Haggai Series

Haggai

Haggai wrote during one of the most challenging times in Jewish history. His prophecies inspired the people to persevere and stay committed to God during that difficult time.

Aside from the fact that he was a prophet, we know little about the man. His name means "festival," perhaps because he was born on the day of a major festival. He ministered during the reign of King Darius I (522-486 BC) and was probably about 80 years old (my present age) when he wrote this book.

The historical setting dates around 520 BC before the Temple was rebuilt. In 520 BC, Haggai addressed his words to the people in Judah and Jerusalem who had returned from exile. He urged them to get their act together, set their priorities straight, and rebuild the Temple (Haggai 1:1-11). The bottom line is (point 1) "that they needed to put God first!" Only then, he said, would God bring true blessing back upon them. Notice this article makes 10 points about God and what he wants from us.

The problem was that when the people first returned from exile in 538 BC as a result of King Cyrus's decree, they made a good start in the beginning to rebuild the Temple, but nowuch attention to the Temple. However, do you know God requires our service? This comes out clearly in chapter one in the contrast between God's house and the people's houses and what God has to say about this. The Lord asks, "Is it a time for you to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house (the Temple) lies in ruins?" – Haggai 1:4. This is one of the most piercing questions in all scripture, especially given our wealth in this country.

They were putting themselves first, busying themselves with their affairs and not God's. Moreover, God calls them on it and requires them to put Him first. God also challenges us because we so often put ourselves first. Our work and houses are fine, but God's work and house get little attention in our busy lives. What we learn from Haggai is that (point 2) "we need to fulfill the call to serve God even when it is hard." In Haggai, they were experiencing bad economic times. Thus, obeying meant taking a risk and giving them time and resources to do God's work when they felt they did not have enough to care for their needs.

It was also hard to obey because people were critical of their work on the Temple. It lacked the glory appropriate to a temple of God. Thus, people were thinking and saying things that discouraged the workers.

It will not always be easy for us, whether it is due to lack of resources, criticism, or other factors. God speaks to us through the book of Haggai to say to us as well (point 3) "that we need to serve God even when it is hard." If you only serve God when things are easy, you will not be serving God for long.

(point 4) "God encourages us as we serve him." God is revealed as an encourager. For instance, in chapter one, the Lord encouraged them as soon as the people decided to obey. God was concerned to give them hope, to know that they could do what he asked of them. Haggai 1:13 – "I am with you declares the Lord."

This is the sequence of events in chapter one:

• God challenged their disobedience

• They resolved to work

• God stirred them up, and

• Then they worked

What comes before the work is God doing a work in them.

Haggai 1:14 says, "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 spirits of all the remnant of the people. Moreover, they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God . . .." God acted to move them along and enabled their obedience.

It is the same with us. God does not just call us to serve; he empowers our service. That is because none of us can serve God in our strength. Thus, we learn from Haggai that we need to receive God's help as we serve him; we need to have God stir our spirits. We need God to stir us up!

In chapter two, when they were discouraged at their work prospects on the Temple, the Lord spoke to them. Here we have lots of words of encouragement, so that they would not give in to discouragement and stop working. Haggai 2:4-5 – "Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not."