“In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel…” Haggai 1:1
In this “age of the church” since the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all flesh, does God speak to the individual heart? And if so, how does He speak?
From the beginning of the Bible to the last page of Revelation, we find where God speaks. One of the most marvelous aspects of God speaking is that He speaks to men, to mankind, nations, but also, and primarily to the individual heart and soul. He spoke creation into being. He spoke to the patriarchs of the Old Testament, and to the prophets, declaring the end from the beginning, speaking things which had not yet occurred, but which He brought to pass, proving the truthfulness of His words. Such was the case with two of God’s prophets, who come on the scene of history following the period of Israel’s exile in Babylon. The role that these prophets played was extremely important, as they were instrumental in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Solomon’s temple had been destroyed seventy years prior, and even the city needed to be rebuilt. The whole matter of the rebuilding of the temple actually began with the “word of the Lord” to Jeremiah concerning the seventy years of exile, and the restoration of the people to the land, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. The whole of the saga, and scenario, of Israel returning to the land and accomplishing this was by “the word of the Lord.”
After the return to the land, and after work on the temple had begun, it was abruptly stopped by the opposition by Israel’s enemies. This cessation of the work would remain as such for approximately fifteen years. Again, it would be by “the word of the Lord” that the people would be confronted by God, challenged by Him to consider their ways and plight, and recommit themselves to Him for the finishing of the temple. Haggai, probably an elderly man by this time, would write down the very dates when the “word of the Lord” came unto him. In general, though specific at the same time, this “word of the Lord” was given by God to be communicated to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, Joshua the high priest, and to “all the remnant of the people.” (Hag. 1:1,2) The result would be, according to that word of God, a stirring up of the people, a returning to God, in order to come and finish the work “in the house of the Lord.” Why is “the word of the Lord” so very essential, and instrumental, in the accomplishing of the will of God? It is first of all a declaration that God has first “returned” to the scene, and is present, and declaring that NOW is the time to accomplish His will, and the rebuilding of the temple. His word, and the accomplishment of it, is not dependent upon favorable circumstances, or the opposition that still remains intact against His purposes. His word is based upon His sovereign authority and power to give to those who believe in and trust Him that ability to rise up in the face of difficulty and opposition to accomplish an impossible task. In other words, God’s spoken word, His commandments and promises, are His calling, for the believer to faithfully obey Him, and thus, prove the or truthfulness and reality of His presence, power, and provision.
Does God speak to the individual believer today, in order to reveal His glory and accomplish His will on earth? The answer lies in the words of Jesus when He said, with respect to Him being the Shepherd: “…the sheep hear His voice, and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadth them out.” (Jn.10:3) We hear His voice, when in the objective words of Scripture, we are seeking Him, waiting upon Him, trusting wholly the Spirit of God.
Dear Father, Make us hear Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.