THE BOOK HAGGAI.

HAGGAI




Haggai means “FESTIVE”, he was one of the postexilic prophets a contemporary of Zechariah.



- He had qualities of a Pastor, an encourager whose word was in the hearts of people and the mind of God.

- He was the Lord’s messenger bringing to people the message of God.



Background



- During the reigning of King Darius in Persia from 522-486 BC, Haggai came to his task in 522BC.

- He joined his fellow exiles’ who had returned to their homeland to rebuild the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.

- They started building an altar when the enemy started mocking their efforts.

- Haggai & Zacharia’s ministry caused the people to rally and complete the building of the temple.



Why the book of Haggai



-The book of Haggai addresses 3 problems common to all people of all times and gives 3 inspired solutions to those problems.



1. Disinterest: chapter 1vs1-15

-the people had returned from exile for the stated purpose of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem ,Ezra 1vs2-4,had made a start on their assigned work but opposition appeared causing a stop to the work.



-People had become more concerned with building beautiful houses for themselves perhaps in an attempt to blot out the memory of their exile in a strange land. (1vs 4)

-To wake the people from their apathetic attitude God speaks twice to them.

- There first needed to realise that they are fruitless ( 1 vs 1- 6 ) because they have turned from God’s house to their own houses ( 1vs 7-9).

-All their efforts at building their own kingdom can never produce lasting results.

-After seeing their problem the people then need to understand that God will accept what they do ,that he will be glorified if they will only yield to him what they have ( 1vs8).



2. Discouragement : chapter 2vs1-9

-some of the elderly people in the band of the returned exiles had seen Solomon’s temple when they were children and knew that nothing beautiful could ever be built compared to the former temple (2 vs3)

-Haggai brings a message to deal decisively with discouragement

- The solution has 3 parts

(i) To deal with immediate problems

(ii)T o bring a long-range resolution (2vs4)

(iii)Overcoming discouragement making people understand that they were building a temple for the day God will fill it with the glory of Solomon’s temple (2vs9)



3.Dissatisfaction 2vs 10vs23

-Now that the people were working they expected an immediate reversal of all years of inactivity

-The prophet comes with a question for the priests (2vs12-13) about clean and unclean things, their influence of one another.

-The response of the priests was cleanliness is infectious while holiness is not.

-The application is obvious, do not expect the work of 3 months to undo the neglect of 16years.

-The Lord’s word to the people was a surprise (2vs19),they needed to understand that God’s blessings cannot be earned but come as gracious gifts from giving God.





Personal application/revelation



-Haggai issues a clean call to his own people and to us by God.

- We should not allow difficulties ,enemies or selfish pursuits to turn us aside from our divinely given responsibilities.

-The noble nature of our calling and the promised presence of God and his holy spirit encourages us to fulfil our commission

* by emphasising the co-operative roles of a prophet ,priest ,prince and people

-Haggai also demonstrates the necessity for teamwork in carrying out God’s purposes on earth.



Holy spirit @ work

-2 vs 5 brings a reference of the holy spirit @ work.

- vs 2 explains how the spirit of God is meant to interact with the spirit of the people in order to get the work done

vs5 includes these significant points

(i) The holy spirit is a vital part of God’s covenant with his people ‘according to the word I covenanted with you ‘.

(ii) The holy spirit is an abiding gift to the people of God ‘my spirit remains among you’.

(iii) The presence of the holy spirit removes fear from the hearts of God’s people therefore ‘do not fear’.





Conclusion



These principles remain the same for the people of God today .At the heart of God’s covenant with his people is the constant operation of the holy spirit, working to release them from fear so that they may move bodily in fulfilling the divine commission.



The messages to people

(i) Consider your ways 1vs1-5

- consider what u have done 1vs1-6

- what are the results of considering your ways 1vs 12-15



(ii) Be strong and work 2vs 1-9

-comparison of new temple with Solomon’s temple 2vs1-3

- Call to be strong 2vs4-5

-coming glory of new temple 2vs6-9



(iii) I will bless you 2vs 10-23

- a question for the priests 2vs10-19

- a promise to Zerubbabel 2vs 20-23

 
by  Getrude