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Author: Haggai 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Haggai as the Prophet Haggai.Date of Writing: The Book of Haggai was written in approximately 520 B.C.Purpose of Writing: Haggai sought to ch...

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November 15 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt

The book of Haggai was written during the Persian period after the fall of Babylon and seventy years after the fall of Jerusalem. At the time of writing, the temple, that had begun to be rebuilt, was standing unfinished, Ezra 4:23-24. Haggai was one of the prophets calling the people to resume work on it, Ezra 5:1.

Haggai means “my festival.” The root word “chag” can mean “feast” “solemnity,” “sacrifice,” or “victim.” The book seems to be based on his name, as the names of all the writing prophets correspond with their writings. The message of Haggai for the people to rebuild the temple, was so sacrifices could resume, and feast days be celebrated once again.

The book contains four messages from the Lord, each one specifically dated and all within four months in the second year of King Darius of Persia. They are outlined as follows:

Haggai 1:1 - call to commitment, 6th month, 1st day
Haggai 2:1 - call to courage, 7th month, 21st day
Haggai 2:10 - call to consecration, 9th month, 24th day
Haggai 2:20 – call to confidence, 9th month, 24th day

The first call, Haggai 1:1-15, was to energize the people to rebuild. But the people were unconcerned – their luxurious houses were more important to them, Haggai 1:2-3. The delay in building caused God to judge them with drought so that they were not blessed. No fruit meant no offering of sacrifices. The Lord called on them to begin building again, so He would have pleasure and be glorified, Haggai 1:4-11. The people obeyed, “fearing the presence of the Lord,” and God’s house was enthusiastically begun again twenty-three days later, Haggai 1:12-15. It would be completed four years later, Ezra 6:15. 

The second call, Haggai 2:1-9, was to encourage the people. The people were not impressed with the temple not being as glorious as Solomon’s Temple, Haggai 2:2-3. But the Lord assured them of His presence, Haggai 2:4-5. He also revealed that the desire or choicest things of all the Gentiles, shall come as offerings to the temple, Isaiah 60:11, Zephaniah 3:10, Zechariah 14:14. The temple will be filled with glory, and it will be the place that will give peace, Haggai 2:6-9.

The third call, Haggai 2:10-19, was to enlighten the people. They were not cleansed but defiled, and because of this, from the beginning of the temple rebuilding, their harvests had been diminished. But God promised blessing from that day forward, Haggai 2:19.

On the same day that God spoke about holiness, Haggai was given a personal message for the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, Haggai 2:20-23. God purposed to shake the world, overthrowing governments, Hebrews 12:26. But He assured Zerubbabel that he was chosen, and he would be made like a signet ring, which indicated authority and power, just as God had removed the signet ring from royalty, Jeremiah 22:24. 

Haggai’s message was to prepare the people for true festive days, but it meant considering their ways to conform to God’s will.

July 09 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report