Knowing God through the Book of Haggai

The Book of Haggai
(Haggai: rebuild the House; Ezra: restore the Law; Nehemiah: rebuild the wall)

WHAT
Background: Ezra 1:1 -4:5; 4:24-6:22

Work had started on the temple on the issue of Cyrus' edict, in 537. However, the work lapsed in the face of the opposition of the mixed peoples who had remained in the land during the long captivity, and who feared the restoration of Jewish power.

Cyrus had died in battle in 530, and the armies of his tyrannical son Cambyses had marched through the land on their way to subdue Egypt . They would have laid tribute on its produce as they went, impoverishing its inhabitants yet further.

In 522, Cambyses himself died, and an ambitious but nobler man, Darius, an officer of his armies and himself of royal stock, seized power. It is at the beginning of his reign that Haggai prophesies. Ezr4:5; 4:24-5:2; 6:14


WHO - The Main Characters
* Haggai – Prophet
* King Darius
* Zerubbabel – Governer of Judah
* Joshua – High Priest


HOW to use the book to know God more / grow as a believer
Personal: Consider our ways and return to putting God first. Trust in God's provision for our lives even as we do His work and put him first. (Hag 2:8 don't worry about finance)

Corporate: Pray for the word of the Lord to come. Stir up the hearts of the believers (the Anna's, Mary's, songbirds, musicians, helpers etc) to come and build the House.

- The word of the Lord came (6 times)
- Thus says the Lord of Host (13 times)
- Says the Lord (6 times)
- Consider your ways (5 times)


WHY - Purpose of the Book

4 Prophetic Messages

- Call to build the House (Hag 1)
- Encourage the people to build the house through the prophet Haggai (Hag 2:1-9) -> be strong
- Blessings of obedience (Hag 2:10-19; 15-17)
- Assurance to Zerubbabel (Hag 2: 20-23) -> God's encouragement to the leader