Haggai 2
The Glory of the Latter House.This section records a message sent on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, about a month after the work on the temple began. The builders were encouraged to continue their work with strength and courage. God promises fresh encouragement to those who serve Him faithfully. When the work begins, God helps to keep it going.v. 1: The date of this message is given. The builders had already worked for about a month since the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. This shows that those who serve God earnestly receive new encouragement from Him to keep going. v. 2: The message is directed to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of the people who had already obeyed God’s voice and whose spirits God had stirred up to work (Haggai 1:12; Haggai 1:14 a). The encouragement is given to those who had been wounded by the previous reproofs, to heal and strengthen them. v. 3: The people were discouraged because this temple was not as grand as Solomon’s temple. Many remembered the former temple’s splendor, its gold, precious stones, pillars, and magnificent porch (Ezra 3:12 b). This made the work difficult, as some compared the present to the past and felt the new temple was “as nothing” in comparison . This kind of thinking can discourage good work and cause people to lose heart. v. 4: Despite the discouragement, God tells Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people to be strong and keep working . Even if the new temple is not as magnificent as the old, they should do their best and encourage one another to continue. Those who work for God should be vigorous and hopeful. v. 5: God gives reasons to not fear. First, He promises His presence: Be strong, for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts . This promise repeats what was said earlier (Haggai 1:13 c). God’s presence as the Lord of hosts is enough to overcome fear and discouragement. Though enemies may be many, God’s covenant faithfulness and His Spirit remain with His people (Nehemiah 9:20; Ezra 1:5 d; Psalm 119:32 e). v. 6-7: God announces the coming of the Messiah, saying, Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; ... and I will fill this house with glory (Haggai 2:6-7 f). The Messiah is near, and His coming will bring great change. God will shake the world just as He did at Sinai and when He led Israel out of Egypt. This shaking will prepare the way for the Messiah’s kingdom, which will bring blessings to all nations. – v. 8-9: God says that silver and gold belong to Him, and He will fill the new temple with glory that surpasses Solomon’s temple (Haggai 2:8-9 g). Though the temple may seem less grand outwardly, God’s presence and the future glory of the Messiah will make it far greater. The true glory of the temple is its connection to God and Christ, not its physical beauty. – v. 10–15: This message from God was delivered by Haggai two months after the previous one. At this time, the people were working hard to build the temple. The priests and Levites regularly taught the people, while prophets like Haggai spoke on special occasions. Both roles were important. God sent this message to encourage the people and remind them to obey Him at all times, not just during special moments. God promises peace in the temple’s place (Haggai 2:10-15 h). Though troubles may continue, the temple will be a place of God’s peace, especially through Christ, who is the Prince of Peace (John 14:27; Ephesians 2:14 i). v. 11: God told Haggai to ask the priests about the laws regarding what is clean and unclean. The priests were responsible for knowing and teaching God’s laws (Malachi 2:7 j). Even though Haggai was a prophet, he had to consult the priests for matters of the law, showing that everyone in God's service has their own special role. God gives different gifts to different people, and they need to work together. Haggai’s question would also help the priests and people see their own spiritual problems, just as the law was meant to teach both about sin and the way to be made right with God (Leviticus 10:10-11 k). v. 12: Haggai asked if carrying holy meat in the fold of a garment could make other food holy if it touched it. The priests answered no. Even if the garment touched something holy, it would not spread holiness to other things. According to the law, only what God made holy was truly holy, and holiness was not easily shared just by contact (Leviticus 6:27 l). v. 13: Then Haggai asked if someone unclean by touching a dead body could make other things unclean by touching them. The priests answered yes. The law clearly said that uncleanness spreads easily (Numbers 19:22 m). It is much easier to become unclean than to become holy. This is important for us too: being around good people does not make us good, but being involved with bad things can quickly hurt us. We should be careful to avoid what is wrong. v. 14: Haggai applied these lessons to the people. He said, "So is this people, and so is this nation, before me." God did not call them "my people" because they were not acting like His people. They thought their sacrifices would make everything right, even though they had not finished building the temple. But God said their disobedience and neglect made everything they did unclean—even their sacrifices and work. If their hearts were not right, their good actions could not make them pure. This is true for us, too. If we do religious things but live in a wrong way, our actions do not make us right with God. We must be careful not to spoil good work with bad attitudes or actions. v. 15-17: God reminded the people to think about what happened before they started rebuilding the temple. They had planted crops and expected good harvests, but they always got less than they hoped for. For example, someone expected twenty measures of grain but found only ten, or looked for fifty measures of wine and got only twenty (Haggai 1:9 n). God had sent troubles like bad weather, mildew, and hail to ruin their crops. He did this because they ignored His temple. But the people did not turn back to God even after these problems (Isaiah 9:12-13 o). God wanted them to see that when they neglected His work, nothing in their lives went well. – – v. 18-19: God then told them to look at what would happen from this day onward, now that they had started rebuilding the temple. Even though the seeds were still in the barns and the fruit trees had not yet produced, God promised, "From this day I will bless you." Nature did not guarantee a good harvest, but God did. When they began to do what was right, God promised to bless their efforts. Obeying God would bring a clear change for the better in their lives. God did not say exactly how He would bless them, but His blessing would be enough to make them truly happy and prosperous (Malachi 3:10 p). When we make it a priority to serve God, we can expect His blessing. Those who are wise will notice how God’s kindness follows those who choose to do what is right. – Encouraging Promises; A Promise to Zerubbabel. On the same day that Haggai spoke to the people, God gave him a special message for Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. Zerubbabel was an important leader who cared deeply about his nation and its future. While the people worried about their fields and crops, Zerubbabel thought about the safety of the community, the power of other nations, and what would happen to the small group of Jews under his care. God wanted him to know that He would take care of him and the people, no matter what happened around them. v. 21-22: God told Haggai to speak directly to Zerubbabel. He warned that there would soon be great changes and troubles among the nations: I will shake the heavens and the earth (Haggai 2:21 q). This message was repeated from earlier (Haggai 2:6-7 r). God said that the kingdoms of the world would be overthrown. Even strong nations would lose their power; their chariots and armies would be defeated, and even their closest allies would turn against each other. God wanted Zerubbabel to know that, even if the world seemed full of chaos, God was in control. This is a warning to all who oppose God and a promise that God will one day defeat all evil and set up His kingdom. It also points forward to Jesus defeating sin and evil forever (1 Corinthians 15:24 s). – v. 23: God gave Zerubbabel a personal promise of protection. Even when everything was being shaken, God would keep him safe. Zerubbabel had worked hard to build God’s house, and so God promised to honor him and his family, just as He once honored David. God called Zerubbabel my servant, which was a special title used for faithful leaders like Moses and David. God also said, I have chosen you, showing that Zerubbabel had a special role in God’s plan (1 Peter 2:4 t). God promised to make Zerubbabel like a signet ring—a precious and important object that showed favor and authority. Even though Zerubbabel’s ancestor Jeconiah had lost this honor (Jeremiah 22:24 u), now God was giving it to Zerubbabel. Most of all, this promise points forward to Jesus, who would come from Zerubbabel’s family and become the true chosen King. Jesus is the one who is closest to God, who has all authority, and in whom all God’s promises come true (2 Corinthians 1:20 v).
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