The bible - Book of Haggai

1. The Bible - Book of Haggai – 11th
February 2017
"'Theglory of thispresent house will be greater thanthe gloryof the former house,' says the LORD
Almighty.Andin thisplace I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."(Haggai 2:9).
We can learnfrom Haggai 1:1 that identifiesthe authorof the Bookof Haggai as the ProphetHaggai.
The Book of Haggai was writteninapproximately520B.C. Haggai soughtto challenge the people of God
concerningtheirpriorities. He calledthemtoreverence andglorifyGodbybuildingthe Temple inspite
of local andofficial opposition.Haggai calledthemnottobe discouragedbecause thisTemplewouldnot
be quite as richlydecoratedasSolomon's.He exhortedthemtoturnfromthe uncleannessof theirways
and to trustin God's sovereignpower. The Bookof Haggai is a reminderof the problemsthe people of
God facedat thistime,howthe people courageouslytrustedinGodandhow God providedfortheir
needs.
The book of Haggai isNarrative HistoryandPropheticOracle.Haggai isamong the mostcarefullyand
preciselydatedbooksinthe entire Bible.Itis a post-exilicbook,meaningitwaswrittenafter (post) the
captivity (exile) inBabylon.Keypersonalitiesare Haggai,Zerubbabel,andJoshua.The purpose of this
bookwas that Haggai was calledbyGod to encourage the people tofinishthe constructionof the
temple inJerusalem.The constructionhadceasedbecause of oppositionandbecause the neighboring
countries,andthe Jewswere frightened.The bookof Haggai has onlytwoChaptersas statedbelow:
• Inchapter 1, we can read where Godcalledon Haggai to deliverHismessage.The Jewswere livingin
theircomfortable houseswhilethe temple,the houseof God,sat unfinished asstatedin Haggai 1:2-3,
“Thisis what the LORD Almightysays:“These people say,‘The time has not yet come to rebuildthe
LORD’shouse.’”3
Thenthe word of the LORD came throughthe prophetHaggai: 4
“Isit a time for you
yourselvesto be livinginyour paneledhouses,while thishouse remainsa ruin?”The Jewsbegan
working24 daysafterHaggai’smessage aswe can learnfrom Haggai 1:15, “They came and beganto
work on the house of the LORD Almighty,theirGod, 15
on the twenty-fourthday ofthe sixthmonth.”
• Inchapter 2, we can read where Haggai motivatedthe Jewstocontinue buildingthe temple,and
that God will blessthem:“‘ThisiswhatI covenanted withyou when you came out ofEgypt. And my
Spiritremains amongyou.Do not fear.”(Haggai 2:5).The buildingof the temple inJerusalemwas
completedin515 B.C.
Will the people of Godreconsidertheirpriorities,take courage,andacton the basisof God's
promises?Godsoughtto warnthe people toheedHiswords. NotonlydidGod warn them, butHe also
offeredpromisesthroughHisservantHaggai tomotivate themtofollow Him. Because the peopleof
God reversedtheirprioritiesandfailedtoputGodin firstplace intheirlives, the people in Judahwas
sentintoBabylonianexile. Inresponse toDaniel'sprayerandinfulfillmentof God'spromises,God
directedCyrusthe Persiankingtoallowthe Jewsinexile togo back to Jerusalem. A groupof Jews
returnedtotheirlandwithgreatjoy,put God firstintheirlives,worshipedHimandbegantorebuildthe
Temple of Jerusalemwithoutthe aidof the local people wholivedinIsrael. Theircourageousfaithwas
metwithoppositionfromthe local peopleaswell asthe Persiangovernmentforapproximately15
years.
As withmostof the booksof the minorprophets,Haggai endswithpromisesof restorationandblessing.
In the lastverse,Godusesa distinctlymessianictitle inreference toZerubbabel,“MyServant” asstated
inHaggai 2:23, “‘Onthat day,’declares the LORD Almighty,‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son
of Shealtiel,’declaresthe LORD, ‘andI will make youlike my signet ring,for I have chosen you,’

2. declares the LORD Almighty.”ThroughHaggai,Godpromisestomake himlike asignetring,whichwasa
symbol of honor,authority,andpower,somewhatlike aking’sscepterusedtoseal lettersanddecrees.
Zerubbabel,as the wearerof God’ssignetring,representsthe house of Davidandthe resumptionof the
messianicline interruptedbythe Exile.Zerubbabelreestablishedthe Davidicline of kingswhichwould
culminate inthe millennial reignof Christ.Zerubbabel appearsinthe line of ChristonbothJoseph’sside
(Matthew 1:12) and Mary’s side (Luke3:27).
The practical application fromthe Bookof Haggai draws attentiontocommonproblemsmostpeople
face eventoday.Haggai asks us firstto examine ourprioritiestosee if we are more interestedinour
ownpleasuresthandoingthe workof God; Second to rejecta defeatistattitude whenwe runinto
oppositionordiscouragingcircumstances; Thirdtoconfessourfailuresandseektolive pure livesbefore
God; Fourthto act courageouslyforGodbecause we have the assurance thatHe iswithus alwaysand is
infull control of our circumstances;and finally torestsecure inGod's handsknowingthatHe will
abundantlyblessusaswe faithfullyserve Him.
Key Verses:
Haggai 1:4, "Is it a time for youyourselves to be livinginyour paneledhouses,while thishouse
remainsa ruin?"
Haggai 1:5-6, "Nowthis iswhat the LORD Almightysays: 'Givecareful thoughtto your ways. Youhave
plantedmuch, buthave harvested little. Youeat, but never have enough.Youdrink, butnever have
your fill.Youput on clothes,but are not warm. Youearn wages,onlyto putthem ina purse with holes
in it.'"
Haggai 2:9, "'The gloryof thispresent housewill be greater than the gloryof the former house,' says
the LORD Almighty.'Andin thisplace I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."