Rebuke for negligence; Haggai was trying to encourage them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple and to overcome the outward harassment and conflict against them. This is why they had not been prospering. It brought a quick response from the people. (c/o Marilyn Hickey Ministries)
With help from www.biblegateway.com
CHAPTER 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
2 “This is what the LORD of armies [a]says: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”’”
3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house remains desolate?” NICE HOME, BAD LOOKING CHURCH
5 Now then, the LORD of armies says this: “[b]Consider your ways! WE NEED TO DO THIS.
6 You have sown much, only to [c]harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for [d]anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.” WE ARE NEVER HAPPY, “THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.”
7 The LORD of armies says this: “[e]Consider your ways! 2ND TIME HE SAID IT.
8 Go up to the [f]mountains, bring wood, and rebuild the [g]temple, that I may be pleased with it and be honored,” says the LORD. JESUS IS HERE, WE NEED TO RESPECT / HONOR HIM.
9 “You [h]start an ambitious project, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the LORD of armies. “It is because of My house which remains desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. NOT JUST THE CHURCH, BUT THE PEOPLE INSIDE IT, TOO.
10 Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld [i]its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. THERE WAS PUNISHMENT FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THE CHURCH.
11 And I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on mankind, on cattle, and on all the products of the labor of [j]your hands.” THIS IS A REASON BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO US.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, just as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people [k]showed reverence for the LORD. WE NEED TO LISTEN, OBEY AND HAVE REVERENCE.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke [l]by the commission of the LORD to the people, saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the LORD.” “WHERE 2 OR 3 HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME I AM THERE IN THEIR MIDST.” MATTHEW 18:20 “thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” PSALM 22: 31 COME, HOLY SPIRIT!
4 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of armies, their God, WHAT STIRS OUR SPIRIT? FOR WHOM DO WE HAVE COMPASSION?
15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.
Footnotes
a. Haggai 1:2 Lit says, saying
b. Haggai 1:5 Lit Set your heart on
c. Haggai 1:6 Lit bring in
d. Haggai 1:6 Lit him
e. Haggai 1:7 Lit Set your heart on
f. Haggai 1:8 Lit mountain
g. Haggai 1:8 Lit house
h. Haggai 1:9 Lit turn to much
i. Haggai 1:10 Lit from dew
j. Haggai 1:11 Lit palms
k. Haggai 1:12 Lit feared before
l. Haggai 1:13 Or with the commissioned message
The Builders Encouraged / Call to courage / Political and spiritual leaders / Address to priests / Separation / Word for Zerubbabel / Symbol of Jesus Christ
Zerubbabel was the political leader and Joshua was the spiritual leader of Jerusalem. Haggai called upon them to be strong because of God’s covenant and God’s presence among them. (Our) temple won’t be as beautiful as Solomon’s but its glory will be greater because of the presence of the Son of God and His earthly ministry. Separate yourselves unto the Lord. (c/o Marilyn Hickey Ministries)
CHAPTER 2 1. On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this [a]temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? [b]Does it not seem to you like nothing [c]in comparison? DON’T FORGET THE PAST.
4 But now [d]take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of armies. FAITH = RISK; DON’T BE LAZY.
5 ‘As for the [e]promise which I [f]made you when you came out of Egypt, [g]My Spirit remains in your midst; do not fear!’ FRUIT (GAL 5) GIFTS (1 COR 12, ROM 12, EPH 4)
6 For this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Once more [h]in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. WHO KNOWS WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN? IT WON’T BE PEACEFUL NEXT TIME.
7 I will shake all the nations; and [i]they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of armies. PEOPLE GROUPS; SOME MADE A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO COVID (25% RETURN).
8 ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of armies. ALL IS HIS.
9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of armies, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the LORD of armies.” OURS WILL BE BETTER THAN THE OLD TESTATMENT /NEW TESTAMENT. THAT’S A STRONG STATEMENT!
10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 “The LORD of armies says this: ‘Now ask the priests for a [j]ruling: THEY WERE JUDGES. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR PASTOR TO SENTENCE YOU?
12 If someone carries holy meat in the [k]fold of his garment, and touches bread with [l]this fold, or touches cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a [m]corpse touches any of these things, will the latter become unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will become unclean.”
14 Then Haggai responded and said, “‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. WE ARE UNCLEAN TO GOD. I HAD PRAYER ABOUT THIS IN 1987 OR SO.
15 But now, do [n]consider from this day [o]onward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,
16 [p]from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty [q]measures, there would be only twenty.
17 I struck you and every work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; [r]yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the LORD. WHEN WE ARE PERSECUTED DO WE TURN TO GOD? IT’S INCREASING IN THE WORLD FOR CHRISTIANS. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/01/13/one-in-eight-christians-worldwide-live-in-countries-where-they-would-be-persecuted/?sh=75d781065016
18 ‘Do [s]consider from this day [t]onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, [u]consider:
19 Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.’” AMEN!
20 Then the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THINGS GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
Haggai is seen as a prophetic symbol of Christ (Haggai 2:22)
22 And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the [v]nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, every one by the sword of another.’
23 ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD of armies, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like a [w]signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the LORD of armies. PREDESTINATION VS. FREEWILL
Haggai 2:3 Lit house
Haggai 2:3 Lit Is it not in your eyes like
Haggai 2:3 Lit like it
Haggai 2:4 Lit be strong
Haggai 2:5 Lit word
Haggai 2:5 Lit cut with
Haggai 2:5 Or while My Spirit was standing
Haggai 2:6 Lit it is a little
Haggai 2:7 Another reading is the wealth of all nations will come
Haggai 2:11 Lit law; or saying
Haggai 2:12 Lit wing
Haggai 2:12 Lit his wing
Haggai 2:13 Lit soul
Haggai 2:15 Lit set your heart
Haggai 2:15 Or backward
Haggai 2:16 Lit since they were
Haggai 2:16 Lit troughs
Haggai 2:17 As in LXX; MT but you were not to Me
Haggai 2:18 Lit set your heart
Haggai 2:18 Or backward
Haggai 2:18 Lit set your heart
Haggai 2:22 Or Gentiles
Haggai 2:23 Or seal
