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CHAPTER 37 – Haggai: 520 B.C.-Eden Restored

Haggai is the thirty-seventh book of the Bible. The title of the book in the Hebrew Bible is Chaggai meaning “festal” or” festive.” The English title “Haggai” comes from the Hebrew Bible.

Authorship

The prophet Haggai is the author of the book of Haggai. It was written no earlier than 520 B.C.

Summary

The book of Haggai covers the period 520 B.C. to the future time when the earth is restored to the beauty of the garden of Eden. It consists of Haggai’s four messages from God to the Jews, who had returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem and its surrounding cities, over the 3½ months from about August 29, 520 B.C. to December 18, 520 B.C.

In his first message, Haggai states that God reproves the Jews for attending to the building of their own houses while the Lord’s house, the Temple of God, lay in ruins. God says that because of their neglect there has been a drought upon the land. In response, their leader, Zerubbabel, and Joshua the high priest, along with the people obey God and Haggai, the prophet, and they begin to build the house (the Temple) of the Lord God.

In Haggai’s second message some three weeks later, God then says to the people through Haggai, “I am with you.” In his third message, about four weeks later, God speaks to those who had seen the Temple in its first glory, and who now feel that this new Temple is as nothing in comparison to the first Temple.

God urges all the people to be strong and work, for I, God, am with you. In addition, God says that the Desire of All Nations (Christ) shall come and fill this house (Temple) with glory, and the glory of this latter house (Temple) shall be greater than the former.

In Haggai’s fourth message some nine weeks later, God recounts the Jews’ past disobedience to Him. God also says that as of this day that the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid, I, God, will bless you.

On the same day, God speaks to Zerubbabel through Haggai saying that I will overthrow the thrones of the other nations. Also, in that day I, God, will make you, Zerubbabel, a signet (a ring with a seal, that is, an object of great importance, authority, and value) for I, God, have chosen thee Zerubbabel.

Themes

• Neglect to work in God’s cause on earth.
• A curse from God for not taking up the work of God on earth.
• A call from God to work in His cause on earth.
• A prompt and eager response of obedience to God’s call to work in His cause.
• Active cooperation among people in the work of God.
• The assurance of God’s blessing for those who faithfully work in His cause.
• A promise from God that Christ, The Desire of All Nations, would come to the Temple of God and, thus, fill it with glory.
• Encouragement from God strengthening the hands of those working in His cause on earth.
• A promise from God to the individual that their faithful service for God will be richly rewarded with eternal life from God.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God calls all humanity to work in His cause on earth.
• God is pleased with and blesses those who faithfully work in His cause on earth.
• God curses those who profess to be His people and yet neglect to do service for God.
• God encourages and strengthens the hands of those working in His cause on earth.
• God repeats His promise that Christ, the Deliverer from sin, would come to the earth.
• God promises that those who do faithful service for God will be rewarded with eternal life from Him.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

After the Media-Persians had conquered Babylon in 539 B.C., the Jews in Babylon were allowed to return their homeland by Cyrus king of Persia in 536 B.C.

“The whole congregation together [of Jews that returned from exile] was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore [sixty], beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.” Ezra 2:64, 65. This was a total of approximately 50,000 Jews who returned.

Shortly afterwards, “the builders [of the Jews] laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD [God].” Ezra 3:10. However, “the people of the land weakened the hands of the people [Jews] of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” Ezra 4:4, 5.

Work on the Temple gradually slowed down until it virtually ceased mainly due to the continued opposition and hindrance of the Samaritans. The enemies of the Jews finally secured a royal decree to stop the work at Jerusalem on the Temple. Thus, the discouraged returning exiles turned to working their own plots of land and to building houses for themselves.

“Then [God raised up] the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, [who] prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel…and Jeshua [Joshua]…and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.” Ezra 5:1, 2.

“And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it [in 515 B.C.], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” Ezra 6:14.

In the course of time it happened that “the child [that was born]…was called JESUS…and…they brought him to Jerusalem [to the Temple], to present him to the Lord [God].” Luke 2:21, 22. Thus, as promised, Jesus Christ came to His Temple in 5 B.C.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Obey God’s call to work for Him with promptness and eagerness.
• Give faithful service to God and you will receive eternal life.
• Cooperate with others working in the cause of God on earth.
• Do not be discouraged by opposition to your service for God.

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