Charles Spurgeon Commentary Haggai 1:1-2

"In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, It is not the time [for us] to come, the time for Jehovah`s house to be built." — Haggai 1:1-2 (ASV)

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Thus people say, The time has not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built.

A bad excuse is thought to be better than none. These people would not object to the building of the Lord's house, but they were willing to postpone so expensive a matter. There are always some persons who will not say that they decline self-sacrifice for Christ – that would be more honesty than could reasonably be expected from them, and honesty might cost their feelings too much – but they have some other reason or pretense of reason – “The time has not come that the Lord's house should be built.” People are generally quick enough for anything that is for their own interest. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” We must catch time by the forelock.

Oh! if we had the same desire in the work and service of God – if we had the same desire – we should have the same promptitude to do our task. “The time has not come – the time that the Lord's house should be built.”

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 the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.

God keeps an almanac, and the date on which he speaks is always important. There is a set time for each of his messages to come to men, and God would have them pay attention to every message as soon as it is delivered to them.

If they do not, he keeps count of the days of their delay; and therefore he is particular in causing his servants to record the exact date when his message was delivered: 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 the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest.

Oh that God would make this very day notable in our history by speaking to the hearts of many here! Notice, too, that God also takes care to direct his messages to those for whom they are intended. The word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel and to Joshua.

God knows to whom his message is specially addressed today, and he will not let it miss its mark. Oh, that someone here would cry to him, and say, "Lord, speak to me, as you did to Zerubbabel; and not to me only, but to such-and-such another, as you did to Joshua." Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say.

So the Lord notes what people say, and in due time he reminds them of what they have said. Sometimes, he makes men eat their own words; but, if not, he at least recalls them to their memory: This people say, The time is not come, the time that Jehovah’s house should be built.

Delay has always been one of the strongest of Satan's temptations even with God's own people, who far too often say, even concerning his work which they know ought to be done, "The time is not come." How much more would be done for God if we would all do at once what ought to be done!

We could then go on to something else, and make our lives still more useful and fruitful. But we delay so long the carrying out of one good purpose that there remains no opportunity for another. If any of you Christian people are tempted to put off some service for God which is on your heart, I urge you to remember your Lord's words, and to imitate his prompt action: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.