For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.
Passage: Haggai 2:1-5
In the second year of King Darius,
1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. 5 “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”
A. Find Out
- When did the next word come to Haggai? v.1
- Who was he told to speak to? v.2
- What was he told to ask them? v.3
- What threefold command was given first with what end? v.4a,b
- Why? v.4c
- What further twofold encouragements were they given? v.5
B. Think:
- What were they instructed to remember?
- What were they instructed to do?
- What encouragements were they given in all this?
C. Comment:
A month passes after the start of the work and a further word comes from the Lord. The first part of it, that we look at now, is all about confirming and encouraging. Whereas the first word was just to the two leaders, this word is to them and the people there. In it the Lord helps them face their negative thoughts, for the Lord knows the thoughts of all men. They have been rebuilding for a little while and some of them have been realising the enormity of the task. There may be one or two really elderly men who were children when they were deported, and who can remember the size and glory of Solomon’s temple and all its greatness. Now before them, all they have is burnt rubble and the beginnings of rebuilding. The enormity of it all can be depressing. It is into this situation that the Lord speaks.
His command to each of them is simply to be strong and work, because He is with them, just like He covenanted at the beginning, at Sinai, that He would be. His presence is vital for them to know. It is in that that they can be strong, and being strong means they can press on with the work, even though the task looks so enormous for such a small group.
D. Application:
- Knowing that the Lord is with us and for us where we are and in what we are doing is all important.
- Our strength comes from the Lord, from His presence and power and from His word that comes to us.
Passage: Haggai 2:6-9
6 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord Almighty. 8 “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” declares the Lord Almighty. 9 “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,” declares the Lord Almighty.’
A. Find Out
- The Lord will do what, when? v.6
- What also will He do and what will happen? v.7
- What does He declare? v.8
- What will be the outcome? v.9a
- What also will He do? v.9b
B. Think:
- Read Exo 19:17-19 What was the first shaking?
- Read Heb 12:25-29 What is the second shaking?
- How do you think the Lord intended to bring peace (v.9b)?
C. Comment:
The Lord has just referred to His covenant at Sinai and now the prophecy continues as He says “Once more…” reminding them that when he came down and met with them at Sinai the very mountain shook. There is coming a time, He continues, when I will come and shake the whole of creation. What I am going to do through this place is going to have worldwide impact. Because I shake the whole world, I will also shake the peoples of the world and those I desire (v.7 and see Eph 1:4,5) will come to me via this place. You don’t have to worry about enemy kings or enemy nations, this world belongs to me, and I can direct its riches wherever I want. The outcome of all this is that the glory that will come to the later Temple will be much greater than the former one.
What is all this referring to? First, it refers to God working out a worldwide plan whereby He comes to the later Temple and through what He does there, He will be able to grant peace (v.9b) to many from around the world. How? Only by the work of Jesus Christ. In Jesus He came to His Temple in physical form and did something – the death and resurrection of Jesus – that would shake people when they heard about it, all round the world. The church would be born that would be people from every part of the globe. People’s insecurity would be shaken and removed and replaced by a new security in God’s love as revealed in and through the work of Jesus on the Cross. What a prophecy!
D. Application:
- God HAS perfectly fulfilled this prophecy.
- We are the recipients of the outcome of this prophecy. Rejoice!
Passage: Haggai 2:10-19
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Ask the priests what the law says: 12 if someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?”’
The priests answered, ‘No.’
13 Then Haggai said, ‘If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?’
‘Yes,’ the priests replied, ‘it becomes defiled.’
14 Then Haggai said, ‘“So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,” declares the Lord. “Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
15 ‘“Now give careful thought to this from this day on – consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. 16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. 18 “From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig-tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
‘“From this day on I will bless you.”’
A. Find Out
- When did this next word come? v.10
- Who was Haggai to ask what, and what was the answer? v.11,12
- What was he then to ask, and with what answer? v.13
- How was that applied? v.14
- What were they now to consider? v.15,18
- How had things been? v.16,17, 19a,b
- How will they be? v.19c
B. Think:
- What point is the Lord making in verses 10 to 14?
- How had that impacted them in the past?
- Yet what does He say about the future?
C. Comment:
Two months pass and a further word comes from the Lord through Haggai. First of all, it comes in the form of questions for the priests, to establish some theological understanding. In verse 11 he simply asks, can holiness be passed on, and the answer is no. Why is that? Because an individual has to consecrate themselves before God – it IS an individual thing. Then he asks, can uncleanness be passed on, and the answer is yes. Why is that? Because sin contaminates and we have to take specific steps to avoid it, or to be cleansed from it when we have been in contact with it. Sin needs renouncing. That was why, up until now, they had not had material prosperity. There is always a direct link between sin and material problems.
But now the word comes from the Lord – from this time on things are going to change. Why? Because the Lord has decreed it, but also because, in line with the first part of the prophecy consecration is an act and the consequences of that act takes time. They had consecrated their lives by their acts of obedience, coming to rebuild at God’s prompting. The fruit of that will come; it may take time, but it will come, the fruit of their obedience. So take heart. Persevere!
D. Application:
- Wilful sin means the withdrawal of God’s blessing.
- Repentance opens the way for restoration.
Passage: Haggai 2:20-23
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 ‘Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 ‘“On that day,” declares the Lord Almighty, “I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,” declares the Lord, “and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the Lord Almighty.’
A. Find Out
- When did this word come? v.20
- Who was Haggai to tell what? v.21
- What will be the outcome? v.22
- What will the Lord do for Zerubbabel? v.23
B. Think:
- What echo is here of previous prophecies?
- How will other kingdoms be affected?
- How will Israel be affected?
C. Comment:
Remember these words are coming from the Lord during the period of the early days of the rebuilding of the Temple, a time when there was opposition. Not only would the builders have been discouraged, but so also would their leader, the governor. Even more so perhaps when Haggai had prophesied there will be a shaking (2:6), he may not have taken in the promise of glory for the Temple, and might be wondering, “So why are we bothering to rebuild?” This present prophecy is God’s answer to such wonderings.
First the Lord reiterates that there is going to come a worldwide shaking. This doesn’t mean an earthquake but a change to world powers. We saw such a shaking at the end of the 20th century with the downfall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Whereas the previous prophecy about a shaking indicated a spiritual outworking, this prophecy reassures the civic governor that this shaking will also have national consequences as well.
Big powerful nations may arise but when God shakes no one is left standing. You don’t have to worry about foreign powers is the message. But it’s more than that! On that day of shaking the Lord will take Zerubbabel and establish him in the place of closest intimacy (a signet ring) and a place of authority in God. Whatever else this might mean, it means that Zerubbabel’s future is assured with the Lord. There is no need for him to worry about the future – it is assured by the Lord. Be at peace, get on with the job!
D. Application:
- God IS sovereign over ALL nations. He is the Lord!
- We need to learn to rest in His sovereign