Paneled Houses or the House of the Lord

In 520 BC, God spoke through the prophet Haggai to confront the Israelites about their misplaced priorities. While building luxurious paneled houses for themselves, they had neglected the temple of God. Through natural consequences like failed crops and financial struggles, God showed them the emptiness of pursuing comfort over worship. The people, led by Zerubbabel and Joshua, responded with immediate obedience and united to rebuild the temple. This ancient message challenges us to examine our own priorities and identify what we might be putting before our relationship with God.