John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 13. Then spoke Haggai the Lord’s messenger , etc.] Which some render “angel”; hence sprung that notion, imbibed by some, that he was not a man, but an angel; whereas this only respects his office, being sent of God as an ambassador in his name with a message to his people: he now observing what effect his prophecy had upon the people; they being convinced of their sin, and terrified with the judgments of God upon them, and fearing that worse still would attend them; in order to revive their spirits and comfort them, spake the words unto them which follow: and this he did in the Lord’s message unto the people ; not of his own head, nor out of the pity of his own heart merely; but as a prophet of the Lord, having a fresh message from him to carry a promise to them for their comfort and encouragement: saying, I [am] with you, saith the Lord ; to pardon their sins; to accept their persons; to remove his rod from them; to assist them in the work of building the temple, they were now willing to engage in; to protect them from their enemies, and to strengthen them to go on with the work till they had finished it; a short promise, but a very full one: it was saying much in a little, and enough to remove all their fears, to scatter all their doubts, and to bear them up, and through all discouragements.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-15 - The people returned to God in the way of duty. In attending to God' ministers, we must have respect to him that sent them. The word of the Lord has success, when by his grace he stirs up our spirits to compl with it. It is in the day of Divine power we are made willing. When God has work to be done, he will either find or make men fit to do it Every one helped, as his ability was; and this they did with a regar to the Lord as their God. Those who have lost time, need to redee time; and the longer we have loitered in folly, the more haste we should make. God met them in a way of mercy. Those who work for him have him with them; and if he be for us, who can be against us? Thi should stir us up to be diligent _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 חגי2292 מלאך4397 יהוה3068 במלאכות4400 יהוה3068 לעם5971 לאמר559 אני589 אתכם854 נאם5002 יהוה׃3068
