The Book of Haggai

The book of Haggai is Narrative History and Prophetic Oracle. The prophet Haggai wrote it approximately 520 B.C. Haggai is among the most carefully and precisely dated books in the entire Bible. It is a post-exilic book, meaning it was written after (post) the captivity (exile) in Babylon. Key personalities are Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Joshua. The purpose of this book was that Haggai was called by God to encourage the people to finish the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. The construction had ceased because of opposition and because the neighboring countries, and the Jews were frightened. In chapter 1, God called on Haggai to deliver His message. The Jews were living in their comfortable houses while the temple, the house of God, sat unfinished, Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'This people says, "The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt (1:2). The Jews began working 24 days after Haggais message (vs. 15). In chapter 2, Haggai motivated the Jews to continue building the temple, and that God will bless them, As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear! (2:5). The building of the temple in Jerusalem was completed in 515 B.C. The prophet Haggai's message is filled with urgency. He wants Gods people to build a second Jerusalem temple, which he sees as the key to Jerusalems glory. Haggai blames a recent drought to the peoples' refusal to rebuild the temple. The book ends one prediction: the downfall of kingdoms. Purpose Haggai sought to challenge the people of God concerning their priorities. He called them to reverence and glorifies 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. Brief Summary: Will the people of God reconsider their priorities, take courage, and act on the basis of God's promises? God sought to warn the people to heed His words. Not only did God warn them, but He also offered promises through His servant Haggai to motivate them to follow Him. Because the people of God reversed their priorities and failed to put God in first place in their lives, Judah was sent into Babylonian exile. In response to Daniel's prayer and in fulfillment of God's promises, God directed Cyrus the Persian king to allow the Jews in exile to go back to Jerusalem. A group of Jews returned to their land with great joy, put God first in their lives, worshiped Him and began to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem without the aid of the local people who lived in Palestine. Their courageous faith was met with opposition from the local people as well as the Persian government for approximately 15 years. Foreshadowings: As with most of the books of the minor prophets, Haggai ends with promises of restoration and blessing. In the last verse, Haggai 2:23, God uses a distinctly messianic title in reference to Zerubbabel, My Servant (Compare 2 Samuel 3:18; 1 Kings 11:34; Isaiah 42:19; Ezekiel 37:24,25). Through Haggai, God promises to make him like a signet ring, which was a symbol of honor, authority, and power, somewhat like a kings scepter used to seal letters and decrees. Zerubbabel, as Gods signet ring, represents the house of David and the resumption of the messianic line interrupted by the Exile. Zerubbabel reestablished the Davidic line of kings which would culminate in the millennial reign of Christ. Zerubbabel appears in the line of Christ on both Josephs side (Matt. 1:12) and Marys side (Luke 3:27). Practical Application: The Book of Haggai draws attention to common problems most people face even today. Haggai asks us 1) to examine our priorities to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures than doing the work

of God; 2) to reject a defeatist attitude when we run into opposition or discouraging circumstances; 3) to confess our failures and seek to live pure lives before God; 4) to act courageously for God because we have the assurance that He is with us always and is in full control of our circumstances; and 5) to rest secure in God's hands knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully serve Him.

Who wrote the book? The prophet Haggai recorded his four messages to the Jewish people of Jerusalem in 520 BC, eighteen years after their return from exile in Babylon (538 BC). Haggai 2:3 seems to indicate that the prophet had seen Jerusalem before the destruction of the temple and the exile in 586 BC, meaning he was more than seventy years old by the time he delivered his prophecies. From these facts, the picture of Haggai begins to come into focus. He was an older man looking back on the glories of his nation, a prophet imbued with a passionate desire to see his people rise up from the ashes of exile and reclaim their rightful place as Gods light to the nations. Where are we? Haggais prophecy came at a time when the people of Judah were extremely vulnerable. They had been humbled by their exile to Babylon, hopeful in their return to their Promised Land, and then so discouraged by opposition in their rebuilding of the temple that they had quit (Ezra 4:24). Now, sixteen years later, with Haggai blaming their lack of food, clothing, and shelter on their failure to rebuild the temple, the Jews were receptive to his message of rebuilding the Lords house. Unlike most of the other prophets, Haggai explicitly dated his prophecies, down to the day. He gave four separate messages, the first on August 29, 520 BC (Haggai 1:1); the second on October 17, 520 BC (2:1); and the final two on December 18, 520 BC (2:10, 20). These messages encouraged the people of Judah to finish building the temple and to have hope in God for the promise of blessings in the future. Why is Haggai so important? After thousands of years, the book of Haggai remains largely unique among the books of Old Testament prophets for one key reason: the people of Judah listened! Haggais message to rebuild the temple was passionate, simple, and straightforward (Haggai 1:8). No one could mistake whether or not his direction had been followedthe results would be evident for all the people to see. Through the physical act of rebuilding the temple, the people began to indicate a shift in their spiritual lives: from devotion to self toward devotion to God. What's the big idea? Haggai had an important message for the Jews who had recently returned from exile. They had forgotten their God, choosing instead to focus on their own interests, so it was time for them to consider [their] ways (Haggai 1:5, 7). Nothing was more important for the Jews than to show that the Lord was at the center of their thoughts and actions, so Haggai directed them to finish rebuilding Gods temple. However, rather than leaving them alone with the task of rebuilding, Haggai continued to preach to the Jews, encouraging them with the hope of future glory in the temple and a victory to come over the enemies of Gods people (2:79, 2122). According to Haggais message, if the people would place God at the center of their lives, they would realize the future blessings that God had in store for His people. How do I apply this? The Jews who emigrated from Babylon to their original homeland of Judah faced intense opposition, both external and internal. Ezra 4:15 records the external resistance to the project of rebuilding the temple. The enemies of Judah first attempted to infiltrate the ranks of the builders, and when that didnt work, they resorted to scare tactics. Ha ggai, on the other hand, focused on the internal opposition they faced, namely from their own sin. The Jews had thoughtlessly placed their own interests before the Lords interests, looking after their own safety and security without giving consideration to the status of the Lords house.

Haggais encouragement to rebuild the temple in the face of the Jews neglect brings to mind the apostle Pauls exhortation to Christians to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1017). Are you building a life that reflects your status as a temple of the Holy Spirit, leaving a legacy that will stand the test of time? Find encouragement for that construction project in the four passionate sermons from this Old Testament prophet. Author Haggai (1:1) was a prophet who, along with Zechariah, encouraged the returned exiles to rebuild the temple (see Ezr 5:1-2; 6:14). Haggai means "festal," which may indicate that the prophet was born during one of the three pilgrimage feasts (Unleavened Bread, Pentecost or Weeks, and Tabernacles; cf. Dt 16:16). Based on 2:3 (see note there) Haggai may have witnessed the destruction of Solomon's temple. If so, he must have been in his 70s during his ministry. Background In 538 b.c. the conqueror of Babylon, Cyrus king of Persia, issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (see Ezr 1:2-4; 6:3-5). Led by Zerubbabel (but see note on Ezr 1:8, "Sheshbazzar"), about 50,000 Jews journeyed home and began work on the temple. About two years later (536) they completed the foundation amid great rejoicing (Ezr 3:8-11). Their success aroused the Samaritans and other neighbors who feared the political and religious implications of a rebuilt temple in a thriving Jewish state. They therefore opposed the project vigorously and managed to halt work until 520, after Darius the Great became king of Persia in 522 (Ezr 4:1-5,24). Darius was interested in the religions of his empire, and Haggai and Zechariah began to preach in his second year, 520 b.c. (see 1:1; Zec 1:1). The Jews were more to blame for their inactivity than their opponents, and Haggai tried to arouse them from their lethargy. When the governor of Trans-Euphrates and other officials tried to interfere with the rebuilding efforts, Darius fully supported the Jews (Ezr 5:3-6; 6:6-12). In 516 the temple was finished and dedicated (Ezr 6:15-18). Date Haggai's messages are among the most carefully and precisely dated in the entire OT. They were given during a fourmonth period in 520 b.c., the second year of King Darius. The first message was delivered on the first day of the sixth month (Aug. 29), the last on the 24th day of the ninth month (Dec. 18). See notes on 1:1; 2:1,10; see also Introduction to Zechariah: Dates. Themes and Theological Teaching Apart from Obadiah, Haggai is the shortest book in the OT, but its teachings are none the less significant. Haggai clearly shows the consequences of disobedience (1:6,11; 2:16-17) and obedience (2:7-9,19). When the people give priority to God and his house, they are blessed rather than cursed (cf. Lk 12:31 and note). Obedience brings the encouragement and strength of the Spirit of God (2:4-5). In ch. 2 God gives great encouragement to those laboring under difficult conditions to rebuild his temple by assuring them that the future glory of the modest temple they are able to build will be greater than that of the temple Solomon had built in the time of Israel's greatest wealth and power. The Jews in Judah may now be a much reduced community and under the hegemony of a powerful world empire, but the Lord will shake up the present world order and assert his claim to all the world's wealth so that the glory of his future temple will be without rival. "The desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory" (see 2:6-7 and notes). Literary Features Like Malachi, Haggai uses a number of questions to highlight key issues (see 1:4,9; 2:3,19). He also makes effective use of repetition: "Give careful thought" occurs in 1:5,7; 2:15,18, and "I am with you" in 1:13; 2:4. "I will shake the heavens and the earth" is found in 2:6,21. The major sections of the book are marked off by the date on which the word of the Lord came "through" (or "to") Haggai (1:1; 2:1,10,20). Several times the prophet appears to reflect other passages of Scripture (compare 1:6 with Dt 28:38-39 and 2:17 with Dt 28:22). The threefold use of "Be strong" in 2:4 (see note there) echoes the encouragement given in Jos 1:6-7,9,18. (For chiasm see Outline below.)

Outline I. First Message: The Call to Rebuild the Temple (1:1-11) A. The People's Lame Excuse (1:1-4) B. The Poverty of the People (1:5-6) C. The Reason God Has Cursed Them (1:7-11) II. The Response of Zerubbabel and the People (1:12-15) . The Leaders and Remnant Obey (1:12) A. The Lord Strengthens the Workers (1:13-15) III. Second Message: The Temple to Be Filled with Glory (2:1-9) . The People Encouraged (2:1-5) A. The Promise of Glory and Peace (2:6-9) IV. Third Message: A Defiled People Purified and Blessed (2:10-19) . The Rapid Spread of Sin (2:10-14) A. Poor Harvests because of Disobedience (2:15-17) B. Blessing to Come as the Temple Is Rebuilt (2:18-19) Fourth Message: The Promise to Zerubbabel (2:20-23) . The Judgment of the Nations (2:20-22) A. The Significance of Zerubbabel (2:23) It is also possible to outline the book in a chiastic a-b / b-a pattern:

Negative effects of the unbuilt house (1:1-11) b The Lord's presence energizes the present work (1:12-15) b1 The Lord's presence guarantees future glory (2:1-9) a1 Positive effects of the rebuilt house (2:10-23)
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Similar chiastic patterns exist in the subunits within these larger units. The prophet Haggai, in 520 B.C.E., urges those who have returned from Babylonian exile, including Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor, to rebuild the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Haggai blames their lack of prosperity on the fact that the temple still lies in ruins while they themselves live in paneled houses. The people are moved by Haggai's prophecy to start rebuilding the temple. Through Haggai, the Lord promises to be with the people and to make this second temple greater than the first. Haggai's book ends with a prophecy for Zerubbabel, a descendant of David. When the Lord defeats the nations, Zerubbabel will become like a "signet ring" on God's hand; he will be the Lord's chosen ruler. So What? Haggai gives us a glimpse into a critical period in Jewish history, when those who have returned from exile are struggling to reshape their identity as a people in the land of their ancestors. To help in forming that identity, Haggai looks to the past, evoking the Exodus from Egypt (2:5), and to the future--the vision of a glorious rebuilt temple (2:9) and a new Davidic ruler (2:23). Hope for the future rests on God's faithfulness in the past. Where Do I Find It? Haggai is the thirty-seventh book of the Old Testament. It is the tenth of the so-called "minor" (or shorter) prophets, the twelve books that make up the final portion of the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles. Who Wrote It? We don't know who compiled Haggai's prophecies into the book that bears his name, but the dominant "voice" in the book is that of Haggai himself. He was a prophet who lived in Judah in the years after the Babylonian exile. We don't know whether he was one of those who returned from exile in Babylon or whether he had remained in Judah during the exile. In any case, he was a figure of great influence in rebuilding the temple. Outside of the book of Haggai, he is referred to in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 as a prophet.

When Was It Written? The book of Haggai can be dated very accurately. According to several chronological notes in the book itself, Haggai prophesied in the latter half of the year 520 B.C.E. His prophecies must have been written down shortly thereafter. What's It About? The prophet Haggai in 520 B.C.E. exhorts the leaders and people who have returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and they obey. How Do I Read It? Perhaps more than any other prophetic book, Haggai is based in a particular time and place: Judah in the latter half of 520 B.C.E. For that reason, it is necessary to know the historical circumstances of the book in order to read it with understanding. One should also pay attention to Haggai's focus on the future, his vision of a restored temple and a Davidic ruler. Such a vision inspired hope and a renewed sense of identity for a people newly returned from exile. Outline of the Book of Haggai The first of Haggai's four prophecies (Haggai 1:1-15) was delivered on the first day of the sixth month of the second year of Darius - about August-September, 520 BC. This was addressed to the leaders, rebuking them for the spiritual lethargy which had allowed the temple to lie unfinished for such a long time. Haggai cites this lethargy as a chief cause for God's having withheld His blessings from the people (Haggai 1:6). Haggai's words were so effective that it was only twenty-four days later that the work of rebuilding the temple was begun. Haggai' second message (Haggai 2:1-9), was delivered about a month later (October), which was designed to encourage those who were despondent over the disparity in glory between the former temple and the new one they were erecting. Haggai assured them that a greater glory than that of the past temple was to come to the house of Israel. In this connection, he speaks of the "desire of all nations" (Haggai 2:7), referring to the Messiah. Two months after the second message, Haggai spoke to the people for a third time. In this section (Haggai 2:10-19), Haggai informs the people that their past indifference had kept them from accomplishing the things which they set out to do but that God would bless their future. The last of the prophecies contained in the book was delivered the same day as the third and is found in Haggai 2:2023. In this, the prophet speaks of the establishment of Zerubbabel, a symbol of the idea that God's people were to stand, just as the power of the heathen nations was completely broke