The returned exiles were turning their hearts to the Lord. As they were doing this, as they were listening to him, renewing their fear of him, they could know that the Lord was also turning toward them.1 When they came to God and repented, the Lord’s message changed at once! The hard word was exchanged for one of the most exquisitely tender words from God. Two words in Hebrew; four in English: I am with you.
The Lord hereby promises his people that they need not fear their enemies, those opposed to the building project. The work on the temple will get done, because he is with them! That promise was to motivate their obedience in building the temple, and to strengthen them to resist the enemy and to hope for the future.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.”