People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 16

 

 

 

The Book of Haggai is named after the prophet Haggai.  His prophecies are recorder in the book, but the authorship of the book is uncertain.  It is thought that a disciple of his wrote the book.  He encouraged the people who had returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

Haggai 1-2

The Call to Continue the Temple – Haggai 1

The Jews had returned from exile and began to rebuild the temple.  They found opposition among the people living there causing them to became discouraged and the building stopped.  The people began thinking of themselves.  God sent the prophet Haggai to speak to them.  Haggai told them that they were making excuses for not building the temple.  They said it wasn’t God’s timing and the work was too hard.  Haggai told them they had their priorities all wrong.  They had found the time to build their houses and live in luxury while the temple was in ruins.

We should see ourselves here.  We are just like the people in Haggai’s time.  We’re all prone to make excuses for not putting God first with our time and money.  To let the temple lay in ruin was to  neglect the worship of God.  When we make excuses for reading our Bible or going to church, we are neglecting the worship of Him.

Haggai’s word from God challenged the people.  Two times in verse 5 and 7 he said, “Give careful thought to your ways”.  Are you giving careful thought to your ways?  How are you spending your time and money?  What is your aim?  Is it to glorify God or yourself?

The Lord said, “I am with you” – Haggai 1:13.  The people respected Haggai and they feared the  presence of the Lord so their spirits were stirred.  It began with Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest.  The people responded by obeying the Lord and began to work on the temple again.

Principles: 

God wants us to put Him first and when we do He empowers and encourages us to do what He commands.

Give careful thought to your ways.

Hope for  the Future – Haggai 2

The people looked at the partially rebuilt temple and became discouraged.  They compared it with the original temple that Solomon built in all its glory and beauty.  God reminded them of how He was always with them and how He provided for them in the past (Exodus 29:45-46; Nehemiah 9:20).  He said the rebuilt temple would be more glorious than the first.  God told the leaders and the people to be strong. 

In Haggai 2:10-19 he emphasizes the importance of following God’s ways in their daily lives.  He gives examples of purity and defilement and shows how it applies to the people.  In order to gain all God has for them, they must abide by His covenant commands.  The commands were made for their good and following them will lead to fulfillment in life.

He talks of the defiled, dead, and unrighteous.  This defines all people.  Romans 3:10-26 tell us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  The remedy is Christ Jesus.  We are justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus when He sacrificed Himself on the cross.

God understands the discouragement we face when we serve Him.  He knew what they were thinking and feeling and He knew those who were discouraging them.  Satan always tries to dampen our enthusiasm and attacks us continually especially when we are doing the Lord’s work.  So God told them again to not be afraid because He was with them.

God encouraged Zerubbabel and the people saying He will assert His sovereignty over the nations.  He will shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land.  He will shake all nations and the desire of all nations will come and fill the temple with glory.

God made a promise to Zerubbabel.  He said He will make him like a signet ring. A signet ring is a token of royal authority.  Zerubbabel was chosen of God and included in the ancestry of Jesus.  Jesus is the Signet Ring on God’s right hand.  Here He is the announcing the future coming of Messiah Jesus.

Principle:  Following God’s ways lead to fulfillment in life.

Promises from the Book of Haggai:

God is with us.

His Spirit is with us.

His Glory is with us.

He has everything we need.

He is in our  future.

His peace is with us.

Next week we will continue our study in Zechariah.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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