Haggai 1:8

For the second time the LORD urges the remnant to consider their ways. The first time it was in the way of reproof; now it is to encourage them to resume the work of the house of God. We know that then, as now, it was a day of small things. As we shall see, the house they built was "as nothing" compared with the former glory of the house. Yet to this feeble remnant the LORD says: go up, bring wood, build the house. He promises that He will take pleasure in it and that He will be glorified.

They had set their hearts on their own houses, and the Lord, as it were, says to them, "My heart is on My house. So go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house." This was the object of their restoration. The Lord would still have them share the privilege of fellowship with His own purposes. He even stoops to say that He will take pleasure in it and that He will be glorified. By building the house, they would draw out the satisfaction of His heart and lift up His name. We learn from this that the true way to glorify God is to be in fellowship with His own mind. It is not the activities we may choose, however good they are in themselves. It is not works of kindness and philanthropy, however much they relieve the wants and sorrows of others. It is labouring for the object God has before Him at any given time.

It is good to think that a few faithful hearts, with everything against them, would still build a house for God. Solomon had plenty of material in his day. But God probably found more pleasure in the devotion of these few faithful hearts than in the days of Solomon's temple.

God expects His people to make the church visible to all, by bringing materials suitable for her construction. The Holy Spirit uses the evangelist, pastors and teachers to build the church. But we would badly deceive ourselves if we thought that evangelising alone adds souls to the building. It is one of the main instruments. Yet this work needs all the gifts working together. More than that, every witness of Christ is responsible to bring noble and living material to the house of God.

The Lord declares that He will take pleasure in it and that He will be glorified. How kindly He longs for His people to be wholehearted and fully devoted to Himself. It is in worship, pictured by the building of the house, that we glorify Him. It is worshippers the Father seeks, worshippers in spirit and in truth (John 4).

As with the remnant of old, so with ourselves. The low spiritual condition we so often have to mourn comes from doing our own pleasure and seeking our own glory. Self-will and self-importance lie at the root of our failure. Still, is it not the deepest joy and encouragement to know this? In a day of weakness, and despite all our failure, we can still judge our ways. We can still do what pleases God and what brings Him glory.