Haggai/Commentary

Haggai Introduction

The name Haggai means “festival” or “the joyous one”. Haggai dates his work as “the second year of Darius the king” (1:1), which would be 520 B.C. Four messages are dated in this book, which cover a period of four months (1:1; 2:1,10,20). The theme of the book is “Rebuild the Temple”. Some sixteen years earlier in 536 B.C., about 50,000 Jews had returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel. They erected the altar and proceeded to offer burnt offerings thereon (Ezra 3:2-6). They also gathered materials for the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:1-24). However, due to Samaritan harassment and eventual Persian pressure brought a halt to the rebuilding of the temple. Then spiritual apathy set in; and for about sixteen years until the rule of the Persian king, Darius Hystaspes (521-486 B.C.), the construction of the temple was discontinued. God then raised up Haggai and the prophet Zechariah to encourage the people to finish what they had started (Ezra 5:1-2). Because of the efforts of these two men, the temple was completed in 515 B.C. Haggai clearly knew that God was speaking through him for no less than 25 times in these two short chapters does Haggai affirm the divine authority of his messages.

Time Line

605 B.C. 597 B.C. 586 B.C.

Daniel, friends and others taken into captivity The second group (10,000) are taken to Babylon (Ezekiel 1:1-3) Jerusalem falls; the temple is destroyed (2 Kings 25:1ff) 1

539 B.C. 536 B.C.

Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5) Cyrus issues a decree for the Jews to go back to Jerusalem (Ezra 1; 2 Chron. 36:21-23) 536.520 Construction on the temple starts then ceases 520.515 Work resumes and is finished (Ezra 6:15) 457.458Ezra led a second group of 2058 Jews to Jerusalem (Ezra 8) 444 Nehemiah led a third remnant back (Nehemiah 2)

The Persian Kings CYRUS (559-529): CAMBYSES (529-522):

Conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. Also called “Artaxerxes”, commanded work on the Temple to cease (Ezra 4:7,11,23) DARIUS 1 (522-486): Authorized completion of the temple (Ezra 4:24-6:15) XERXES (485-465): Also called “Ahasuerus”; Esther was his queen ARTAXERXES (465-425): Authorized Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Chapter 1 1:1 Converting the chronological data supplied by Haggai, some have computed that Haggai’s first message was given on August 29th, 520 B.C. This message was specifically addressed to Zerubbabel, who was the grandson of King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3:17-19; Matthew 1:12) (who had been taken into captivity in 597 B.C.), and governor of Judea. The second addressee was Joshua. His grandfather had been slain after the fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:18ff), and he was the current high priest.

1:2 “This people says”: This might be a rebuke to the Jewish people at this time, for God does not say, “My people”, because they were not acting like God’s people. “The language ‘this’ people rather than ‘my’ people suggests contempt for the indifference and lack of action in the community” (Smith p. 494). Their excuse for not working on the temple was that it wasn’t the right time yet.

“Procrastination has always plagued God’s people, both then and now” (Harkrider p. 97).

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1:3-4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”

God’s people must learn to ask such pointed questions when trying to save the lost. If it wasn’t the right time to work on the temple, then why did they have plenty of time to furnish their own homes, even with costly inlaid woodwork?

Their actions said that their own personal comfort was far more important than the temple. The paneling was probably of cedar wood, which might have been the same wood collected for the temple! (Ezra 3:7) “The attitude of this community is in stark contrast with the attitude of David. He could not bear the thought of his God dwelling in a tent while he lived in a palace” (Smith p. 495).

“They were satisfied to worship among ruins while they dwelt in luxurious homes. Shameless selfishness!” (Laetsch p. 388).

How about us? Does the God’s work have to skimp and save, while we buy things that we don’t really need? Who is sacrificing when it comes to our prosperity? Does God have to “make do?” Or, do we give generously and make do? God expects us to put Him first (Matthew 6:33). Notice that time and opportunity can just fly by, for the last 15 years this people had procrastinated and had really done nothing for God. Are we letting life pass us by when it comes to being involved in preaching the gospel and other good works?

1:5 “Consider your ways!” God asks them to give careful and honest attention to their conduct during the past years. “Ought you to continue on your chosen path? Did your refusal to give your money for the Lord’s house pay any dividends? What benefit has catering to your own selfish interests gain for you?”

(Laetsch p. 388).

1:6 “Their hopes for rich harvests from their plentiful sowings were rudely shattered. They did not have enough food and drink to satisfy their hunger and thirst; not enough clothing to keep themselves warm! Even if they earned wages, the prices for the necessities of life were so exorbitant that the money earned seemed to have been put into a bag with holes” (Laetsch p. 388).

This is a great question to ask any sinner or any member who has been unfaithful. “What have you really gained in not serving God?” When we place work or other things ahead of God, we aren’t gaining anything, in fact, we are only losing ground. If someone says, “I can’t afford to give as I should”, we need to remind them that they can’t afford not to give as they should (2 Corinthians 9:6).

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1:7-8 Having rebuked them for what they had not done, God now challenges them with what they should do, that is, rebuild the temple. The need for bringing timber down from the mountains may imply that they had used up for their own houses the lumber purchased for rebuilding the temple a few years before (Ezra 3:7). When we put God first, God is glorified, especially in the eyes of unbelievers. We can’t expect others to be excited about serving God and putting Him first in their lives, if God is last place in ours.

1:9-11 Here is the reason why life had been hard even following Babylonian captivity. God had providentially withheld His physical blessings from the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea because they weren’t putting Him first in their lives (Matthew 6:33). The temple was in ruins, all the while His people were running to their own houses. The Jewish people were zealously concerned about their own homes, and the center of their interest was their own dwelling, not the house of God. What gets us really excited? Does God get the best of our zeal, attention, devotion, dedication, and excitement? Are we more excited about material or earthly things, than seeing that God’s will done? “While laboriously involved with their own affairs the people were neglecting their spiritual responsibilities” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1540).

1:10 ”Through the long, dry summers of the Middle East, the only moisture apart from artificial irrigation was the dew” (Gaebelein p. 582). Consider the longrange ramifications of human rebellion! Every aspect of their lives was impacted before they refused to serve God with all their heart. Can any of us afford to be unfaithful? “All the labor of their hands” was ultimately affected. Craftsmen, for example, could not concentrate on their labors because of the gnawing hunger pangs due to food shortages” (Smith p. 499). None of this should have been a surprise to the Jewish people, for God had promised such consequences if they turned from Him (Leviticus 26:19f; Deut. 28:23f).

The Response 1:12 Notice that showing respect for God means that we obey His voice. No man or woman can claim to take God seriously and at the same time living in violation to His law. “What a gratifying sight it is when spiritual leaders have the wholehearted support of the congregation…Only when the restoration community began to obey the Lord were they worthy to be called ‘the remnant 4

of the people’” (Smith p. 499). Respecting God always means that we recognize that God revealed His word through spokesmen. When we really believe that the Bible is the Word of God—then we are starting to show the proper reverence for God. 1:13 God always gives encouragement to those who are willing to obey Him. This statement also gives the people confidence that they will succeed if they will only trust God. God never gives His people impossible tasks, or tasks that are doomed to failure. Let us keep this in mind when it comes to obeying passages such as Matthew 28:19-20!

1:14 God stirred up the spirit of these individuals through the preaching of Haggai the prophet. The Word of God has always motivated, encouraged, and stimulated good and honest hearts (Acts 2:37). “To know that the Lord is with His people in any enterprise would be motivation enough to make them want to do the work” (Smith p. 501).

1:15 The date when the actual rebuilding was resumed was September 21st, 520 B.C. A period of planning and gathering of materials (1:8) probably preceded the actual reconstruction.

Chapter 2 2:1 The date of this message would have been October 17th, 520 B.C. This was nearly a month after the people had resumed the rebuilding process. “In this period the progress of rebuilding was slow, no doubt because of the laborious task of cleaning up 60 years of rubble and the cessation of work during the numerous festivals of the seventh month” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1541).

2:2-3 The Lord here confronts what was in the minds of some who were working on the temple. Even in the initial stages of reconstruction the people were apparently making insidious comparisons between the restored temple and the glories of Solomon’s temple. The question presupposes that some were living who had seen the first temple. The temple had been destroyed some 66 years earlier in 586 B.C. It seems that some were discouraging the other builders by saying things such as, “What’s the use, it still won’t be as glorious as the “real temple” that I remember”. “How seriously will such complaints hamper the work so necessary for the growth of God’s kingdom!” (Laetsch p. 392). Observe at this point in time, the discouragement came from the older members of the community.

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2:4 Yet if God is with us, there should be no cause for discouragement or frustration! Be impressed that spiritual leaders alone cannot complete such a task, to be successful in this endeavor, everyone had to be strong and of good courage. It is so easy to lose sight of what God wants. God was completely satisfied with a temple that didn’t measure up to the grandeur of Solomon’s temple. Today, God wants good and honest hearts. God is not impressed with numbers or material wealth, rather, God is pleased with faithfulness and a sincere and obedient faith (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

2:5 As the Spirit of God was with the Israelites when they came out of the wilderness, so the Spirit is with them now! Hence, there is no reason for them to fear or be preoccupied by trials, the unknown, the unexpected, or their adversaries. Fearlessness is not an option for God’s people, rather, it is a direct command. The Holy Spirit had guided Moses (Numbers 11:17,25). The Spirit was then in Joshua (27:18), Saul (1 Samuel 10:6,10), and David (16:13). Israel had been given one prophet or inspired man after another, in this sense years later it could be said, “Thou gavest also Thy good Spirit to instruct them” (Nehemiah 9:20). This same Spirit was now presently among them (not mysteriously), but was in men like Haggai who gave them guidance and encouragement from God. In this sense, the Holy Spirit is always among us, in that we have access to God’s inspired Word in the Scriptures. Anytime we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance, all we have to do is read and study.

2:6-7 A major portion of this chapter is now devoted to the future glory of this temple. The term shake was used to denote the political and social disturbances brought about by Babylon (Isaiah 14:16f), and the humbling of proud Egypt with the ten plagues (Exodus 12:23; Psalm 68:7f). Often the terminology here is used to describe the upheavals among nations and their overthrow (Isaiah 13:10,13; 24:18-20; Joel 2:10). Shortly after this time the Persian monarch Darius gave help in building the temple (Ezra 6:6-15). The same thing happened during the reign of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:12-26). In contrast to world empires that can be shaken, the church cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28).

The Hebrew writer notes that the first shaking had taken place at Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:26). Thus, Haggai is speaking of a new era, which will be ushered in with great commotion and upheaval. 1. Great political upheavals took place before Jesus came. The Persian Empire fell to Alexander the Great. The Greek Empire divided after Alexander’s death, and the fragments of that Empire warred among themselves until the Romans conquered the world. 2. The teachings of Christ spiritually and morally shook up the first century world (Acts 6

17:6). 3. Various physical convulsions accompanied the coming of Jesus—the star, darkness at noon when He died on the cross; the earthquake at His resurrection, and the marvelous things that happened on Pentecost. This shaking also involved removing the Old Covenant and the Jewish economy, and establishing the Church, the kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28).

The side reference in the NASV has “or, the desire of all nations will come”, as an alternative rendering of “they will come with the wealth of all nations”. Some see this as a reference to when Jesus came to the temple as a child or adult. The only problem with this is: 1. None of the New Testament writers ever cite this passage in connection with Jesus. 2. The verb “shall come” is plural, and usually when the Hebrew language is talking about a single individual, a singular verb is used.

2:7 “Fill this house with glory”: Some feel that this happened when Jesus taught in this temple. Remember, this temple was a copy of the true house of God, the church (1 Timothy 3:15). The fulfillment of this temple would be far more glorious than even the temple built by Solomon, for its fulfillment would be a spiritual house composing believers of all the nations (1 Peter 2:5).

2:8 Whatever was needed for the temple, God would providentially supply.

God is able to accomplish whatever He purposes. We need to have more confidence in the power of God. If He wants the world evangelized, then such can be accomplished! God can deal with insufficient funds! “They should not, however, worry about the poor offerings which were being brought for the temple project. Earth’s riches already belonged to the Lord. More important to Him than silver and gold is the faithful, obedient, and loving service of His people” (Smith p. 508).

2:9 “In this place I shall give peace”: The spiritual temple that replaced the temple is a relationship in which people find peace with God and each other (Isaiah 2:2-4; Ephesians 2:11-22; Zechariah 6:12-13). The future glory of this temple would be far greater than the grandeur of Solomon’s temple, because the future glory of this temple would be found in the church of the living God. 2:10 The ninth month is our December. Converted to the modern calendar, the date of this third message would be December 18, 520 B.C. By this date, the prophet Zechariah had already started to speak.

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2:11-13 The priests are given a question. They were the teachers of the law, and therefore should be able to answer this question. The first question was, if a person who had been offering sacrifices has consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and this fold touches some non-consecrated food, would the holy meat impart holiness to the object accidentally touched? The answer is “no” (Leviticus 6:27). The second question asks if one is unclean by reason of touching a dead body, will anything they touch become unclean? The answer is “yes” (Numbers 19:22). One powerful lesson from these passages is that impurity is much easier to impart than holiness!

2:14 The application is now made. In like manner, since these people are unclean by reason of their apathy, everything they do, even those things done “in the name of God”, is viewed by God as worship and service which is defiled and corrupt. If we aren’t obeying God, then everything we do in the name of God is viewed as an insult! (Proverbs 15:8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-4; Matthew 6:1ff).

2:15-19 In the three months since the temple work had begun, there had been no improvement in the circumstances of the remnant. Thus even while they were building the temple, the builders had to worry about adequate food supplies. If the situation was desperate in August, it was even worse in December. God promises that He would start blessing them immediately. Thus they would work on the temple without worrying about the coming harvest and whether or not they would have enough to eat in the coming year. If we put God first, the physical things of life will work out for themselves (Matthew 6:32-34).

2:19 “Is the seed still in the barn?” The answer would be “no”. “For the fields had produced so little that what had been produced had been eaten, and what had been kept for planting had already been planted. Likewise the fruit trees and the vines had failed to produce, and this was in spite of all they could do to induce a harvest” (Hailey p. 313). Do we realize that God really does control this world and that He really can take care of us?

2:20 This is the final speech given by Haggai, which happened on the same day as his third speech (2:18).

2:21-22 This is the same promise given in 2:6. God did overthrow all the kingdoms of the ancient world. The expression, “everyone by the sword of another”, means that God used one heathen nation to destroy another, and then raises a third to destroy the former. Thus, Babylon had destroyed Assyrian, 8

Persian destroys Babylon, Greece destroys Persia, and Rome inherits the fragmented Greek Empire. We see the same message in Daniel chapters 2 and 7.

2:23 “A signet was worn on the finger or on a cord fastened round the neck. A signet was equivalent to a signature. Thus Zerubbabel would be God’s signature, His authoritative leader among the remnant. In similar words, God had rejected Zerubbabel’s grandfather, Jehoioachin, from the throne (Jeremiah 22:24). “Thus these words attest the reinstatement of the Davidic line.

Zerubbabel would be God’s pledge that all the ancient promises made to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) would be fulfilled” (Smith p. 513). Jesus was the descendant of Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27).

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