The Book of Haggai
Once again, little is known of this prophet. Named “feast of Yahweh,” Haggai may have been born during or after the Israelites’ exile, depending on Christian or Jewish tradition. Haggai spoke with effectiveness, so much so that he was successful in moving the people to action. His recorded ministry lasted only 4 months.
Haggai encouraged the Israelites to obey God by rebuilding the temple, and prophesied renewed promises for the future. His book is the 2nd shortest book of the Old Testament.
The Jews needed reassurance that they were still in covenant with God. Haggai provided hope, reaffirming God’s eternal promise to His people.
Historical Context: In the book of Ezra, we know that King Cyrus decreed that the exiled Jews could return from Babylon to Jerusalem specifically to rebuild the city and the temple of the Lord. Due to opposition from the Samaritans, the Israelite’s stopped working on the temple after the foundation was laid. It remained in ruins until 520 B.C. The reign of King Darius I brought stability that allowed the rebuilding to resume. In 520 B.C., Haggai encouraged the people to get back to work.
Haggai 1
The work on the temple began 24 days after Haggai’s message to Zerubbabel and Joshua
The Lord was displeased with Israel, and therefore referred to the Israelites as “these people.” They were using the opposition of their neighbors as a continuous excuse to leave the Lord’s house in ruins.
“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4) The Israelites were living in completed homes and in luxury, meanwhile the house of the Lord remained destroyed.
Because of their neglect of the temple, the people experienced the curses of their disobedience. They worked hard, but weren’t reaping any of the benefits. They were never satisfied. The earned wages, but were putting them in purses with holes in them.
“You expected much, but it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.” (Haggai 1:9)
Haggai tells the people of Judah that God has called for a drought, on their lands, produce and crops, and on all of the labor of their hands, because of their disobedience (Haggai 1:11)
The whole remnant heard this and obeyed the voice of God and the message of Haggai, because God had sent him, and they feared the Lord.
Haggai delivered a message of hope from the Lord: “I am with you".” In their obedience, God was with them and they were His people. The work on the house of the Lord Almighty began 24 days later.
Haggai 2
The word of the Lord came through to Haggai at the appropriate time for him to speak regarding the future glory of the temple.
How many of the remnant that was left had seen the temple in its glory before the exile?
God wanted Haggai to encourage the people to be strong and to work. ‘“For I am with,” declares the Lord.’ This is what the covenant promise of the Lord was. His spirit remains with us, we shall not be afraid.
“In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land… I will fill this house with glory.” (Haggai 2:6-7) The promise is for a greater glory in the temple to come. God “shaking the heavens & earth” was a preparation for the way of the Messiah.
The glory of the house/temple the remnant was building would be greater than the glory that came out of Jerusalem before. Your future wins will always be better than your past wins.
It is much easier to become defiled than it is to become holy. A person defiled by contact with a dead body can make something that was clean now unclean. What do you think a person with a dead spirit can do? Impurity spreads from the unclean to the clean.
There’s no shortcut to holiness. You can’t get it by watching a church service, just joining a Bible Study group or being around someone who is faithful. Purifying ourselves before the Lord requires intention and effort.
Before the people began their work on the temple, their efforts elsewhere were in vain. They would come in to gather wine, and only be able to draw a portion. God struck all their work with “blight, mildew and hail,” but the people still did not return to Him.
“Give careful thought to this from this day on”: think of all that happened when the foundation of the temple was laid, when the work had begun and the Israelites were faithful to the Lord.
“From this day on, I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19) For our obedience, we will be blessed.
The signet ring was a symbol of authority of the king. God was going to overthrow the foreign powers and restore power to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel’s grandfather, Jehoiachin, was the Lord’s signet ring, which He pulled from His hand when Jehoiachin went into exile. Zerubbabel was a signet ring once again placed on the hand of the Lord. He was an heir to David’s throne and the Lord’s promise here emphasized that He had not disregarded David’s throne. The Lord had chosen Zerubbabel.
