The time has not come.—Hag. 1:2.

When the restored Jews began the temple-building work, laying the foundation in 536 B.C.E., they were not saying that “the time has not come.” But they soon allowed opposition from neighbors and interference from the government to affect them. The Jews began putting more emphasis on their own houses and their own comforts. Jehovah asked: “Is it the time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house is waste?” (Hag. 1:4) Yes, the priorities of the Jews had shifted. Instead of keeping in first place Jehovah’s purpose to have the temple rebuilt, God’s people became focused on themselves and their dwellings. Jehovah’s word recorded at Haggai 1:5 encouraged the Jews to ‘set their heart upon their ways.’ Jehovah was telling them to stop and meditate on what they were doing and to consider how they were being affected by not keeping the temple-building work in first place in their lives. w 4/15/06 10, 11