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lesson 35 HAGGAI I. BACKGROUND 1. Author - Haggai the prophet: 1:1; 3; 12-13; 2:10 2. Date - The exhortations took place in 520 B.C. 3. Setting - God sent His people from captivity in Babylon back to Jerusalem specifically to rebuild His Temple in536 B.C. They got there, laid the foundation but were discouraged by their enemies (Ezra 1:4-5; 4:1-5; 24), and quit building. (The Temple was completed four years after these exhortations to work). II. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK 1. Key Verses: 1:2-5; 7-9; 2:3-9 2. Theme - Haggai and Zechariah have been sent by God as prophets to get the Temple rebuilt. The Lord of Hosts is to be glorified in His Temple! 1) By having His people put it before their own homes: 1:9 2) By having even the nations bring wealth to it: 2:7 3) By God giving peace there: 2:9 4) By God blessing the people of the Temple: 2:19 5) By overthrowing the nations opposed to it: 2:21-22 6) By raising up Zerubbabel (Jesus): 2:23 III. ABOUT THE MESSIAH 1. Jesus was a descendant of Zerubbabel: Matthew 1:13 2. Zerubbabel was a shadow: Jesus the reality as: 1) A governor: 1:1; Isaiah 9:6; Acts 3:15; 5:31 2) God's servant: 2:23; Acts 3:13 3) God's chosen: 2:23; Luke 9:35 3. Joshua was a shadow: Jesus the reality as a high priest: 1:1; Hebrews 7:24ff 4. A signet ring: 2:23 IV. APPLICATIONS - LESSONS 1. Put the Lord's house first: 1:4, 9 2. When things (crops, clothes, wages, etc.) don't go as far as they should, check to see if God is saying, "Consider your ways." 3. Take courage, work for the Lord (don't be afraid of enemies) 1) God is the Lord of Hosts: 1:5 2) He is with us: 1:13 3) He can stir up the people's spirit to work: 1:14 4) His spirit is with us: 2:5 5) He will bless and glorify our efforts: 2:7 6) He will make us sufficient for the work at hand: 1:13ff 4. Obey and give reverence to the Lord of Hosts: 1:12 5. Speak the message of God, not your own message. "Thus says the Lord" is used one way or another 26 times in the 38 verses of Haggai. HAGGAI QUESTIONS 1. What is the Lord's temple today? 2. How can we put it first in a practical way? 3. If things go bad for us, is it always because we are sinning? 4. Why do you say "yes" or why do you say "no"? 5. What things do our enemies tend to prevent us from doing? 6. How does the message of Haggai help overcome these things? 7. How do we know whether the message we speak is ours or God's? 8. If we speak God's message and if it doesn't motivate the brethren as well as Haggai's did, is it our fault? Why? |