes the people (verse 9). There is no prosperity under certain conditions. We want to see that these conditions are removed. Then they “hearkened” (verse 12). This is the positive side. Note that they hearkened to the prophet as well as to Jehovah.
Remarks were then made as to attendance at the meetings, and J.T. said, I was calling attention to past ministry, in itself valuable, but we also want what is fresh. There is a peculiar blessing in standing in the house of Jehovah: “who by night stand in the house of Jehovah”. As to attendance at the meetings, the main end in all these things is what is for God; the main end of the Bible is that.
[p. 448] The spirits of the brethren are brought in in verse 14, and they are right.
The dates here are very striking, because there was very little time involved, but the results were remarkable. It is remarkable too how dates are given in the book of Acts, for example, Paul was at Corinth eighteen months and at Ephesus three years.
Ques Can we look for results like this in two or three days?
JT That raises the whole question of time. We are now in the twentieth century. God is unwilling for any to perish and He is waiting for what is to come into the assembly. The era has been about twenty centuries and God is not changing His mind. Then the revival has come in. That was nearly one hundred and fifty years ago. We are to take account of that.
Question as to the three services: rule, priesthood and prophecy.
JT And then you must add to that the remnant. The remnant is scattered all over the world, and it is working, doing something for God. It is a very fine thought to consider what is among the brethren at this time. They are not specially gifted but they are doing. “She hath done what she could”. So the sisters are doing something, and we pray for them as well as for the gifted men. Every one does his bit. Normally the assembly is not lazy, it is active.
Question as to the remnant idea applying to us today.
JT I do not think the word ‘remnant’ is suitable in the assembly; it is rather ‘those who form the assembly’. It is not a proper word now, it belongs properly to Israel. We have nothing less than the assembly in mind now, I mean the thought of it; we clothe ourselves with the thought of it.
The Lord says to Philadelphia, “I also will keep thee”. It is not a remnant, it is the whole idea.