Book of Haggai Why Study 2 Chapters 4

Book of Haggai • Why Study? • 2 Chapters • 4 oracles

History 70 years captivity God’s Promises God’s Command

Zerubbabel returns to Jerusalem to build temple Samaritans and size of foundation discourage (Ezra 3: 12; 4: 4 -5, 24) / People are worldly (Zech 5: 5 -7) 15 Years pass with no work

Haggai sent by God (2 nd year of Darius – Ezra 5: 12) • Haggai’s first address to the people caused them to get back to work! • Four years later, the temple is complete (Ezra 1: 1 compared to 3: 8 and 6: 15)

First Oracle (chapter 1) • God is not pleased • “Consider your ways” • A devastating drought • Go up to the mountain and build • A redirection of the people’s fear • The duty of the “messenger”

Second Oracle – 3. 5 weeks after work began (2: 1 -9) • The former vs the new temple • The Messenger encourages • “Be strong” • God is with you!

Third Oracle – 3 months after work began (2: 1019) • The people of God are unclean • Consider why food supply has not improved • God blesses the people

Fourth Oracle – Same day as rd the 3 (2: 20 -23) God’s promise to Zerubbabel

Concluding Applications • There is no valid excuse for not meeting one’s Christian responsibilities (Romans 1: 20 and 2: 1) • Spiritual sloth (Proverbs 6: 6 -11) • The chastening hand of God (Psalms 32: 4 -5 and Hebrews 12: 5 ff) • The Preacher’s duty in the church is to encourage (Haggai 1: 13; 2: 4 -5) and to make people feel uncomfortable (Haggai 1: 4, 9; 2: 3, 14) so that they achieve the holiness of God (1 Peter 1: 15 -16).