Topical Bible: Prophecy Of Haggai

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Prophecy of Haggai is a significant book in the Old Testament, consisting of two chapters that capture the messages delivered by the prophet Haggai. This prophetic book is set in the post-exilic period, specifically around 520 B.C., during the reign of King Darius of Persia. Haggai's prophecies are primarily concerned with the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.

Historical Context

The historical backdrop of Haggai's prophecy is the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylonian captivity. Under the decree of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. However, the initial enthusiasm for reconstruction waned due to opposition from neighboring peoples and internal apathy. This led to a delay in the rebuilding efforts, which Haggai addresses directly.

Structure and Content

The book of Haggai is composed of four distinct messages, each marked by a specific date, reflecting the precision and urgency of the prophet's mission. These messages are delivered over a span of four months.

1. First Message (Haggai 1:1-11): Haggai begins by confronting the people for their neglect of the Temple. He challenges them to consider their ways, pointing out that their economic hardships are a direct result of their failure to prioritize the house of the Lord. Haggai 1:4-5 states, "Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Think carefully about your ways.'"

2. Second Message (Haggai 1:12-15): The response to Haggai's first message is immediate and positive. Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest, along with the remnant of the people, obey the voice of the Lord. The Lord assures them of His presence, saying, "I am with you, declares the LORD" (Haggai 1:13).

3. Third Message (Haggai 2:1-9): Delivered during the Feast of Tabernacles, this message addresses the discouragement among the people who remember the former glory of Solomon's Temple. Haggai encourages them with a promise of future glory, stating, "The glory of this latter house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of Hosts" (Haggai 2:9).

4. Fourth Message (Haggai 2:10-23): This message contains two parts. The first part (Haggai 2:10-19) deals with the issue of ritual purity and the blessings that will follow obedience. The second part (Haggai 2:20-23) is a personal message to Zerubbabel, affirming his role in God's redemptive plan and symbolizing the restoration of the Davidic line.

Theological Themes

The Prophecy of Haggai emphasizes several key theological themes:

· Obedience and Prioritization: Haggai underscores the importance of putting God's work first. The people's neglect of the Temple is seen as a reflection of their spiritual priorities, and Haggai calls them to realign their focus on God's purposes.

· Divine Presence and Encouragement: The assurance of God's presence is a recurring theme. Despite the challenges, the Lord's promise, "I am with you," serves as a source of strength and motivation for the people.

· Future Glory and Messianic Hope: Haggai's prophecy looks forward to a time when the glory of the Temple will surpass its former state. This is often interpreted as a messianic promise, pointing to the coming of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

· Covenantal Faithfulness: The book highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, particularly in the affirmation of Zerubbabel's role, which connects to the broader narrative of God's redemptive plan through the line of David.

Significance

The Prophecy of Haggai serves as a powerful reminder of the need for spiritual renewal and the prioritization of God's kingdom. It calls believers to trust in God's promises and to actively participate in His work, assured of His presence and future glory.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Prophecy Of Haggai

The style of Haggai is generally tame and prosaic, though at times it rises to the dignity of severe invective when the prophet rebukes his countrymen for their selfish indolence and neglect of God's house. But the brevity of the prophecies is so great, and the poverty of expression which characterizes them so striking, as to give rise to a conjecture, not without reason, that in their present form they are but the outline or summary of the original discourses. They were delivered in the second year of Darius Hystaspes (B.C. 620), at intervals from the 1st day of the 6th month to the 24th day of the 9th month in the same year.

Library

That Haggai's Prophecy, in which He Said that the Glory of the ...
... and other precious things. Therefore the prophecy of Haggai was not fulfilled
in the rebuilding of that temple. For it can never ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 48 that haggais prophecy in.htm

Of the Prophecy of the Three Prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and ...
... Book XVIII. Chapter 35."Of the Prophecy of the Three Prophets, Haggai,
Zechariah, and Malachi. There remain three minor prophets ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 35 of the prophecy of.htm

Haggai
... Post-exilic prophecy has little of the literary or moral power of earlier prophecy,
but it would be very easy to do less than justice to Haggai. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/haggai.htm

That the Jews Ceased to have Prophets after the Rebuilding of the ...
... but was afflicted with many plagues by kings of alien race, and by the Romans
themselves, lest they should fancy that this prophecy of Haggai was fulfilled by ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 45 that the jews ceased.htm

Author's Preface.
... The Decree of Cyrus. Three Expeditions to Jerusalem. Prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah.
Prophecy of Malachi. Story of Esther. Synagogues and Synagogue worship. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tidwell/the bible period by period/authors preface.htm

The Kingdom Restored
... 13:7. IV. General Questions. 1. Compare the beginning of Zechariah's prophecy
with that of Haggai in point of time. 2. Which of ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/vii the kingdom restored.htm

Brave Encouragements
... nothing happened during the history of that Temple to answer to the full meaning
of this prophecy. But was it therefore a delusion that God spoke by Haggai? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/brave encouragements.htm

Zephaniah and Haggai.
... Chapter XXII. Zephaniah and Haggai. Zephaniah. ... His name means "hid of the Lord" in
he is supposed to have been a contemporary of Habakkuk. The Prophecy. ...
/.../chapter xxii zephaniah and haggai.htm

The Law, and the Prophecy.
... The prophets of the restoration are Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. With Malachi
who lived to the time of Nehemiah, the Old Testament prophecy ceased, and ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 10 the law and.htm

Book 15 Footnotes
... The reason why the Christians here followed the Jews is, because of the prophecy
of Haggai, 2:6-9, which they expound of the Messiah's coning to the second or ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 15 footnotes.htm