The Prophet Haggai Overview; Obedience Brings Blessing. Disobedience Brings Judgment.

Haggai's prophecies came at a time of spiritual decline. 

Haggai 1:1  In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 

Haggai is a post exilic prophet, meaning that he prophesied when the Jews returned to Jerusalem, after being captives in Babylonia for 70 years. Zechariah and Malachi are the other two post exilic prophets. 

Haggai preached 4 sermons over a period of about 4 months. His book is only 38 total verses and he mentioned the divine names LORD and LORD of hosts, 30 times. Thus, this is a God centric book of prophecy.

This means that Haggai was a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah. At this point in time, work on the temple of Jehovah had stopped for 14 years. But, that was about to change!

God never overlooks sin and He will judge it if we do not confess and forsake it. 

Jeremiah 25:11-12  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12)  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us why the Jewish people were sent into 70 years of captivity. It was because of their constant idolatry, and refusal to heed the message of God's prophets. 

The northern kingdom of Israel went into captivity first, followed by Judah. 

Jeremiah prophesied about the Jewish remnant returning to Jerusalem. 

Jeremiah 29:10-14  For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11)  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12)  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13)  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14)  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 

God can and does intervene in history according to His purposes. 

Ezra 1:1-2  Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2)  Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 

Ezra gives us the timeframe for Haggai's ministry. Cyrus was a Persian king over a vast empire.

This text is echoed by Haggai. It highlights an important principle. Eternal God continues to shape world history according to his kingdom purposes. 

Isaiah 44:28  That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, meaning the king was excited in his heart and full of zeal to make this happen. Isaiah prophesied about Cyrus 150 years before this king ruled!

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Thus, even though this culture is drowning in depravity, and things seem to be as bleak as they ever have been, do not lose sight of this truth. God is still on His throne and He is moving things forward according to His perfect plan. He still turns the heart of pagan rulers as He desires, to do His will.

God takes note of spiritual lethargy in the hearts of His people. 

Haggai 1:2-4  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. 3)  Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4)  Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?  

Haggai spoke for Jehovah and he told the people what the real issue was. They ignored His command to rebuild the temple, and said in their hearts, "Now is not the right time to build the house of Jehovah."

Instead, the Jewish people were building their own homes, and some were using nice materials, like wood paneled ceilings. They took care of their own dwelling places, while the house of God lay in waste. 

The consequences of disobeying God's commands.

Haggai 1:5-6  Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6)  Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 

Jehovah issued words of admonishment and encouragement. The phrase "Consider your ways" means the people should stop and see how wrong they were to build their own homes, while neglecting the temple of Jehovah. 

They were being judged by Jehovah for their wrongdoing. They sowed much seed, but their harvests were meager. They ate food but were still hungry. They drank water but were still thirsty. 

They put on clothing but were still chilled. They worked to earn wages, but they did not have any surplus of funds. 

God's promise for those who obey and honor Him.

Haggai 1:7-8  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8)  Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 

Jehovah told them once again to consider their ways. He told them to go up on the mountain and cut timber, bring it down and begin building the Lord's house. God told them what He would do for them. He would take pleasure in their work and He would be glorified by their actions. 

Haggai 1:9-11  Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10)  Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11)  And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands. 

God reminded them again, that their troubles were due to misplaced priorities. They put their own needs higher than building the house of Jehovah. This is why their crops failed, their harvests were small and the land was affected by severe drought. 

Haggai 1:12  Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. 

How did the people respond to Haggai's preaching? They obeyed the voice of Jehovah and once again had a reverence and fear of God.

Another principle we learn from Haggai, is that God is not pleased when we are slack concerning the things of God. He will chasten us if we do not hear and heed His word. 

Haggai's message of encouragement and hope.

Haggai 1:13-15  Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. 14)  And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15)  In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

This is Haggai's second message. It was full of encouraging words designed to stimulate the people to work for their Lord. Jehovah promised to be with the people as they rebuilt the temple and Jerusalem. He kept His promise never to leave nor forsake them. 

The priests, civil leaders and all the people's hearts were stirred, filled with spiritual energy, ready to work for Jehovah. 

The civil governor, the high priest, and all of the people, united together to do the work. When the authority of God is acknowledged, his words will be carefully obeyed.

Judgment from God led the people to repentance, Hearing His words of invitation to those who considered their ways and made changes, resulted in a renewed commitment to obey Jehovah.

All the people "came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts." This account reminds us of another important principle from God's Word. If God is for us, who can be against us? Whom shall we fear? (See Romans 8:31; Psalm 27:1).

Haggai 2:1-3  In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2)  Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3)  Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 

Haggai's third message referenced the older people who had seen the lavish temple built by King Solomon. Many elders present at the laying of the foundation of the second temple, had seen the first temple (See Ezra 3:12-13). 

They remembered is large scale, and lavish appointment in all its glory, and wept at the contrast presented by the small, plainer temple being built.

In comparison to the temple built by Solomon, the one under construction was inferior. 

Haggai 2:4-9  Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: 5)  According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. 6)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7)  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8)  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9)  The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Haggai preached again and told Zerubbabel and the high priest, to be strong, and do the work. Jehovah promised "I will be with you!" and there is not a better promise than that one. 

Even though Solomon's temple was built with gold, silver, brass and other fine materials, God reminds the people that it all belongs to Him.

Then, the prophet looked to the future, when God will make a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem. The glory of that future temple will far exceed any other temple.

Haggai 2:10-14  In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12)  If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13)  Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. 14)  Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. 

Three months after they had begun to rebuild the temple, Haggai is ordered to go and put two questions to the priests.

If a man carries holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and he touches any thing with his skirt, is that thing made holy? The priests answered, No! 

If a man has touched a dead body and become unclean, does he pass on his uncleanness to whatever he may touch? And the priests answered, Yes! 

It is as if God said "As an unclean man transmits his uncleanness to every thing he touches, so are you unclean. Whatever you have done is polluted in the sight of God. For your neglect of my temple has made you unclean, as if you had contracted pollution by touching a dead body."

Haggai 2:18-19  Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. 19)  Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. 

Haggai preached some good news. God said consider this! From this very day, when the people made Jehovah their highest priority, and returned to work on His temple, God promised to bless them. 

These are greatly needed words of hope and encouragement. 

Future hope, God's glory and wonderful promises. 

Haggai 2:20-23  And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, 21)  Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; 22)  And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23)  In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts. 

The last prophecy of Haggai anticipate the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ the Messiah, ruling as King of kings. 

Haggai sought to challenge the people of God concerning their priorities. He called them to reverence and to glorify God by building the Temple in spite of local and official opposition. 

Haggai called them not to be discouraged because this Temple would not be quite as richly decorated as Solomon’s. He exhorted them to turn from the uncleanness of their ways and to trust in God’s sovereign power. 

The Book of Haggai is a reminder of the problems the people of God faced at this time, how the people courageously trusted in God, and how God provided for their needs.

The Book of Haggai draws attention to common problems most people face even today. 

Haggai asks us to examine our priorities, to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures, than doing the work of God. 

He tells us to reject a defeatist attitude when we run into opposition or discouraging circumstances.

He encourages us to confess our failures and seek to live pure lives before God. 

He reminds us to act courageously for God because we have the assurance that He is with us always, and is in full control of our circumstances.

Finally, Haggai wants us to rest secure in God’s hands knowing that He will abundantly bless us, as we faithfully serve Him.

God notices spiritual slackness.

God will judge us when we become lazy or indifferent toward Him.

God will restore and revive us when we repent and return to Him.

May the Lord help us see if there is any spiritual sluggishness or indifference in us, and may we be swift to confess and forsake our sins. We know our Lord is faithful to cleanse us and forgive us all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus (See 1 John 1:7 to 2:2).

Bob