A Summary of the Book of Haggai | GotQuestions.org

In today's video we're going to survey and briefly summarize the book of Haggai.

Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the.

End.

As for the Author, Haggai chapter 1 verse 1 identifies the author of the book of Haggai as the

prophet Haggai.

As for the Date of Writing, the book of Haggai was written approximately 520 B .C.

Now for the Purpose of Writing.

Haggai sought to challenge the people of God concerning their priorities.

He called them to reverence and glorify God by building the temple in spite of the local and official

opposition.

Haggai called them not to be discouraged because this temple would not be quite as richly decorated as

Solomon's.

He exhorted them to turn from the uncleanness of their ways and to trust in God's sovereign power.

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.

Here are some key verses.

Haggai chapter 1 verse 4, Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled

houses while this house remains.

A ruin?

Haggai chapter 1 verses 5 -6.

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says, Give careful thought to your ways.

You have planted much, but have harvested little.

You eat, but never have enough.

You drink, but never have your fill.

You put on clothes, but are not warm.

You earn wages only to put them in a purse with holes in it.

Haggai chapter 2 verse 9,.

The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty.

And in this place I will grant peace, declares the Lord Almighty.

Now for a brief summary.

Will the people of God reconsider their priorities, take courage, and act on the basis of God's promises?

God sought to warn the people to heed His words.

Not only did God warn them, but He also offered promises through His servant Haggai to motivate them to

follow Him.

Because the people of God reversed their priorities and failed to put God in first place in their lives, Judah

was sent into Babylonian exile.

In response to Daniel's prayer and in fulfillment of God's promises, God directed Cyrus the

Persian king to allow the Jews in exile to go back to Jerusalem.

A group of Jews returned to their land with great joy, put God first in their lives, worshiped him,

and began to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem without the aid of the local people who lived in Israel.

Their courageous faith was met with opposition from the local people, as well as the Persian government for

approximately fifteen years.

As for foreshadowings, as with most of the books of the minor prophets, Haggai ends with promises of

restoration and blessing.

In the last verse, Haggai chapter 2 verse 23, God uses a distinctly Messianic title in

reference to Zerubbabel, My servant.

Compare 2 Samuel 3 verse 18 and Ezekiel 37 verses 24

-25.

Through Haggai, God promises to make him like a signet ring, which was a symbol of honor, authority, and

power, somewhat like a king's scepter used to seal letters and decrees.

Zerubbabel, as God's signet ring, represents the house of David and the resumption of the Messianic line

interrupted by the exile.

Zerubbabel re -established the Davidic line of kings, which would culminate in the millennial reign of Christ.

Zerubbabel appears in the line of Christ on both Joseph's side and Mary's side Matthew 1 verse

12 and Luke 3 verse 27.

Here's some practical application.

The book of Haggai draws attention to common problems most people face even today.

Haggai asks us, first, to examine our priorities, to see if we are more interested in our own

pleasures than doing the work of God, second, to reject a defeatist attitude when we run into

opposition or discouraging circumstances, third, to confess our failures and seek to

live pure lives before God, fourth, to act courageously for God because we have the

assurance that He is with us always and is in full control of our circumstances, and fifth,

to rest secure in God's hands, knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully

serve Him.

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