Haggai 1 — The Command to Rebuild the Temple
Haggai 2 — The Coming Glory of the Temple
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The book of Haggai is located toward the end of the Old Testament, but is more like an appendix to Ezra chapter 5 where we read, “Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them” (Ezra 5:1). Haggai’s mission is to stir the people into action through the word from the Lord, “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4). Haggai’s argument was persuasive because it was precise, “the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai because the Lord their God had sent him” (1:12).
Further, Haggai (through the word of the Lord) encourages the leaders responsible of the remnant charged with rebuilding the temple, “I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel…and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you” (2:23). Wow! That’s what I’d like to hear so clearly! Tell me Lord, what have you chosen me to do? No doubt Zerubbabel was fired up and fully charged to lead the rebuilding project now!
For the people as well, “Be strong, all you people of the land…and work for I am with you…do not fear” (2:4-5). God is indeed with them; they just need encouragement! “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house” (2:9).
Fueled with this prophesy, the exiled return and the temple is rebuilt. Such a short book, yet I would think they would read this over and over again (at least in Zerubbabel’s house) as they worked through the difficult daily tasks of rebuilding the temple.
It’s easy to be motivated by vision, but difficult to perform the daily tasks required to turn the vision into reality. Lord thank you for planting visions and dreams for your people in the past as well as for your people today. God give us courage to do the daily chores to bring about your vision, the wisdom to know what is most important and the fortitude to persevere when the labor is tough.