Categoria: Haggai

Haggai 2 brings a message of encouragement to the rebuilders of the temple who might have felt their work wasn’t up to Solomon’s high standard. But they are told: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty. And in this place I will grant peace”. Then comes another message showing that holiness is not automatically transferred from one thing to another, and showing that impurity easily spreads, So the people’s sin had defiled their sacrifices and work. Thus God had judged them through bad harvests and difficulties, but as from now with their commitment to rebuilding the temple: “From this day on I will bless you”. Then finally another message came via Haggai: “I will shake the heavens and the earth… overthrow thrones and shatter kingdoms… I will overthrow chariots and their riders… on that day I will take you Zerubbabel and make you like a signet ring (authority) because I have chosen you, declared the Lord”. 

This short prophetic book was written about 520 BC after the Jewish exiles had returned from exile, and the objective was to encourage the rebuilding of the temple. So a prophetic word comes through Haggai to Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua calling for the rebuilding of the temple, but the people said “The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built”. Haggai questions if they should be living “in panelled houses while this house remains in ruin?” The people have neglected God and thus suffer much frustration in their lives. So God calls for the rebuilding of the temple by bringing wood from the mountains for this. And “the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God…. so God said I am with you… and they came and began to work on the house of the Lord”.