HAGGAI [1 2 AUGUST DAY 214 - 215]
INTRODUCTION
Haggai name means my feast. The people from Israel were allowed by the Persians to return to their land. Under the leadership of a high priest, Joshua and a governor, Zerubbabel; they left Babylon. He was a contemporary of Zechariah returned from Babylon about 520 B.C. He was the first prophetic voice after the Babylonian Exile. God called Haggai to prophesy to the people to finish the Temple, which had been started 15 years earlier when they returned from Babylon but construction had ceased when opposition arose. Temple was completed four years later. The book is addressed to all the people (Haggai 1:13; 2:2), but the message is also particularly addressed to Zerubbabel, the governor, and to Joshua, the high priest (Haggai 1:1; 2:2, 21).
The book contains four appeals, each introduced by the word of the LORD came (Haggai 1:3, 2:1, 10, 20), a clear reprimand of consider your ways (Haggai 1:5, 7, 2:15, 18), and a strong commandrebuild (Haggai 1:8)
Chapter 1:1-15 Accusation of neglecting Gods temple.
Haggai explained why they were poor depriving themselves of God's blessing by neglecting God's temple. They misplaced priorities by spending all their resources in building their own houses. This was dishonoring Gods covenant. They response to rebuild it.
Chapter 2:1-9 Addressing shattered expectation.
The new temple was small in comparison to that of Solomons. Their morale was low. Haggai draws from the other prophets and speak of the future temple. Greater than the old temple is to come. Referring to millennium kingdom.
Chapter 2:10-19 Appeal to the Covenant faithfulness.
A call to covenant faithfulness. He uses the parable of the food touched is unclean after the priests have touched any dead animals. Similarly, they are to repent of their wicked ways before rebuilding the temple.
Chapter 2:20-23 Anticipation for the Future Kingdom
This last message reveals the persistent purpose of God in bringing the establishment of the Messianic King, Lord Jesus Christ to the throne of David, defeating evil among the nations and establish the New Jerusalem.