Haggai 1-2 Consider – Is it time to change? Evaluating priorities in the New Year

What type of resolutions

Lose weight

Exercise

Time

We

Exile had ended. A first wave returns 538

Excitement

Rebuild the temple. Symbol of the presence of god

soon gave up.

prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah,

These books grant us vivid glimpses of God. We discover that God is passionate for his people, reflected not only in his disciplinary actions of the Exile but also in his extension of grace in this new phase of redemptive history. This passionate God consistently expresses his desire to presence himself among his people, a desire that will be realized through the rebuilding of the temple and repentance of the people

In Haggai god asks his people to consider. Make him his presence in Their lives the priority.

Their efforts to be satisfied with self oriented priorities does not work

He promises to enable them to be with them. To bless them.

they finally completed the task in 516

I. Consider, is it time to change? The current path

A. Many want to ‘keep the status quo’ 1:1-2

(ESV) Haggai 1 1 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: 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.”

B. The Lord challenged their self-focused priorities 1:3-4

(ESV) Haggai 1 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?

C. The Lord says ‘consider your current path’ 1:5

(ESV) Haggai 1 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

D. Seek to please the Lord and glorify Him with your life 1:7-8

(ESV) Haggai 1 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 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.

II. Consider, is it time to change? The current path doesn’t work

A. Futility of the current effort 1:6

(ESV) Haggai 1 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 wagesdoes so to put them into a bag with holes.

B. Excluded themselves from the Lord’s blessing 1:9-11

(ESV) Haggai 1 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.

C. Incurredthe opposition of the Lord 1:9-11

(ESV) Haggai 1 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.”

D.

III. Consider, is it time to change? Some responded to the Lord

A. Responded to the voice of the Lord 1:12a

(ESV) Haggai 1 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, 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 feared the Lord.

B. Responded to the Word of the Lord 1:12b

(ESV) Haggai 1 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lordtheir God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lordtheir God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

C. Put the Lord in the proper place in their lives 1:12c

(ESV) Haggai 1 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lordtheir God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

1. Worshiped Him

2. In awe of Him

3. Honored and respect of Him

4. Aware of His Holiness

IV. Consider, is it time to change? The Lord worked in the ones who responded

A. He renewed them 1:13-15

(ESV) Haggai 1 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares 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 Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and workedon the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,

B. He enabled them with His presence 2:1-4

(ESV) Haggai 2 4 … Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

1. Inner might

2. Activity

3. Dependent upon Him

4. He is present

5. Never left

6. Based on covenant relationships

7. Confident and unafraid – of events / of God

C. He restored blessing on them 2:17-19

(ESV) Haggai 2 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

D. He will glorify Himself in them 2:6-8, 21-23

1. Will do things beyond our ability to understand or do – in this work of theirs – among His people and His house

(ESV) Haggai 2 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lordof hosts.

(ESV) Haggai 2 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lordof hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lordof hosts.’ ”

2. The Lord will establish His kingdom – in the world

(ESV) Haggai 2 21 … I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, ... 23 On that day, declares the Lordof hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

Chosen you Zerubabbel – intentional divine initiative

His point is that Zerubbabel represents a restoration of the Davidic line of promise. As a result of this divine initiative, what was lost by the tragedy of the exile will in the future be regained in a manner that exceeds expectations

God is again to restore the Davidic line

He will have divine approval – a special relationship

Signing authority of the Lord

(ESV) Jeremiah 22 24 “As I live, declares the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off

Disqualifies him and his line from kingship in Israel

But here Zerubababbel is given the promise that the Davidic line will continue – God will do it – take His servant and accomplish His will.

Was it Zerubababbel himself? No but he stands as the one who did come. Who will be in his legal line to be king – Christ Himself.

In God’s plan He accomplishes His will by using another branch of the kingly blood line as Christ’s human descent. But through Joseph, Christ stands with a legal claim on the throne through Zerubabbel.