We continue our study of Haggai's first prophecy. The substance of his first message is a challenge of the people why they have ceased to labour at their God-given task. They had been set free from captivity in order to build the house of God which had lain waste since the destruction of the city at the close of Jeremiah's ministry, some seventy years before. But though they had begun well, they had ceased their labours for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was the opposition of their enemies -- the colonists placed in the land of Judah at the time of Judah's conquest. Ezra 4:1-10. As stated already, it would appear that the returned exiles were not too distressed at the ban placed on their labours but threw themselves enthusiastically into promoting their own interests, Hag 1:4. They had shown a readiness to interpret their circumstances to suit themselves. From verse 7-12, the prophet enlarges upon his exposing of this excuse as being empty and calls upon them to review their ways and how little success they enjoyed since leaving off their duty. SELF-EXAMINATION IS A NECESSITY FOR THE BELIEVER. 1. Trials and difficulties may overtake the child of God. 2. It is by honest and earnest self-examination that we preserve ourselves from such trials. 3. The Word of God is our great aid in such examinations.