Up until this point Haggai’s message on behalf of the Lord has been somewhat subtle. He has yet to explicitly link the neglect of the building of the temple and the futility of the people in their work. In Haggai 1:5–6 he called them to deep reflection on their circumstances, giving them the task of interpreting what has been happening. But now the message becomes more direct and explicit, where the prophet is going to make the link explicit.1
7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways.