Haggai

Haggai Background

Setting the scene is very important in Haggai, especially knowing when things happened in relation to one another. How do we know? Because he took the time to record it in exact detail.

The timeline of Haggai

Cyrus King of Persia is commanded by God to let the Jews go back to build God’s temple.

2 Chronicles 36:23 “23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’ ””

The Jews go back to Jerusalem and a year after arriving set the foundation for the temple.

They are met with opposition from foreigners who moved into the land.

They give up. Haggai 1:2 “2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ””

12 years later Haggai comes to bring them this message.

What is the message?

The low hanging fruit: God repeats it over and over

Haggai 1:5-6 “5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.””

Haggai 1:7-9 “7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.”

Haggai 2:15-16 “15 “ ‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. 16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.”

Haggai 2:18-19 “18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. “ ‘From this day on I will bless you.’ ””

“Our relationship with God is the source of our prosperity”

How do we get there? The temple was not God’s house, as if he needed one

- Acts 7:48-49 “48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?”

The temple was the place where people met with God. It was the physical embodiment of a relationship with God.

This makes sense. The people get to the land and it’s barren. They need to build houses, they need to plant, they need to start groves that take years until anything comes up. If they are going to survive they need to get on it. The problem with that logic is, it doesn’t take into account the fact that God is the source of their prosperity. “You need to re-THINK this”.

Application

Israel couldn’t be satisfied while their relationship with God was in ruin. -Not standing-

Philippians 4:4–14 (NIV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

-There’s a parallel here. Haggai uses the same reasoning.

Haggai 1:12-13 “12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord.”

PH. 4:10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

So then Paul’s example is, “A man cannot be unsatisfied while their relationship with Christ is healthy.” You cannot be in need when Christ is your source of satisfaction, and you are obedient to Him.

Action (I’m going to use my hurdles)

Norman, are you someone who plants but never seems to harvest? Did you go on some websites you shouldn’t? Are you still angry that no one will give you a platform to do ministry?

Does your money burn a hole in your pocket? Why do you keep buying things that sit on shelves untouched? How’s your giving? Are you following the commandment to give to everyone who asks, and loan to any brother who would borrow? Are you satisfied with your work or are you taking advantage of your wife and sitting at home playing video games?

If you died today would you be satisfied with your life? Do you serve or do you expect to be served? Are you dedicating all of your possessions for kingdom work or are you building a play place for yourself?

If you keep living can you be satisfied with nothing? Do you even know Him? Have you listened to Him speak? Ever?

So I leave you with a question, how’s life?

In our culture we worship suffering. Tell me about your problems. Tell me about your needs. Tell me how mean they are, how unfair it is. We pretend like pessimism and suffering is the only true form of honesty. It’s ungratefulness, disobedience, and temples in ruin.

Philippians 4:4–14 (NIV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.