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The design of this prophecy is to persuade the Jews off from that slothful security in the neglect of their duty which had already exposed them to the displeasure of God. They had outward difficulties of circumstance, but their chief hindrance was their own neglect and dulness, their want of respect for God and holy things. It was this state of insensibility that God sent His prophet to bring them out of. His words here primarily import no more than that it was time for that rebellious people to observe and consider diligently of all their labour and pains, and the works of their hands, and see what it all came to. This, however, is not the only design. They were to consider with a view to amending their lives, and getting free of those sins which were causing God's displeasure. How much our case is like that of the Jews in Haggai's time. The temple we are now to build up, is the Church and body of Christ; not with stones and wood from the mountains, but with living materials, Christ being the foundation and chief corner-stone. The building up this holy temple consists in advancing the credit and honour of religion among men, and in discountenancing, in the course of our lives, and the whole tendency of our discourse, all vice and profaneness, and everything that is inconsistent with religion; and this, it is too certain, we have not had the courage and the constancy to do. We of this nation, too generally, have not been advancing the public interest, and the Protestant cause, as we ought to have done. The prophet's words are therefore applicable to us.

I. THE PERSON SPEAKING. It is that Being who has furnished you with all the blessings you have enjoyed; who has been your continual safety and protection. He can never lay any commands on us but what are necessary for us, and highly tending to our own interest. He is infinitely wise, and so knows perfectly well what will conduce most to our interest and happiness. Other arguments there are, perhaps of more force than these. In the text He is called by that awful title, "The Lord of hosts," importing that He has a right to us and all our actions, because He created us and all things.

II. THE ADVICE OR COMMAND WHICH IS GIVEN. "Consider your ways." A very plain and easy command. The original is, "Set your heart upon your ways." Observe, attend to, watch over all your actions.

1. Show the mischiefs of inconsideration.

(1)  We give ourselves up by it to the most stupid and insuperable ignorance imaginable.

(2)  We lay ourselves open entirely to the power of our lusts.

(3)  It subjects us to the tyranny and insults of our great spiritual enemy.

2. Some of the advantages and necessity of consideration. The blessed advantages of consideration can never be enumerated. It gives us strength and vigour in the performance of all our duties. It is the only means to furnish us with suitable arguments and victorious resolutions against every temptation and artifice of the devil. And as it suffers us to omit no duty, it effectually destroys and conquers every beloved lust and inclination.

3. Answer some objections by the devil raised in our minds against consideration.

(1) It is exceeding difficult and trouble some to be always upon the guard, and watching against ourselves. But the question for us concerns not the difficulty but the necessity and the duty.

(2) To be always filled with notions of the power, justice, and vengeance of God, must needs make us very melancholy. But enter into religion aright, and you will soon find that, instead of melancholy, your souls will be filled with the truest and most satisfactory joy and life and vigour.

(John Gale, D. D.)

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KJV: Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

WEB: Now therefore this is what Yahweh of Armies says: Consider your ways.