SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:5
Pues así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos: Pensad bien sobre vuestros caminos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Haggai 1:5
Verse 5. Consider your ways] Is it fit that you should be building yourselves elegant houses, and neglect a place for the worship of that God who has restored you from captivity?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts , etc.] The Lord God omniscient and omnipotent, that saw all their actions, and could punish for them; since they were so careful of their own houses, and adorning them, and so careless of his house; he would have them now sit down, and seriously think of these things, and of what he should further observe unto them: Consider your ways ; their sinful ways, and repent of them, and forsake them, particularly their ingratitude before observed; and their civil ways, their common ways of life; their labour, work, and business, they were continually employed in; and observe the event of them; what success they had, what these issued in; whether there were not some visible tokens of the divine displeasure on them, which rendered all their attempts to support and enrich themselves and families vain, and of no effect: and they would do well to consider to what all this was to be imputed; whether it was not chiefly owing to this, their neglect of the house of God; and this he would have considered, not in a slight cursory way; but with great earnestness, diligence, and application of mind: “put”, or “set your hearts upon your ways” f15 ; so it may be literally rendered.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Observe the sin of the Jews, after their return from captivity in Babylon. Those employed for God may be driven from their work by storm, yet they must go back to it. They did not say that they woul not build a temple, but, Not yet. Thus men do not say they will neve repent and reform, and be religious, but, Not yet. And so the grea business we were sent into the world to do, is not done. There is proneness in us to think wrongly of discouragements in our duty, as in they were a discharge from our duty, when they are only for the tria of our courage and faith. They neglected the building of God's house that they might have more time and money for worldly affairs. That the punishment might answer to the sin, the poverty they thought to preven by not building the temple, God brought upon them for not building it Many good works have been intended, but not done, because men suppose the proper time was not come. Thus believers let slip opportunities of usefulness, and sinners delay the concerns of their souls, till to late. If we labour only for the meat that perishes, as the Jews here we are in danger of losing our labour; but we are sure it shall not be in vain in the Lord, if we labour for the meat which lasts to eterna life. If we would have the comfort and continuance of tempora enjoyments, we must have God as our Friend. See also Lu 12:33. When God crosses our temporal affairs, and we meet with trouble an disappointment, we shall find the cause is, that the work we have to d for God and our own souls is left undone, and we seek our own thing more than the things of Christ. How many, who plead that they cannot afford to give to pious or charitable designs, often lavish ten time as much in needless expenses on their houses and themselves! But thos are strangers to their own interests, who are full of care to adorn an enrich their own houses, while God's temple in their hearts lies waste It is the great concern of every one, to apply to the necessary duty of self-examination and communion with our own hearts concerning ou spiritual state. Sin is what we must answer for; duty is what we mus do. But many are quick-sighted to pry into other people's ways, who ar careless of their own. If any duty has been neglected, that is n reason why it should still be so. Whatever God will take pleasure in when done, we ought to take pleasure in doing. Let those who have pu off their return to God, return with all their heart, while there is time.
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 כה 3541 אמר 559 יהוה 3068 צבאות 6635 שׂימו 7760 לבבכם 3824 על 5921 דרכיכם׃ 1870
