Haggai Survey

Introduction and Background

Be Heroic Chapter Five: Stirring up God’s People (Haggai 1)

When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept (Ezra 3:8–13). Although Haggai probably had seen Solomon’s temple in its glory (Hag. 2:3), he was undoubtedly among those who expressed joy, for the Lord was at work among His people.

But it doesn’t take long for zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic, especially when opposition began

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Be Heroic Chapter Five: Stirring up God’s People (Haggai 1)

When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept (Ezra 3:8–13). Although Haggai probably had seen Solomon’s temple in its glory (Hag. 2:3), he was undoubtedly among those who expressed joy, for the Lord was at work among His people.

But it doesn’t take long for zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic, especially when opposition began

Be Heroic Chapter Five: Stirring up God’s People (Haggai 1)

When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept (Ezra 3:8–13). Although Haggai probably had seen Solomon’s temple in its glory (Hag. 2:3), he was undoubtedly among those who expressed joy, for the Lord was at work among His people.

But it doesn’t take long for zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic, especially when opposition began

1. Foundation was Laid

When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept, as they remembered the former temple before its destruction.

When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept (). Although Haggai probably had seen Solomon’s temple in its glory (), he was undoubtedly among those who expressed joy, for the Lord was at work among His people.

It was a time of excitement as the Lord was doing a work among His people. But it didn’t take long for zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic.

he was undoubtedly among those who expressed joy, for the Lord was at work among His people.

When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept (). Although Haggai probably had seen Solomon’s temple in its glory (), he was undoubtedly among those who expressed joy, for the Lord was at work among His people.

2. Opposition Came

But it doesn’t take long for zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic, especially when the opposition began from their enemies.

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

Judah and Benjamin are the two Southern tribes

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, “Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do”; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

This lie reminds me of And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

3. The Work Ceased

4. The Prophets Shows up

Haggai and Zechariah

He was the Grandson to King Jehoiachin who was deported to Babylon during the Captivity and Exile

I.First Message: Conviction—1:1–15

1. Stop Making Excuses—1–4

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. 3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

The message is addressed to the Leadership (Governor and High Priest)

Question: Why do you think it was addressed to the Leadership?

The Governor

The Governor is the Civil leader of the people

The Governor was Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel

He was the Grandson to King Jehoiachin who was deported to Babylon during the captivity and exile.

Old Testament Survey Series: The Minor Prophets C. The Recipients of the Oracle (1:1)

Zerubbabel. His name means “seed of Babylon,” or perhaps “begotten in Babylon.”

Zerubbabel means “seed of Babylon” or “begotten in Babylon”

The High Priest

The High Priest is the Spiritual leader of the people

The High Priest is Joshua the son of Jehozadak

His father was brought into captivity during the exile

And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

2. Start Considering your Ways—5–11

Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Understand: The people were guilty of breaking the covenant with God, and that is why they are cursed rather than blessed

Bad harvest - Ye have sown much, and bring in little

They never had enough - ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes

You don’t want to be cursed! It’s not good!

The curse came from breaking the covenant (promise) they have with God.

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Covenant Curses

The curses in . Describe what would happen if they disobeyed, and came under the curse

Haggai is preaching to the people trying to help them understand why they are being cursed.

The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

33 The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. 39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. 40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

They were cursed because they broke the covenant

They were putting themselves first, rather than God

They Needed to put God first, not themselves!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Be Heroic 1. “Put God First in Your Lives” (Hag. 1:1–4)

Haggai’s congregation had never heard that great promise, but the principle behind Christ’s words was written into their Law.

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

3. Begin to Serve the Lord—12–15

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. 13 Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. 14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

II.Second Message: Consolation—2:1–9

In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

1.Discouragement—1–3

The people were discouraged...

2. Message of Encouragement—4–9

(1) Be strong—4

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:

(2) Fear not—5

According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

(3) Glory will come—6–7

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

(4) God will provide—8–9

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

III.Third message: contamination—2:10–19

1.The question of defilement—10–13

2.The assurance of blessing—14–19

IV.Fourth message: coronation—2:20–23

1.The coming judgment—20–22

2.The promised Messiah—23

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Heroic, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub., 1997), 62.