The Message of Haggai: Haggai was the first prophetic voice after the Babylonian Exile. His ministry was to call the people to finish the Temple, which had been delayed for 15-16 years.
Key Verse
But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts.
Haggai 2:4 (NASB)
Available Lessons
Content Outline
Setting and Timeline
“The primary theme is the rebuilding of God’s temple, which had been lying in ruins since its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.
But to Haggai the rebuilding of the temple was not an end in itself. The temple represented God’s dwelling place, His manifest presence with His chosen people.
The destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar followed the departure of God’s glory (cf. Ezek. 8-11); to the prophet, the rebuilding of the temple invited the return of God’s presence to their midst.”
Dr. John MacArthur
“Haggai’s book is the second shortest in the Old Testament (Obadiah is first) and consists of four messages he gave over a period of several months in the year 520 (Hag. 1:1; 2:1, 10, 20).
He called the people to ‘consider’ (1:5, 7; 2:15, 18; NIV, ‘give careful thought’) and realize what it was costing them to neglect God’s house.
Certainly he was reminding them of God’s covenant promises recorded in Deuteronomy 28. But he also encouraged them by assuring them that God was with them in their work (Hag. 1:13; 2:4).”
Dr.Warren Wiersbe
“Haggai is one of the three last prophets of the Old Testament period, the prophets of the restoration: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The others came to Israel or Judah before the fall of those nations, the former to the armies of Assyria in 721 B.C., the latter to the armies of the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
Gone was the glory of the former kingdom and temple. Gone was the great population. All that was left was the rubble of Jerusalem, the remnant of the people, and the task of restoration.”
Dr. James Montgomery Boice
“The prophet Haggai was one of the Bible’s great motivational speakers. Under his ministry, a project that had stalled for sixteen years was resumed and completed. And it wasn’t just an ordinary project– it was the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.
We often find life is hard, resources sparse and opposition great. We put our comfort ahead of God’s cause.
Haggai’s message is: Consider your ways, cast off discouragement, put first things first, and finish the task assigned to you.”
Dr. David Jeremiah
“Haggai challenges the returning exiles to remember their covenant, remain faithful to God and build the temple before constructing their own homes.
While the new temple didn’t meet their expectations, their efforts and faithfulness would be blessed.
They could also be encouraged by God’s promise to build a New Jerusalem for His international kingdom, defeat evil, and live in their midst. Future prophetic books contain more details about when these promises would be fulfilled.”
The Bible Project
About the Author
References
- The Minor Prophets Volume 2 (Micah – Malachi): An Expositional Commentary by James Montgomery Boice
- Be Heroic: an OT Commentary on the Minor Prophets by Warren W. Wiersbe
- The MacArthur Bible Commentary: by John MacArthur
- The Bible Project: Haggai