Setting the Priorities: A Key to Restoration

An Introduction to the Book of Haggai

What is the key to restoration? It is none other than and nothing less than reconsidering the priorities. Whenever, the people of God set their priorities right and acted accordingly, the results have been spectacular and amazing. This is the message of Haggai, the prophet to the disheartened people of God.

Historical Setting:

Historically, the Babylonian captivity of Judah came to an end by the decree of the Mede - Persian emperor Cyrus. In 538 B.C. Cyrus, King of Persia allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity. The decree was for the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Jerusalem temple. A group of people of God came back with joy and much hope to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah and a descendant of the last legitimate ruler of Judah (Jechoniah). Two years later (536 B.C.) construction on the temple began, led by Zerubbabel. Despite the glorious beginning, after two years (534 B.C.) the work stopped, mired in discouragement and derailed by a lack of focus. The people of God were complacent about the ruined temple and were much enthusiastic about building their own houses, thinking that time has not come to build the temple of God. They reversed their priorities and failed to put God in first place in their lives.

The exiles had been back in Jerusalem for 18 years - but the work of rebuilding the temple lay idle for the last 14 years. This was the situation during the time of Haggai and Zechariah (c. 520 BC).

In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai and he gave this first word in September, 520 B.C (Ezra 5:1-2). Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah and Joshua the son of Jehozadak was the high priest. Then the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them (so we read Ezra 5:1), to reprove them for their remissness, and to encourage them to revive that good work when it had stood still for some time, and to go on with it vigorously, notwithstanding the opposition they met with in it. He exhorted them to turn from the uncleanness of their ways and to trust in God's sovereign power. 

Haggai began two months before Zechariah, who was raised up to second him, that out of the mouth of two witnesses the word might be established. But Zechariah continued longer at the work; for all Haggai's prophecies that are recorded were delivered within four months, in the second year of Darius, between the beginning of the sixth month and the end of the ninth. But we have Zechariah's prophecies dated above two years after (Zechariah 7:1).

When Haggai prophesied the foundation to the temple was laid and the altar was rebuilt but the temple wasn't yet rebuilt. It was finished four years later in 516 B.C. (Ezra 6:15)

The Book of Haggai is a reminder of the problems the people of God faced at this time, how the people courageously trusted in God and how God provided for their needs.

THE name Haggai means "my feast". Haggai was a prophet (Ezra 5:1; 6:14) of the restored remnant after the 70 years' captivity. To hearten, rebuke, and instruct that feeble and divided remnant was the task of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The theme of Haggai is the unfinished temple, and his mission to admonish and encourage the builders.

The elders of the Jews built the temple, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Ezra 6:14)

 

Date and Time line: August 29 to December 18, 520 B.C.

Haggai preached his sermons during the second year of Darius I king of Persia (521-486 B.C.)

Reference	Year of Darius	Month	Date of New Moon	Day	Equivalent Date, BC
Hag. 1:1	second	sixth	29 Aug.	1st	29 Aug. 520
Hag. 1:15				24th	21 Sept. 520
Hag. 2:1		seventh	27 Sept.	21st	17 Oct. 520
Hag. 2:10,20		ninth	25 Nov.	24th	18 Dec. 520

First Return: The first return from Babylonian exile was under Zerubbabel in 538 B.C. when Cyrus was King (539-530) (Ezra 1--6).

• Haggai and Zechariah prophesy and the Temple was completed under Darius I (521-486).

1.      The foundation for the temple was laid in the second year of the return (536 B.C.) (Ezra 3:8-13; 5:16).

2.      Samaritan and Persian resistance ended the rebuilding of the temple for 16 years (until 520 B.C.) (Ezra 4:4-5).

3.      Haggai and Zechariah prophesy from 520-518 B.C. encouraging the nation to rebuild the temple and the Temple was completed in 515 B.C. (Ezra 5--6)

Second Return: The second return from Babylonian exile was under Ezra in 457 B.C. while Artaxexes I Longimanus was King (Ezra 7--10).

Third Return: The third return from Babylonian exile was under Nehemiah in 445/444 B.C. also while Artaxerxes I Longimanus was king (Neh 1--13).

 

Purpose:

1.   To encourage the returned to move from a resigned satisfaction with their return to the land to an expression of faith by making an effort to rebuild the temple

2.   To encourage the reestablishment of temple worship as the nation's main goal

3.   To encourage that Yahweh will bless them and the land as they move towards rebuilding the temple

4.   To encourage that Yahweh has a future place of importance for them in spite of their past rebellion

Application:

1.   To examine our priorities to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures than doing the work of God- in the UESI ministry and in the church.

2.   To reject a defeatist attitude when we run into opposition or discouraging circumstances in our campus ministry.

3.   To confess our failures and seek to live pure lives before God.

4.   To act courageously for God in the campuses because we have the assurance that He is with us always and is in full control of our circumstances.

5.   To rest secure in God's hands knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully serve Him.