Greetings to you all greatly beloved of God and welcome to another episode of our study of the Scriptures. We bless the name of the Lord God for His many blessings over us. Praise be to God! Happy Sunday to you all.
In our today’s episode 623, we shall be examining the book of Haggai titled:
Shocking! Haggai Rebuked The People About Their Misplaced Priorities
The book of Haggai was authored by Haggai himself according to Chapter 1:1 and was written around 520 B.C.
Prophet Haggai happened to be the first post-exilic Minor Prophets to speak about the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Out of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Bible, the first nine prophesied before the people of Judah were carried off into captivity, while the last three Minor Prophets, namely Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi spoke to those who were repatriated back to Jerusalem after 70 years of excruciating experience in captivity.
All that was left for them in Jerusalem was the ruins of Jerusalem, the remnant of the people, and the task of restoring the city wall and the temple.
Around 538 B.C. it was Cyrus, the King of Persia that issued a decree which allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity (Remember Isaiah already prophesied about this more than 100 years before Cyrus was born) Read Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1-end. Two years later (536 BC), they began the rebuilding of the temple, which was led by Zerubbabel.
Two years into the construction work (around 534 BC), the work stopped and was neglected for about fourteen years.
Then in 520 BC, Prophet Haggai began to prophesy against the people, rebuking them for neglecting the work of God. They claimed it was not yet time to rebuild the temple, whereas they were living in well-built houses, while leaving the temple in ruins.
With the threat from Haggai, they resumed work on site and the project was completed four years later in 516 BC. You will find this in Ezra 6:15.
Chapter 2 gives us some more hints as to why the people neglected the work of rebuilding the temple. They were discouraged because there were some older people who witnessed the greatness and magnificence of Solomon’s temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians and comparing it with this new design became dispirited and discouraged claiming that this new design was inferior to the type architectural design they had during Solomon’s time.
That was one of the major reasons the construction work was stopped around 534 BC and for fourteen years, they could not do anything.
No wonder Ezra 3:12 says:
Many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of clans had seen the first Temple, and as they watched the foundation of this Temple being laid, they cried and wailed. But the others who were there shouted for joy.
So, in order to boost their morale so the work could continue, prophet Haggai assured them they should not be moved by the size of beauty of the new design that the glory of this new temple would be greater than that of the first (during the Solomon’s time).
Haggai was figuratively telling them about the New Covenant that would eventually be unveiled which will transcend the Old Covenant. Read Haggai 2:1-9.
The concluding verses contain the prophesy relating to the powerful transformations that should take place by the setting up of the kingdom of Christ under the type of Zerubbabel. Read Haggai 2:20-23.
How does this apply to New Covenant Believers?
Likewise, with most of the books of the minor prophets, the book of Haggai closes with assurances of total restoration. In the last section, Haggai 2:23, God utilizes a particularly messianic title concerning Zerubbabel. He says, “My Servant”.
Reading 2 Samuel 3:18; 1 Kings 11:34; Isaiah 42:1–9; and Ezekiel 37:24,25 will shed more light on this.
In verse 23, God says He would appoint Zerubbabel to rule in His name. He says, “You are the one I have chosen.”
True to this prophesy, Zerubbabel shows up in the lineage of Christ on both Joseph’s side according to Matthew 1:12 and his wife, Mary’s side according to Luke 3:27.
Lesson to learn from the book of Haggai
1. How are we setting our priorities nowadays? Are we more interested in our own selfish agenda rather than pleasing God? What has God asked us to do that we have abandoned? Think about this and amend where necessary.
2. How often do we quickly and easily give up when we are faced with difficulties and challenges? We must remember that if we do not give up in the face of challenges, the result will be great and will make us forget all our past disappointments.
3. We should learn to admit our failures, learn from it and move on to live a life that is pleasing in the eyes of God. We must always remember that God sees us, and He is fully in control of whatever might come our way. He will never forsake His own.
4. There are situations where we need to take our stand for God and act fearlessly and He will surely defend us.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let’s pray:
I declare, every principality and power fighting to discourage you from achieving God’s plan for your life, they are dismantled and pulled down right now, in Jesus name.
Every form of delay ravaging that project you have laid your hands upon to complete, such delays are removed. Receive a special anointing for accelerated completion, in Jesus name.
Every good thing that you have lost in the past, the Lord God is bringing about a very powerful restoration into your life right now, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Revelation Chapters 17, 18, 19&20 with Isaiah 64-65
I call you blessed now and always.
Sunday December 27, 2020 (DDMI)
