Haggai
Twelve Minor Prophets With Major Life Lessons (Series)
In 587 B.C. Babylon defeated Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, but that wasn’t the end of their story.
Haggai was written in 520 B.C., nearly 70 years after the exile. Babylon’s empire had recently collapsed, and the Persians are in charge. They let any of the exiled Israelites go back to Jerusalem if they want to and start rebuilding.
After only a couple years, they had finished the foundation for the temple in Jerusalem. Their neighbors who had taken over the land pushed hard to stop them from rebuilding. The rebuilding effort stopped for sixteen years. With this opposition they decided to focus on building their own homes instead of God’s house. Their hearts for God changed when they focused on themselves. They soon found that their lives were empty, and they were in life’s deep waters without a rudder. Haggai calls the Israelites back to the task of rebuilding God’s house.
Haggai’s reminds God’s people that there will always be challenges to obeying God’s will, but joy, peace of mind, and having a purpose, will be experienced when we humble ourselves and obey.
The book of Haggai has four areas of focus. He encourages them to rebuild the temple. (1:1-15)
He prophecies about the future glory of the temple. (2:1-9)
He tells of the future blessings for God’s people. (2:10-19)
He tells of the future victory over God’s enemies. (2:20-23)
Haggai’s message connects God’s peoples lack of blessing with their choice to abandon their responsibility towards God. (1:5-11, 2:15-17)
How does this affect us?
God’s word challenges us to carefully and prayerfully evaluate our choices and our priorities when we find ourselves in times of disappointment and confusion.
Discouragement can be used by the Holy Spirit, to have us pause and consider if our true priorities are what God has for us.
