The Book of Haggai is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. It consists of four brief messages delivered by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua the High Priest. Haggai’s prophetic ministry took place in the second year of King Darius I (520 B.C.), about 16 years after the return of the first group of exiles from Babylon. His primary purpose was tochallenge the people to complete rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, a project which had stalled. The Book of Haggai underscores God’s interest in the temple as the symbol of His enduring presence among His people.
Historical Background
In 586 BC, the Babylonian empire under King Nebuchadnezzar conquered the kingdom of Judah and destroyed the first temple that had been built by Solomon in Jerusalem. Many of the Jews were taken captive and exiled to Babylon. After Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian empire under Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, he issued a decree in 538 BC allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4). Zerubbabel led the first group of returning exiles back to Jerusalem around 536 BC, where they started rebuilding the altar and laying the foundation of the second temple (Ezra 3). However, due to opposition from neighbors and some laziness and discouragement, the rebuilding project stalled for about 16 years.
The Book of Haggai opens up with a message delivered on August 29, 520 BC. Haggai challenges Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the High Priest to rally the people to rebuild the temple. Work on the temple resumed shortly thereafter, and it was completed four years later in 516 BC (Ezra 6:15). Haggai’s profound message was that honoring God and making His worship a priority will bring blessings, while dishonoring God brings adversity.
Summary of the Messages in Haggai
First Message – A Call to Rebuild the Temple (Haggai 1:1-15)
Haggai’s first message, delivered on August 29, 520 BC, was a stern rebuke of the people’s misplaced priorities. They were busy paneled houses for themselves while neglecting God’s house. The prophet confronted the leaders and people about their indifference and urged them to consider their ways. He asked them to look at their situation – they had sown much but harvested little, they ate but were not satisfied, they drank but were still thirsty, they put on clothes but could not get warm. Haggai exhorted them to go up into the mountains, bring wood, and rebuild the temple so that God may take pleasure in it and be glorified. The leaders and people responded positively, and they showed reverence to the Lord. They began work on the temple on September 21, 520 BC.
Second Message – The Promised Glory of the New Temple (Haggai 2:1-9)
About a month after the rebuilding of the temple had begun, on October 17, 520 BC, Haggai delivered his second message. In this message, he encouraged the people who may have been discouraged because the new temple would not be as splendid as the former temple built by Solomon. Haggai assured them that the glory of the new temple would surpass that of Solomon’s temple, because God would fill this temple with His glory. The Lord would shake the heavens and the earth and the nations, and they would come to fill this temple with wealth. Its splendor would come from the presence of the Lord Himself rather than material wealth.
Third Message – Blessings for a Defiled People (Haggai 2:10-19)
Two months after his second prophecy, on December 18, 520 BC, Haggai delivered his third message. The prophet posed a question to the priests – if a person carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, does it transmit holiness to his garment? The priests answered that it does not. Haggai then asked if a person with an unclean garment touches holy meat, does it make the meat unclean. The priests answered that it does. Through this object lesson, Haggai showed that holiness is not contagious but uncleanness is. He drew a parallel to the people – their past sins had rendered them unclean and disqualified them from enjoying the blessings of God’s presence. However, now that they had begun to obey the Lord, He would bless them in spite of their failures. Their past defilement would no longer contaminate them or prevent the Lord from blessing them.
Fourth Message – Zerubbabel the Chosen One (Haggai 2:20-23)
On the same day as his third message, December 18, 520 BC, Haggai delivered a special, personal message directly to Zerubbabel, the governor. He pronounced that on that day God would overthrow royal thrones and shatter the power of foreign kingdoms. He identified Zerubbabel as God’s chosen signet ring, His special representative. Even though Zerubbabel was governor under Persian rule, God would use him to establish His kingdom. This message likely indicates that Zerubbabel was in the line of David, and he was seen as a forerunner to the coming Messiah who would sit on David’s throne and reign forever.
Major Themes
Some of the major themes that emerge in the Book of Haggai are:
- Putting God First. The first and foremost theme is that God’s house and worship must be a top priority. The returnees were reprimanded for neglecting God’s house while building their own houses. Believers must be careful not to crowd God out of first place.
- Obedience. Haggai called the people to obedience, citing their past disobedience as a reason for their adversity. Obedience leads to blessings while disobedience leads to God’s discipline.
- Works. Haggai emphasized action by urging the people to go up to the hills, bring wood, and build God’s house. True faith must be accompanied by works.
- Glory of the Temple. Haggai provided encouragement that the glory of the new temple would surpass that of Solomon’s temple because of God’s presence. The temple represented God’s dwelling among His people.
- Holiness. Haggai showed that while holiness is not transferable, uncleanness is. Sin contaminates while obedience brings cleansing and blessings.
- Messianic Kingdom. The promise to Zerubbabel indicates his key role in restoring the Davidic kingdom which would culminate in the Messiah’s eternal reign.
Outline
The Book of Haggai can be outlined as follows:
- First Message – Call to Rebuild the Temple (Haggai 1:1-15)
- Second Message – The Promised Glory of the New Temple (Haggai 2:1-9)
- Third Message – Blessings for a Defiled People (Haggai 2:10-19)
- Fourth Message – Zerubbabel the Chosen One (Haggai 2:20-23)
Key Verses
Some key verses in Haggai are:
- “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4)
- “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:7-8)
- “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.” (Haggai 2:9)
- “From this day on I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19)
Lessons Learned
Some key lessons that can be learned from the Book of Haggai include:
- God must be central, not secondary, in our lives. Serving Him must take priority over other pursuits.
- Disobedience has consequences. If we neglect God’s work we will not prosper.
- Outward sacrifices and offerings do not substitute for obedience. We must obey from the heart.
- God keeps His promises. His commitment to dwell among His people never changes.
- Our own defilement cannot prevent God from blessing us when we walk in obedience.
- God honors those who honor Him. When we make His house a priority, He blesses our work.
Application
Some key applications from the Book of Haggai include:
- Evaluate priorities. Are we crowding God out with lesser things? He must be first place.
- Commit to obeying God fully. Partial obedience is still disobedience.
- Involvement in God’s work. We each have a role to play in building His kingdom.
- Trust God’s presence. He will never leave us nor forsake us. His glory abides with His people.
- Persist in doing good. Do not allow past failures to discourage you from pressing on in obedience.
- Wait on God’s timing. His promise to establish His eternal kingdom through the Messiah is certain.
Conclusion
In summary, the Book of Haggai contains a timely prophetic message calling the people of God to honor Him with their whole hearts and commit themselves to the work of His kingdom. Although addressed to the Jewish returnees rebuilding the temple, its message applies to believers in every age. The central lesson for all is to love God wholeheartedly, make Him first priority, obey His Word, and trust Him fully. When God’s people honor Him in this way, they position themselves to receive the rich outpouring of His presence and blessings.