What makes the people’s response so noteworthy?

The Lord had sent the prophet Haggai to his people with a hard word. For the exiles had been back in the land for some sixteen years. But instead of fully rebuilding the temple that had been destroyed, they had settled into spiritual complacency. They neglected the Lord’s house in favour of getting expensive wood panelling to build and beautify their own houses first. They were putting their own wants, comforts, and luxuries far ahead of the call to devote their hearts to the Lord. So the Lord in his faithfulness called them to consider their ways, to take a hard look at their lifestyle, their choices, and the frustrations they have experienced because of their upside-down priorities. They had futility in their work, because their disobedience had activated the Lord’s covenant curse. They were under discipline, to get them back on the right track.

This was not the first complaint that the Lord had registered against his covenant people through the prophets. But the response to the word of the Lord is rare, almost without precedent. In most cases, the prophetic warnings of judgment and the calls to repentance fell on deaf ears. Israel’s usual response to God’s prophets was well caught by our Saviour, who once cried out, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! (Luke 13:34).¹ But the great news is that in Haggai’s case, Jerusalem’s response to prophetic preaching is very different! The leaders and the people obeyed the voice of the Lord. The message fell on open ears, fertile soil, city-wide.