His Presence (2)

A Study of Haggai

Background

Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC. The Israelite people were exiled and many were taken to Babylon to live and be assimilated into their society. God promised them in that after 70 years of captivity was completed they would return to Jerusalem. In the book of Haggai we read about those who returned to Jerusalem.

1. Rebuke

Haggai 1:2

Haggai 1:2 ESV

2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.”

They have failed to restore temple worship

The destroyed temple was a reminder to those who survived the destruction of the spiritual failures of the nation. They began to rebuild the temple but stopped after opposition arose and King Artaxerxes, who ruled over the empire after defeating Cyrus. He ordered them to stop building the temple. ()

Those who returned had did not finish what they started. The prophet Ezra speaks of opposition to the rebuilding of the temple. Some reached out to King Artaxerxes, who ruled over the empire after defeating Cyrus. He ordered them to stop building the temple. (Ezra 4:17-24)

2. Reflect

Haggai 1:4–7 ESV

4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 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. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

Haggai 1:3–7 ESV

3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 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. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

Haggai 1

God calls them to consider their priorities?

Haggai 1:3-7

Haggai 1:4 ESV

4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Instead of focusing on restoring the Temple so that they could properly worship God

Haggai 1:4

Instead of focusing on restoring the Temple so that they could properly worship God, they turned to their own interests. Building homes, turning to their trades and working. Oddly enough they were never satisfied.

3. Redirect

Haggai 1:8 ESV

8 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.

It is time to redirect their attention to the Lord

Haggai 1:5-

Haggai 1:5–7 ESV

5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 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. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

Haggai 1:

4. Reminder

Haggai 1:9–11 ESV

9 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. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 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.”

Haggai 1:9-

God reminds them He will not bless disobedience

How do we handle opposition?

The Israelites were failing to obey the Lord in accordance to . The temple was essential to their worship. At the temple they brought offerings of sacrifice for cleansing of sins, for fellowship with others, and to worship.

In order for a proper relationship with the Lord to be restored they must acknowledge their sinful choices and repent.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

They must accept the discipline of the Lord

They must correct their course of action.

How does this message translate to today? As people of God, where should our focus be?

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

5. What can we learn from Haggai?

Matthew 5:6 ESV

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We must prioritize our relationship with Christ

Long for the righteousness only found in Jesus.

Seek His will, His plan to be done here in our lives, in our world.

The prophet Haggai’s message was clear to those who had returned to a city in ruins. Restore the temple, long for the presence of God.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Going into 2020 let us as a people of God consider our ways individually and corporately. Let us acknowledge Him in all our ways. Let the words of our Lord spoken thru the prophet Jeremiah guide us.

Jeremiah 29:12–13 ESV

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:12 ESV

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.