How to read Haggai

• Description : Four oracles encouraging God's people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem

• Prophet : Haggai, a post-exile prophet in Jerusalem, and a contemporary of Zechariah (see Ezra 5: 1; 6:14)

• Date of prophetic activity: 4 months period of the second year of Darius' reign in Persia (520 BC)

• Emphasis : God's people need to rebuild the temple as a place of God's presence and worship. The current difficulty stems from the failure of this issue. A bright future awaits God and the people of Zerubbabel (hence the line of King David)

Outline of Haggai

     The tenth book of Haggai in the Twelve Minor Prophecy consists of four "word" reports addressed to the governor Zerubbabel, the priest Joshua, and the people of Jerusalem. His main concern is to encourage people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

    The first "word" of the Book of Haggai (1: 1-11) is a recent drought and poor harvest (part of the curse of contract disobedience; see Deuteronomy 28: 20-48), but the asylum seekers returned home. It is announced that it is related to the fact that the house of God could not be built. (Although they had already built their own homes), people responded favorably (Haggai l: 12-15). A month and a half later, the second "word" encourages them to continue working, and the new temple surpasses the first 2: 1-9 temple. The priest's ruling on corruption serves as the basis for the third "word" (verses 10-19), which God promises to bless them "from this day." The final "word" (verses 20-23) is addressed to Zerubbabel, assuring him that God is with him.

Specific advice for reading the book of Haggai

    You can also help reading the Haggai by reading the Ezra l-6, which is the background of the Haggai's words recorded here. After a large group of asylum seekers returned at the behest of Cyrus in 539 BC, they soon rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation for the temple (Ezra3). After that, people stopped working as they built houses and worked on the farm. Well, about 19 years later, the work in the temple has not progressed any further. During that time, they regularly experienced droughts and poor harvests. Through Haggai, Yahweh called attention to the connection between these two realities, they

temple to be rebuilt and encouraged to return to work .

    Please note some features that distinguish Haggai: (1) His oracle is given in a kind of rhythmic prose rather than in a poetic form. (2) They are most often carried by questions (see Malachi), which leads to God's Word to the people (Hugs 1: 4, 9; 2; 3, 12-1, 3, 19). (3) He also makes effective use of repetition-"think carefully" occurs twice in the first and third oracles (1: 5, 7; 2:15, 18). "I am with you" occurs first and second (1:13; 2: 4). "God shakes the heavens and the earth" occurs second and fourth (2: 6,21), echoing Joshua 1: 6-7, 9, 19 and the leader and the people three times. "Be strong" (2: 4). There are obvious advances in the four "words",

     Since the central issue of the Book of Haggai is the reconstruction of the temple, the important role that the temple played in the life of Israel, which served as both a place for God's special being (marking Israel from all others). It's good to remember. And a proper place of worship. See "Specific Advice for Reading Exodus" and the memorandum of Exodus 25-40 (pp. 40-42) to show that the Spirit of God is the way God exists among them. Remember (hence hug 2: 5).

    The specific days and dates given to these oracles are noteworthy. The first (August 29, 520) is given on the first day of the month (of the month), and thus on the setting of the New Moon Festival (number l0: 10; 28:11) and at the time of full maturity of the grain; the second time. (October 17, 520) is held at the end of the Sukkah Festival (Israel Harvest Festival).   Third and fourth growing season for spring harvest (December 18, 520) . All of this was a time when there was no excuse that people were too busy to pay attention to the temple.

    Here we also feel the frequent tensions found in the prophetic tradition between the present reality and God's glorious future. As always, one (current hope) is spoken in the light of the other (future glory). Note how this happens for both the temple (2: 1-5, 6-9) and Zerubbabel (2: 20-22,23). Both are characterized by the apocalyptic sway of the gods of heaven and earth.

Walk the book of Haggai

 1: 1-15

The Call to rebuild the temple 

 Follow the development of this "word". It starts with the settings (v. 1) God's Dissatisfaction with God's People (v.2) and Main Questions (V. 3)-Failed to build God's house despite returning asylum seekers I built it independently. God calls them at the peak of growth To start building his house! This is followed by two "Notes" Oracle about the current drought and why For that (vv. 5-6,7 * ll; drought is one of the curses to break Covenant, Deuteronomy 28: 38-40). Unlike previous prophets The third putt is (Hag l: 12- l5); people's reaction is actually Recorded-and it's positive!

 2: 1-9

Glory of the Second Temple 

You might try to imagine someone over 70 You may have felt when they saw that there was clearly a partially built temple Not like Solomon-and far below Ezekiel's grand vision (Ezek 40-43). Therefore, people are encouraged to "become stronger." Eventually, the second temple will surpass the glory of the first temple (filled) Finally, when taking on the role of the temple while Jesus is standing The court of this temple; John 2: 13-22).

2: 10-19 

A Defiled People Purified and Blessed

Dirty people who have been purified and blessed  Note two questions about fouling / decontamination (w. 10-13) Used as an analogy (vv. L4-l9b) to repeat the essence of 1: 8-11 (Their land is "dirty" because people are "dirty"), poetry 2: l9c reverses the curse-from this day God blesses them.

2: 20-23 

Message to Zerubbabel 

Zerubbabel, the heir to the throne of David, but the governor of the Jewish vassals Persian rule promises a future overthrow of secular power, He becomes God's "seal" (see "Official Seal"; Jer 22: 24-25). The last king of Judas was the abandoned "seal"! )-A word It also positively points to the days of David's great son.

The Book of Haggai reminds us that God's people should be identified as humans

The presence of God (the role of the temple) is finally coming and fulfilled

Of Jesus Christ and the Spirit.