Haggai 1:1-11

History leading up to Haggai

Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria in 722 B.C.

Assyria then marched on Judah and Jerusalem

Old Testament tells of a miraculous defeat of the Assyrians by God

Nebuchadnezzar later conquers Jerusalem in 580 B.C.

The Persians defeat Babylon in 539 B.C.

Many Jews were deported during the Babylon invasion

The Jewish center of worship was destroyed

Ezra/Nehemiah gives a total timeline of the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem

Haggai takes place of the beginning of Ezra

The deportees have been allowed to return

Ezra 1:2–4 ESV

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 45:1 (ESV)

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

whose right hand I have grasped,

to subdue nations before him

and to loose the belts of kings,

to open doors before him

that gates may not be closed:

They come into the ruins of the once great nation

they are the remnant of a proud people who witnessed amazing things

now they are picking up the pieces of their greatest defeat

Haggai 1:1 ESV

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:

August 29, 520 B.C.

Cyrus’ order took time to carry out

Darius’ reign began with revolt

Zerubbabel was the Governor (Davidic lineage)

Joshua was the High Priest

Haggai was a prophet with a 3 1/2 month ministry

The Jews have neglected their identity

Haggai 1:2–4 ESV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

The very reason the people have returned was to rebuild the Temple

They have been more focused on their own houses

The people have separated their life from their worship

As a result, they risk losing their identity

There are consequences to a double life

Haggai 1:5–7 ESV

Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

The people know something is not right

Nothing goes as far as it should

They are coming just short of success and peace

The Lord asks them twice to “Think carefully about your actions”

God is wanting them to identify the connection between their priorities and their condition

How could the people expect great provision apart from devoted worship?

Why does God bless His people?

Haggai 1:8 ESV

Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.

We don’t know the reason for many of His blessings

But we do know the reason for blessing His people

So that He may be glorified!

The reason why you do not have is because you do not ask for the right reason

Haggai 1:9–11 ESV

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

The Jews labor only for personal gain

They have neglected the source of their blessing

Neglecting your God carries consequences

So now the Jews have a choice

This is not about tithing

I originally planned on making this message about giving

I was reminded you are a very generous congregation

This is more than giving

It is about remembering your identity

Do you glorify the Lord with your lifestyle?

Do you remember your identity and purpose?

Or have you just struggled along wondering why nothing adds up?