AUTHOR: The authorship of the book of Haggai is virtually uncontested as Haggai’s name is mentioned nine times. Haggai is known only from this book and two other references to him. In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14, Haggai returned from Babylon with the remnant and may well have been one of the few people who could remember the former temple before its construction. Haggai was therefore very instrumental in the rebuilding of the temple.
TIMES: 520 BC
KEY VERSES: Hag 1:7-8
THEME: Haggai is the first of the postexilic prophets, addressing the immediate problem of the rebuilding of the temple. The people had returned about 20 years earlier, but apathy and opposition were keeping the work from being completed. Haggai’s concern is that the neglect of the temple is a symptom of a bigger problem. God has dropped out of the Israelites’ sight as a priority. The people are more concerned with building their materialistic lifestyles than they are with their relationship with God.
Haggai Begins Temple Building
1:1-7 On August 29, 520 BC Haggai gives a word from the Lord which says that it is time to rebuild the Lord’s house (temple). The people of Haggai’s time were making their homes elegant rivaling royal residences and the holy temple itself. But they still did not think it was time to work on the renewed temple. Thus, a re-evaluation of priorities was in order. The Lord says, “Consider your ways and thoughtfully reflect your conduct” twice (in verses 5 & 7).
1:8 Go …and rebuild my house (temple) that I may be pleased with it and be glorified. God’s joy in the temple is related to His pleasure in the people who would worship Him there. Although God need not receive more glory (Ps 24:7-10), He gladly receives the adoration of His people.
1:9 God says the people are taking care of their own houses but neglect caring for God’s house.
1:10 &11 God says that He will cause a drought to happen which will affect all the land’s produce.
1:12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest with the remnant (of people that had returned from exile) listened and obeyed the voice of the Lord. They [reverently] feared the Lord.
1:13-15 The prophet Haggai said that the Lord was with them as Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnant worked on His temple on September 21, 520 BC.
I am with you-God had promised Moses,” Certainly I will be with you (Ex 3:12),
God’s promise to the people of Judah was the name of the Coming One was Immanuel, meaning “God is with us” (Is. 7:14). Here God repeated the same message of comfort and encouragement.
The Builders Encouraged
2:1-3 On October 17, 520 BC, a word from the Lord came to Haggai which told him to speak to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people asking them who saw the temple (built by Solomon) in its former glory so that they could compare it to the temple in the present day. There was no comparison. “It was as nothing.”
2:6 For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. [Heb.12:26] This is another way of speaking of the day of the Lord. The purpose of the day of the Lord is to prepare the earth for the glorious reign of Jesus Christ on earth (Mt 24:29-30; Rev 6:12-17
2:9 The Lord says “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former and in this place, I shall give the [ultimate] peace and prosperity.”
2:11-13 The priests were asked questions relating to uncleanliness. It was determined that an unclean person could contaminate someone else by touch.
(Nu 19:11-13). The people had worked hard to rebuild the temple only to be told that their worship would be unacceptable in the new temple. The existence of the temple itself guaranteed nothing. The hearts of the people had to be in harmony with the sacrifices being made.
2:20-23 Speaking again through Haggai on December 18, 520 BC the Lord says to Zerubbabel that He will shake the heavens and earth. [Hag 2:6; Matt 1:12, 13]. And in the distant future, He will overthrow thrones and kingdoms of ungodly nations, and He will have chariot riders annihilate one another by their own sword. [Dan 2:34, 35, 44, 45; Rev 19:11-21] And He will take Zerubbabel and use him to renew His covenant to Davis’ line. [2 Samuel 7:12, 16] When God refers to Zerubbabel as a signet ring, He used this imagery to indicate that Zerubbabel was in His hand, that he was highly valued, and that he represented God’s authority in his leadership of the people. The owner of a signet ring used it much like we use our personal signature on checks or important documents. Even though the people had been told that they were still unclean in God’s eyes, their leader Zerubbabel was encouraged to guide them through those spiritually trying times.
CONCLUSION
God demonstrates His sovereignty and uses Haggai to relay His instructions about rebuilding the temple. He also through Haggai encourages Zerubbabel to be His authoritative leader in guiding his people.
Do you tend to be materialistic to the point where you care more about making your house more elegant than God’s house (temple)?
Are you walking in God’s ways, loving Him, and serving Him with your entire being and following His commandments and statutes, thus having the reverent fear of the Lord as is written in Deuteronomy 10:12, 13?
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