Zephaniah and Haggai
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The Book of Zephaniah
The Book of Zephaniah
Background and Introduction
Background and Introduction
Authorship and Setting
Authorship and Setting
Zephaniah, royal descent from Hezekiah
Prophesied during Josiah’s reign (630–620 BC)
1 The word of Yahweh which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah:
Josiah’s reforms signaled spiritual renewal
Exile loomed with Babylonian deportation
Judah weakened, faced Assyrian, Babylonian threats
Josiah’s revival lacked true repentance
Zephaniah, Judah’s final warning
Called for genuine repentance pre-invasion
Theological Theme
Theological Theme
Theme: Hidden Treasure Behind Judgment
Zephaniah means “Yahweh hides”
Judgment paves way for renewal
Revisits “Day of the Lord”
Judgment refines remnant, fulfills redemption
I. God’s Judgment on the World and Judah (1:1-2:3)
I. God’s Judgment on the World and Judah (1:1-2:3)
A. Extensive Judgment (1:2-6)
A. Extensive Judgment (1:2-6)
God announces His judgment in verse 2,
2 “I will completely end all things From the face of the ground,” declares Yahweh.
3 “I will end man and beast; I will end the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the ground,” declares Yahweh.
Hebrew *adamah* (ground) evokes creation narrative.
Links humanity’s origin to soil (*adam*).
Man from the face of the ground — Direct allusion to God’s words in Genesis 6 before cleansing the world with His flood
God removes man, beast, birds, fish.
Undoes creation order, wipes ruins clean.
In verse 4, God’s judgment narrows to Judah and Jerusalem,
4 “So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,
Israel expected God to judge enemies.
As he did in Exodus 15 — power over Pharaoh.
But now God judges His own household first.
Accountable ones hold God’s word, law.
Judgment targets Judah, eradicates Baal worship.
Israel blends idol worship with Yahweh’s.
Jealous God enraged by profane worship.
B. Extensive Sorrow (1:7-18)
B. Extensive Sorrow (1:7-18)
The Day of the Lord is introduced as a near, overwhelming event in verse 7,
7 Be silent before Lord Yahweh! For the day of Yahweh is near, For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice; He has set apart His guests.
8 “Then it will be on the day of Yahweh’s sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.
9 “And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold, Who fill the house of their Lord with violence and deceit.
God prepares wicked as sacrificial offering.
Atonement for sin deemed necessary.
Princes corrupted Lord’s House with foreign practices.
Royal officials practiced violence, theft, deceit.
No atonement from annual lamb sacrifice.
Their blood will be spilled instead.
In verse 12, Yahweh declares that He will search the city for the faithless,
12 “And it will be at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘Yahweh will not do good or evil!’
Yahweh inspects Jerusalem with a lamp.
His wrath burns as all-consuming fire.
Judgment targets those with stagnant spirits.
Stagnant spirits like spoiled wine metaphor.
Israel claims Yahweh neither blesses nor curses.
Complacent Israel lives as practical atheists.
Zephaniah warns: God’s judgment is certain — He will not be mocked
In verse 14, we see that the timing of this judgment is inevitable,
14 Near is the great day of Yahweh, Near and coming very quickly; O the sound, the day of Yahweh! In it the mighty man cries out bitterly.
Day of the Lord is near, urgent.
Bitter warrior cries signal profound loss.
Darkness, destruction recall Exodus plague imagery.
Judgment blinds, reduces people to dust.
Imagery echoes Joel’s locust invasion.
C. Plea for Repentance (2:1-3)
C. Plea for Repentance (2:1-3)
Before the decree takes effect, God urges repentance, 2:1,
1 Gather yourselves together, indeed, gather, O nation without shame,
2 Before the decree takes effect— The day passes like the chaff— Before the burning anger of Yahweh comes upon you, Before the day of Yahweh’s anger comes upon you.
3 Seek Yahweh, All you humble of the earth Who have worked His justice; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of Yahweh’s anger.
Zephaniah commands, “gather, consider, think.”
Judah called a nation without shame.
Not God’s people, but a nation.
Term “goyim” likens Judah to Gentiles.
Judah shamelessly sins, rejects God.
So, what should this nation without shame do? Verse 2,
2 Before the decree takes effect— The day passes like the chaff— Before the burning anger of Yahweh comes upon you, Before the day of Yahweh’s anger comes upon you.
Day of the Lord approaches like a wind set to scatter the chaff
Escape Yahweh’s anger before it arrives.
Yahweh’s warning reflects His merciful grace.
God’s Word shows His loving heart.
God desires not the wicked’s death.
Warnings stem from God’s merciful intent.
So, flee God’s wrath—run from it.
Yet, as we learned in chapter 1, escaping His wrath is impossible.
Where can anyone hide from the all-consuming fire of Yahweh, which seeks out sinners in every home?
No one can resist the Almighty's wrath.
Where can you find refuge from Yahweh’s anger?
What shelter can protect you from His rightful punishment?
This is the crux of the matter: God offers us no alternative for salvation other than Himself.
To flee from Yahweh, you must flee to Yahweh, verse 3,
3 Seek Yahweh, All you humble of the earth Who have worked His justice; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of Yahweh’s anger.
He doesn’t say to offer more sacrifices, give more tithes.
Zephaniah says, “seek Yahweh.” Give him your whole allegiance.
Beg him for mercy.
Seek him desperately.
If you don't, you will burn in the fury of God’s wrath.
This is urgent.
Seek Him until you find him.
Genuine seeking perseveres until its object is found.
And not just with an outward reform
Josiah reformed the nation.
He destroyed the physical idols in the land. T
hey mourned their sin.
They cried.
But you could be sorrowful over sin and still be lost.
Zephaniah calls us to seek Yahweh alone.
Don’t remaining apathetic toward Him.
Stop seeking and serving other gods alongside or instead of Him.
Seek Him with your whole heart, as the Psalmist says,
8 On Your behalf my heart says, “Seek My face,” “Your face, O Yahweh, I shall seek.”
They are called to continue seeking Yahweh by pursuing what He has declared to be right and good, while abstaining from what He has declared to be evil.
Notice that Zephaniah is reiterating the call of the prophet Micah,
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does Yahweh require of you But to do justice, to love lovingkindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
He simply desires a repentance that leads them to love Him alone, and to love their neighbors as themselves.
Matthew Henry famously said of this passage,
“From first to last his design was, not to drive the people to despair, but to drive them to God and to their duty—not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them out of their sins.”
Zephaniah concludes, saying, “Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger.”
This reflects his name, “Yahweh hides,” promising protection for the repentant remnant during judgment.
Unlike Joel and Jonah, where repentance may avert wrath (Joel 2:14; Jonah 3:9),
Zephaniah recognizes certain judgment but offers hope of salvation through it.
II. God’s Judgment on the Nations (2:4-3:7)
II. God’s Judgment on the Nations (2:4-3:7)
A. Judgment on the Nations (2:4–15)
A. Judgment on the Nations (2:4–15)
Judgment follows compass directions
Philistines judged in west
Moabites, Ammonites in east
Ethiopia targeted in south
Assyria judged in north
Judgment blesses Judah’s remnant
We see this in verse 6,
6 So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7 And the coast will be For the remnant of the house of Judah; They will feed upon it. In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For Yahweh their God will care for them And restore their fortune.
Israel struggled to subdue Philistia
Philistia’s land given to remnant
Day of Yahweh brings judgment
Judgment serves purpose of restoration
Remnant implies both judgment, salvation
God’s grace preserved the remnant
Remnant preserved and also blessed
Verse 9 repeats remnant theme
Remnant promised Moab, Ammon plunder
Lands promised to Abraham, unconquered
But more significantly, Zephaniah reveals that Yahweh’s judgment leads to His universal recognition, verse 11,
11 Yahweh will be fearsome to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.
Prophet looks to far future
God’s purpose in judgment explained
Judging world to starve false gods
Yahweh shown as only true God
And I love this sarcasm that Yahweh is going to starve all the gods.
Yahweh starves other gods
No idolaters left to feed gods
False gods depended on human offerings
Yahweh needs no human sustenance
As the Psalmist records,
12 “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, as well as its fullness.
Yahweh will be fearsome
He instills terror among nations
Theme seen throughout minor prophets
Chapter 1 suggests total destruction
Fear explained by Yahweh’s judgment
Verse 11 shows a shift
People from all nations bow
Universal worship of Yahweh hinted
Store that thought away for a moment.
B. Judgment on Jerusalem Revisited (3:1–7)
B. Judgment on Jerusalem Revisited (3:1–7)
Passage returns focus to Jerusalem
Jerusalem described as rebellious, defiled
Leaders persist in corruption, injustice
Officials, judges, prophets, priests guilty
God remains just despite corruption
Yet God remains just, offering correction, as stated in verse 5.
5 Yahweh is righteous in her midst; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations; Their corner towers are desolate. I have made their streets a waste, With no one passing by; Their cities are laid waste, Without a man, without an inhabitant.
God promised to judge Judah’s neighbors
Zephaniah reflects on future judgment
Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites destroyed
Ethiopians, Assyrians left desolate, ruined
Ruins show Yahweh’s righteous judgment
Judgment should call for repentance
No shame shown despite revelation
They are unable to receive His discipline because they love their sin, verse 7,
7 “I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, Receive discipline.’ So her abode will not be cut off According to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.
Reverent fear of Yahweh expected
They should accept His discipline
God warns out of loving concern
Calls for repentance and reverence
Verse 7 shows persistent corruption
People eager to corrupt their deeds
Rose early daily to do evil
III. God Purification of His Remnant (3:8-20) – A Christ Connection
III. God Purification of His Remnant (3:8-20) – A Christ Connection
A. Message to the Repentant Remnant (3:8)
A. Message to the Repentant Remnant (3:8)
In verse 8, God shifts to begin speaking to His remnant, verse 8,
8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares Yahweh, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My judgment is to assemble nations, To gather kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.
God will gather all the nations and sinners of the world to unleash his fierce anger upon them.
He will consume them with the flames of his righteous zeal.
However, it's important to note that God is not expressing his wrath primarily to warn unbelievers here
instead, He addresses His people, His remnant.
He instructs His remnant, “Wait for me.”
They can comprehend His judgment on their wicked neighbors,
but His judgment on Jerusalem is harder for them to accept.
Therefore, Yahweh urges His remnant to wait worshipfully
as He exacts vengeance and carries out His just wrath, even on their city.
Wait and do not exact vengeance on those who have wronged you,
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Hope in Yahweh, and He will save you.
Wait and do not lose hope when the wicked prosper,
7 Be still in Yahweh and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out schemes of wickedness.
Wait for God’s glorious salvation, which will come through His purifying fire of judgment,
18 Therefore Yahweh waits with longing to be gracious to you, And therefore He is on high to have compassion on you. For Yahweh is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.
20 The Lord has given you bread of distress and water of oppression; He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will see your Teacher.
B. Purification of the World (3:9-11)
B. Purification of the World (3:9-11)
Zephaniah has left two logical and theological questions unresolved.
First, if everyone on earth merits His just wrath and condemnation,
how can the remnant be concealed and blessed amid His judgment?
Look at verse 9,
9 “For then I will change them to peoples with purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
How can He justly spare those who are unrighteous?
By cleansing them.
To cleanse their lips, He must also cleanse their hearts.
This cleansing references both regeneration
as well as an atonement like Isaiah encountered in his vision.
Recall that after witnessing the glory of the Lord, Isaiah declared himself a man with unclean lips living among a people with unclean lips.
What does God do in response?
He showcases His sovereign grace and mercy
by purifying Isaiah’s mouth with a burning coal from His holy altar,
An altar in the greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands
The altar where Christ presented Himself once and for all as a flawless lamb without blemish.
Notice the statement from Yahweh, “I will change them.”
We do not accomplish this purification on our own, prior to coming to Him
He performs it in us. He purifies. He cleanses. He changes us.
as Peter writes
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Notice also that once He purifies the lips of His remnant,
then they call upon His name.
This is an allusion back to Joel,
32 “And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As Yahweh has said, Even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.
He calls the remnant, transforms them, and then converts them.
These two events occur simultaneously, at the exact same moment.
However, regeneration comes first—the change—
followed by conversion, which includes calling on His name.
The blind can see; why? Because they have been granted the ability to see.
Now what’s even more beautiful is that this remnant does not just consist of Jews, verse 10,
10 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My scattered ones, Will bring My offerings.
Yahweh will attract worshippers from as far south as the rivers of Ethiopia,
which means beyond the endpoint of the Nile tributaries,
effectively reaching the ends of the earth.
He will draw followers from all corners of the globe.
Zephaniah briefly mentions these worshippers in 2:11, where Yahweh diminishes the gods of the world,
proving their falsehood,
and His ultimate reality as the One True God
so that even the coastal nations will kneel before Him, each from their house.
This indicates a purified remnant of both Jews and Gentiles coming to worship Yahweh,
and the reason is apparent: He has redeemed them from their sin and shame, as noted in verse 11.
11 “In that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have transgressed against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain.
This marks a significant change.
Earlier in 2:1, Zephaniah criticized the nation for lacking shame.
They were so obstinate that they wouldn't acknowledge their need to repent.
But now, due to God’s intervention, they have no reason to feel ashamed.
Their sins have been washed away and reconciled with the Holy God.
As Paul states in Colossians 1,
21 And although you were formerly alienated and enemies in mind and in evil deeds,
22 but now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
C. Purification of Israel (3:12-13)
C. Purification of Israel (3:12-13)
Israel’s shame is removed and replaced by humility and lowliness,
12 “But I will cause to remain in your midst A lowly and poor people, And they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.
13 “The remnant of Israel will do no injustice And not speak falsehood, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble.”
Here we see the sanctification of God’s people.
They were once proud sinners.
Now they are the poor and the lowly –
those who humbly take refuge not in their strength and might,
but in Yahweh, that inherit the Land. As Jesus said,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…
5 Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth.
It’s the humble who recognize their need for God’s forgiveness,
who realize they possess no righteousness or rightful claim to this kingdom,
understanding that it is entirely by grace.
In 3:3, Zephaniah portrays unbelieving Israel as a lion that indiscriminately devours everything around them,
committing acts of violence and injustice.
In contrast, this purified remnant is depicted as an innocent lamb, unafraid of evil, resting under the care of her Good Shepherd.
Additionally, recall from 3:5 that Yahweh is identified as the One Who “will do no injustice.”
Zephaniah then connects this description of Yahweh's holiness to the remnant – why?
Because He has purified them to be holy, just as He is holy.
D. Pure Joy and Communion (3:14-20)
D. Pure Joy and Communion (3:14-20)
In the last passage of his prophecy, Zephaniah answers the other theological question: why would
Yahweh do this? What is His purpose in transforming and purifying a remnant of Jews and Gentiles alike?
Why does He save us? For His good and glorious pleasure.
Let’s start in verse 14,
14 Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion! Make a loud shout, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Zephaniah calls God’s people to a grand celebration filled with worship,
reminiscent of Israel’s joyful praise to Yahweh after crossing the Red Sea.
There they danced, sang, and played their tambourines in gratitude for Yahweh’s salvation.
Similarly, recall how David, upon bringing the ark to Jerusalem, dances before it with fervent worship
One commentator says, “The command to rejoice was used by town heralds calling a city to rejoice when their victorious king had returned from battle.”[2]
And this is precisely what we see in verse 15,
15 Yahweh has taken away His judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst; You will fear evil no more.
First, Yahweh has taken away His judgments against us.
He’s removed His condemnation. Why?
Because He has removed our sin so that He no longer sees it. Why?
Because we are in Christ Jesus, the perfectly righteous One.
He has cleared away our enemies, vindicating the evil, injustice, and persecution God’s remnant has faced.
We will fear no evil. Why? Our God Shepherd is with us –
The King of Israel, Yahweh, will be in our midst.
Ezekiel picks up on this promise a few years later when he prophesies for the Lord,
27 “My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
28 “And the nations will know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” ’ ”
When Yahweh establishes His tabernacle among men and dwells physically with them,
Zephaniah is prophesying about the eternal Son of God, King Jesus, the rightful heir to David’s throne,
coming to reside among His people as their King.
Importantly, when Zephaniah refers to King Jesus, he is speaking to Judah after the ten northern tribes have been exiled
Yet he still address Jesus as the King of Israel, all Israel.
Why is this?
Because He will lead a new exodus for all of His exiled people and once again achieve what only David could:
unite all twelve tribes of God’s people.
And when He does this. When He gathers His people.
When He victoriously defeats their enemies.
When He dwells among them.
It will not just be us who are overcome with joy,
that day will be a day of Yahweh’s joy, a day of His celebration, verse 17,
17 “Yahweh your God is in your midst, A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing.
This incredible promise is almost incomprehensible.
Not only is Yahweh, the Mighty One, in our midst,
but this is our Lord and Mighty Savior, Jesus Christ, back on earth at last, dwelling with us.
We hope for that day.
But what is so awesome about this promise is that He is filled with joy and gladness over us,
and His love for us overflows with song.
Remember what Yahweh said to Moses from the burning bush?
11 And Yahweh said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh?
On that day, the One who made man’s mouth,
will Himself, the Son of Man, rejoice over us with joyful singing.
Let that sink in.
We can understand that we will be singing to Him on that day.
We sing to Him now, for He is worthy to be praised.
But the picture of Him rejoicing and singing over us is so unfathomable.
We are but sinful wretches.
And yet, a glimpse into the unending depths of our Savior’s love for us. As the author of Hebrews wrote,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This is the joy that was set before Him.
This joy and love drove Him to endure the cross and drink the cup of His Father’s wrath.
He did it for this joy,
out of this incredibly deep love for His beloved
As Moses said to Israel at their conception,
7 “Yahweh did not set His affection on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
8 but because Yahweh loved you...
This love drives Him to save His people through His Son. He abounds in His faithful lovingkindness toward them leading to their redemption and restoration, as Zephaniah ends,
18 “I will assemble those who grieve about the appointed feasts— They were from you, O Zion; The reproach of exile is a burden on them.
19 “Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all those who afflict you, And I will save the lame And gather the banished, And I will turn them—in their shame—into praise and a name In all the earth.
20 “At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you to be a name and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says Yahweh.
As we saw back in Micah,
the remnant will not consist of the mighty and the haughty who resisted the Lord,
resting in their own strength, riches, and righteousness.
No, He will save the lame, making them the remnant.
He will gather to Him the banished,
remove the shame of their captivity,
and restore them as His people in the Land.
At that time, when He gathers them,
they will receive the praise of the nations
for they will be His people that He rejoices over with love and with a glorious song.
At this year’s Shepherd’s Conference, we had the privilege of hearing from Pastor Paul Washer.
He concluded his sermon with a line that reminds me of this glorious future reality. He said this,
“Oh, brothers. You are dearly loved, you are so dearly loved that it pains me to tell you because I cannot tell you enough.
The Son of God did not become incarnate and suffer the wrath of God.
And die for the penalty of our sin, so that the first time you look at him in glory, you see a scowl of disappointment on His face.
I know that's what you're tempted to believe.
Oh, He will be so much happier to see you than you will be to see him, because His capacity for joy and His love for you are infinite
We must go in the strength of that love.”
A love which will drive Him to sing over us in His glorious day.
The Book of Haggai
Background and Introduction
Background and Introduction
Authorship and Setting
Authorship and Setting
Haggai’s name means “Festival of Yahweh.”
First minor prophet after exile, with Zechariah.
Cyrus decreed temple rebuilding in 536 BC.
Zerubbabel, Joshua led 50,000 Israelites back.
Temple foundation minor, lacked ark, glory.
Construction stalled by persecution, Persian mandate.
Israel grew complacent, prioritized self over worship.
Haggai’s 520 BC prophecy spurred action.
Theological Theme
Theological Theme
Steadfast obedience in worship, work emphasized.
Haggai, Zechariah advanced God’s redemptive plan.
Temple absence obscures God’s restoration message.
Temple as one entity, two glories.
Jesus, church embody temple concept.
“Word of Yahweh came” repeated 25 times.
Haggai’s calm “Consider your ways” sparked repentance.
Temple construction resumed after national repentance.
I. First Oracle: Exhortation to Build (1:1-15)
I. First Oracle: Exhortation to Build (1:1-15)
1. Haggai's Proclamation (1:1-11)
1. Haggai's Proclamation (1:1-11)
Haggai addressed Zerubbabel, Joshua on August 29.
Zerubbabel, David’s heir, named “begotten of Babylon.”
Joshua, exiled priest’s son, leads worship.
God calls them “this people,” not “my people.”
2 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of Yahweh to be rebuilt.” ’ ”
Persecution, mandate halt God’s assigned work.
Resources spent-Tools spent on personal homes.
4 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house lies waste?”
They stole from the Lord to build paneled houses
while God’s house lies in “waste.
Therefore, God warns them, verse 5,
5 So now, thus says Yahweh of hosts, “Set your heart to consider your ways!
God of armies commands: consider ways.
Who is their priority, true God?
Covenant curses sent upon them again.
6 “You have sown much, but bring in little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Curses from neglecting God’s house construction.
Cyrus’ lumber misused for personal homes.
God commands work, cutting mountain trees.
Greed, sin caused drought, famine, poverty.
How do the people respond? Verse 12,
Haggai 1:12 him. And the people feared Yahweh.”
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, listened to the voice of Yahweh their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Yahweh their God had sent him. And the people feared Yahweh.
Extraordinary! They listened to the voice of the Lord.
They listened to the prophet.
They feared the Lord.
And so Yahweh responds, verse 13,
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh, spoke by the commissioned message of Yahweh to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares Yahweh.”
14 So Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God,
Remnant replaces “this people” in address.
Yahweh declares, “I am with you.”
God stirs leaders, people for work.
Lord’s heart loves, empowers repentant people.
II. Second Oracle: Encouragement in Building (2:1-9)
II. Second Oracle: Encouragement in Building (2:1-9)
God speaks again through Haggai on the feast day,
On October 17, 520 BC, commemorating the feast of booths and the dedication of Solomon’s temple, verse 3,
3 ‘Who among you remains who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?
4 ‘But now, be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh, ‘be strong also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land, be strong,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.
God asks who recalls Temple’s past glory.
New foundation pales beside Solomon’s splendor.
Older exiles wept at modest foundation.
God urges courage, echoing Moses, Joshua.
Fierce opposition from neighbors halted work.
Persian decree, military force stopped construction.
Yahweh assures, “Be strong, I’m with you.”
Haggai then encourages his hearers to build upon the Temple foundation with a vision of future glory, verse 6,
6 “For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Once more—in a little while—I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.
7 ‘And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the desirable things of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.
9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.”
Apocalyptic shaking heralds Messiah’s unshakable kingdom.
Unlike Sinai, Amos quakes, this transforms.
Gold, silver return to rightful Creator.
Future temple beautified by divine treasures.
Messiah’s presence, not embellishments, brings glory.
Prince of Peace reigns from House.
Shiloh brings global peace to earth.
As foretold by Isaiah,
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.
III. Third Oracle: Blessings in Building (2:10-19)
III. Third Oracle: Blessings in Building (2:10-19)
On December 18, 520 BC, Haggai asks the priests a Levitical question, verse 12,
12 ‘If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches bread with this fold or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered, “No.”
He asks them another question, verse 13,
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, will the latter become unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.”
Sin defiles easily, unlike holiness, which is only achieved through sacrifice.
God then applies this principle to His people, verse 14,
14 Then Haggai answered and said, “‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they bring near to Me there is unclean.
Neglect, theft, fear mar their actions.
Disobedience triggers Deuteronomy curses again.
Lord notes, “they did come back.”
Despite sins, guilt, they heeded Haggai.
Faith, repentance bring God’s promised blessings.
19 ‘Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.’”
He does not wait until the Temple’s completion to bless them,
choosing to bless them from that day forward, restoring their depleted harvest.
IV. Fourth Oracle: Salvation in Building (2:20-23)
IV. Fourth Oracle: Salvation in Building (2:20-23)
God’s word comes December 18, 520 BC.
Message to Zerubbabel, David’s descendant.
Reiterates future quake for Messiah’s Kingdom.
God then declares in verse 22,
22 ‘I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.’
God dismantles earthly powers like Pharaoh’s.
Apocalyptic judgment destroys all military might.
Christ’s unshakable kingdom crushes all empires.
Haggai concludes with a declaration about the Day of the Lord, verse 23,
23 ‘On that day,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares Yahweh of hosts.
Signet ring symbolizes rightful king’s authority.
Jeconiah cursed, removed as Yahweh’s signet.
Zerubbabel revives Messianic lineage post-exile.
Called “My Servant,” echoing Isaiah’s Songs.
Inherits Davidic King’s signet ring authority.
Prophecy motivates Zerubbabel to rebuild Temple.
Foreshadows Messiah’s Temple-building in church.
Christ Connection
Christ Connection
Jeconiah cursed, yet in Christ’s genealogy.
Matthew traces Jesus’ legal ancestry via Joseph.
Jesus, not Jeconiah’s biological child, avoids curse.
Luke’s genealogy shows Mary’s Davidic line, Nathan.
Zerubbabel in Mary’s lineage restores David’s line.
Virgin birth ensures no Jeconiah throne claim.
Jesus fulfills God’s precise, faithful promises.
