Haggai

"It is, perhaps, not a great book." That's a quote I read while preparing to teach on Haggai. How inspiring! Nevertheless, I think there's plenty of interest here. Below you'll find a summary of its contents, some application points, and an additional summary of its contents (from my previous time teaching on this book):

SUMMARY

When Jerusalem was destroyed in 586BC, many surviving Jews were exiled to Babylon. When Cyrus (and the Persians) came to power, they allowed these exiled to return home. Sixteen years later, in 520BC, the temple of God was still in ruins. In this context, a man named Haggai spoke, and four particular prophetic statements were preserved in this little book.

August 29^th (1:1-15)

God’s words through Haggai were directed primarily to the civil (Governor Zerubbabel) and religious (Joshua, the High Priest) leaders of his day. The prophetic statement rebukes the Jews for delaying the reconstruction of the Temple. God’s house was in ruins while the houses of the people were completed. It is no wonder that they weren’t enjoying the prosperity that most assumed would accompany the return from exile. Because of their negligence, God was against them. (As a result of Haggai’s prophecy, the leaders and the people were stirred to action. Work on the Temple began on September 21^st).

October 17th (2:1-9)

A small number of the Jews in Haggai’s day were old enough to remember the original Temple. As work proceeded, it became obvious that this project was going to pale in comparison. God spoke through Haggai, at this time, to encourage the people. God was with them and promised that the latter temple would be even more glorious than the former.

December 18^th (2:10-19)

According to the Old Covenant, consecration wasn’t contagious (if consecrated meat touched something, that thing did not become consecrated), but defilement was contagious (if a defiled person touched something, that thing became defiled). Haggai used these recognized principles to make a point. Since the people were defiled, any religious acts they did were also not acceptable to God. (Later that same day, Haggai delivered God’s message to Zerubbabel. The prophecy envisioned that something big was coming and that Zerubbabel would be exalted).

 

APPLICATION

1.      It is easy to put the most important things on the backburner 

2.      Giving careful thought to our ways… is largely a lost art

3.      God sometimes brings difficulty into our lives to wake us up

4.      God’s word carries an authority that doesn’t need dressed up

5.      The most important thing about a temple is God’s presence

6.      Religion is of no benefit if our hearts are not clean

7.      Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of these promises

OLDER SUMMARY

The book of Haggai picks up where Ezra chapter 4 leaves off.

Work on the temple had come to a standstill for a variety of reasons:

Ezra 4:24 Work at a standstill

WHY?

1. Internal Discouragements (Ezra 3:12)

2. External Discouragements (Ezra 4:4-5)

3. General Selfishness (Addressed in Haggai)

Result?

Zerubbabel, the leader of the project, went back to Babylon. It is possible he went back to seek assistance in the project, but in any case, it seems to took employment as a bodyguard for King Darius. Josephus records a story in which Zerubbabel was a contest and was able to ask for anything as a reward. He asked, of course, for help in renewing the effort to rebuild the temple. And so Darius, a friend of Zerubbabel, obliged.

Return x2

Zerubbabel returned, again, with another large company of Jews and plenty of political backing, but the discouragements continued and so God raised up 2 prophets: Haggai & Zechariah

What was their message?

Message #1 (Haggai 1:1-15)

*This message was delivered in the 2nd year of Darius, in the 6th month

Problem: People are saying the timing is wrong (for building the temple)

Rebuke: God rebukes their mindset and points out their self-centeredness

Observation: You aren't experiencing the prophesied prosperity, something is wrong

Solution: Build God's temple, make God your priority

Response: Obedience & fear of the Lord

Presence: God with them, work begins

Message #2 (Haggai 2:1-9)

*This message was delivered in the 2nd year of Darius, in the 7th month

Problem: The temple is nothing in comparison to Solomon's

Command: Be strong and work anyways!

Promise: God has a plan, despite appearances. This temple will be even greater!

How is this true?

--The 2nd Temple was never an equal to Solomon's in a physical sense

--But Jesus actually stood in this temple, making it more glorious!

--Hebrews 12:26-27

--It seems to me the 2nd Temple foreshadowed the True Temple

Message #3 (Haggai 2:10-19)

*This message was delivered in the 2nd year of Darius, in the 9th month

Question 1: Can something become holy by association to holiness?

Answer: No

Question 2: Can something become unholy by association with unholiness?

Answer: Yes

Lesson: Wrong hearts render seemingly good ritual meaningless

Message #4 (Haggai 2:20-23)

*This message was delivered in the 2nd year of Darius, in the 9th month

Prophecy: Other kingdoms will fall, but Zerubbabel is a chosen vessel

--It seems to me that Zerubbabel, here, is symbolic for Christ

There's an overall sense that this return from exile wasn't the ultimate and true return from exile prophesied in the past. The returning Israelites were small in number, still in subjection, not prospering, and the temple was not what it had been in Solomon's day. But in Jesus we have the true return from exile. Jesus delivers us from the true enemy (sin & death). This return was a small foreshadowing of the return made available through Jesus Christ.