A few weeks back we looked at the reality that Judah perfectly understood what God wanted them to accomplish. They were sent back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but now we find them in this state of indecision. The excuse they developed to justify this status was the idea that timing just wasn't right to do what God so clearly asked of them. While in this state of indecision, they had no trouble taking care of themselves and building their own houses while God's house lies waste. So God sends Haggai the prophet to address his people, and in doing so adds relevance to an idea I believe we need to address.
Many of God's people the world over have been given this idea that they should not make a move in the direction of service to God until God sends them some external revelation informing them to do what they plainly know from scripture God wants them to accomplish.
Without this special external revelation, they feel somehow hindered from moving forward in the Christian life.
The plain commands from scripture no longer suffice as our final authority. Of course, we give ascent to the idea that scripture is our authority, but then we sit and wait for a feeling, a notion, a leading, peace about this or that, all the while allowing our actions to display a reality that is very different from our acknowledgments.
The book of Haggai informs us of the danger that comes from spiritual procrastination, especially when we blame God for doing so. Judah received clear instruction from God, they knew exactly what God wanted them to do, but they allowed adversity to prevent them.
God had no reason to speak to them further until the work they were given was accomplished.