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THEBOOKOFHAGGAI
Lesson2,Chapter1
OpenyourBiblestoHaggaichapter1.Thisisashortchapter,thatisstraightto
thepoint,andsowe’llbeabletocompleteitinthisonelesson.Thatsaid,there
aresometechnicaldetails,andsomeambiguouswordsthatwewillattemptto
dealwith,hopefullytogainsomeclarityandbetterunderstanding.
READHAGGAICHAPTER1all
Immediatelywegetthepragmatic,unemotionalapproachHaggaiwastakingin
recordinghisprophecy:itwouldrevolvearoundachronologicallyandhistorically
basedstructure.Togetusoriented,hesaysthatitwasduringthe6
th
monthof
the2
nd
yearofthereignofKingDariusthatwhathe’sabouttoreport,happened.
Whywouldhechoosethiswaytoexplainthetimeframe?Becausetherewasno
suchthingasauniversallyappliedcalendarinthosedays.
WhenwereadtodayofaneventhappeningonsuchandsuchB.C.,forexample,
thatismerelyamodernwayofemployingamodernchronologytoanancient
timetohelpusgetahandleonit.But,obviously,nosocietyhadapre-Christ
calendarsystem.Rather,differentkindsofcalendarswereemployedfor
differentusesbasedondifferentthings.HereinHaggai,thetypeofcalendar
systemiscalledRegnal.Itisbasedonthetimeacertainkingreigned,anditis
nevercomparedtoacalendarthatismoregeneral.Thus,thewaysuchadateis
statedisintotalrelationtotheperiodoftimeacertainkingserved.Theday
whenthekingtoreplaceanotherkingwasenthroned,thecalendarwasreset,
anditwouldsayday1ofyear1ofthereignofsoandso.So,everynationwould
haveacalendarsystembasedonthereignoftheirownking,andnotwosystems
wouldlineupwithoneanother.
Inourcase,thewordsdonotmeantosaythatitwas6monthsintothe2
nd
year
ofDarius’sreign.Ratheritmeansthatinthe2
nd
yearofDarius’sreign,itwasthe
6
th
monthoftheHebrewciviccalendarthatYehovehspokethroughHaggai.The
6
th
monthisElul,aboutourmonthofSeptember.Sincethiswasthenorthern
hemisphere,thenthiswaslatesummer/earlyfallintheagriculturalcycle.
HarvestingwasunderwayinYehud,butthewinterfallowseasonwasn’tfaroff.

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DariusistheEnglish-izedversionofhisPersianname,Daryavesh.Darius
followedCambyses,whofollowedCyrusaskingsofPersia.So,thisaddressof
GodtoHaggaiwouldcorrespondto520B.C.inourmodernwayofreckoningit.
OneofmyfavoriteOldTestamentscholars,CharlesL.Feinberg,pointsoutthat
becauseHaggaiisdatinghisreceptionofGod’soracleaccordingtoagentile,and
notaHebrew,king,thenthissurelymeansthatthe“timesortheageofthe
gentiles”thatwereadofinLuke’sGospelaccountwasalreadyunderway.
CJB
Luke21:22-24
22
Forthesearethedaysofvengeance,wheneverythingthat
hasbeenwrittenintheTanakhwillcometrue.
23
Whataterribletimeitwillbefor
pregnantwomenandnursingmothers!Fortherewillbegreatdistressinthe
Landandjudgmentonthepeople.
24
Somewillfallbytheedgeofthesword,
otherswillbecarriedintoallthecountriesoftheGoyim,andYerushalayimwillbe
trampleddownbytheGoyimuntiltheageoftheGoyimhasrunitscourse.
Whatthismeansisthattheageofthegentilesismucholderthanitistypically
spokenas.ItalsomeansthatinYeshua’stimeonearth,He,too,waslivinginthe
ageofthegentiles.Asitstands,verylikelywearestilllivinginit.Thereissome
hintintheBiblethatwhenJerusalemisnolongertrampledonbygentilesthatit
willsignalthattheageofthegentileshascometoaclose.Whileitistruethat
JerusalemwastakenawayfromtheArabworldbyIsraelin1967,therealityis
thattheTempleMountisstillconsideredMuslimjurisdiction,andthatEast
JerusalemisalsosomewhatseparatefromtherestofJerusalem.So,my
conclusionis,we’renotquitethereyet.
Verse1explainsthatwhatcametoHaggaiwassomethingcalled“thewordof
Yehoveh”.TherootHebrewwordisdabar,andhereitmeans“tospeak”.When
thewordsdabarandYehoveharecoupledinHolyScripture,itformsacompound
termthatmeansapropheticrevelation.IwanttoalertyouthatnearlyallBibles
willobscurethismeaningbysayinginstead,“thewordoftheLord”.I’ve
explainedinthepastthatthisisanintentionalmistranslationbyChristianBible
translatorsofverysimple,muchusedHebrewwords.TheHebrewwordforlord
isadonai.Thatisnotwhatispresenthere.RatherthewordisinHebrewspelled
yud-heh-vav-heh…Yehoveh…God’sformalname.Sowhytranslateitincorrectly?
BecauseintheNewTestament,themostcommonreferencetoJesusisLord.

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Thus,whenweread“TheLord”intheOldTestament,theintentisforourminds
tothinkofGodtheSonratherthanGodtheFather,becausetheConstantinian
ChurchhasfromitsinceptionattemptedtophaseoutGodtheFatherasbutthe
GodofJews,whileGodtheSonistheGodoftheChristians.
We’regoingtoseguefromverse1forjustafewmomentsinorderformeto
explainthebackdropofhowtheHebrewsviewedtheentireconceptofprophetic
revelation,whichcontainsanimportantelementthatwetypicallydon’tknow
anythingabout,andwhichbothJewishandChristianscholarshavechosento
dancearoundbecauseitcausessomedoctrinalconflictswithinbothofthose
faithswhenitisacknowledged.
Theentireconceptof“thewordofYehoveh”comesfromtherealmandlanguage
ofancientroyalcourts.Thisisatypicalwordformulaforadiscussionordecree
ofakingtohisroyalcouncil,uponwhichtheroyalcouncilwouldvalidatethe
messageasauthentic,andthendeliverittothepeople.Inotherwords,fromthe
ancientHebrewmindset,whenGodannouncedanoracle,itfirstwaspresented
toHisHeavenlyDivineCouncil,andthenfromtheCouncilitwasdeliveredtoits
earthlyrecipients.ThisissomethingIhavespokenaboutinothersofmylessons
ontheMinorProphetsatgreaterdepththanIwilltoday.But,thebottomlineis
thattheHolyScripturesareclearthatthereisaDivineCouncilinHeaven
consistingofthehighestcasteofdivinebeingswhoarecalledinHebrewelohim.
DespitewhatisstandardlingowithinChristianity,elohimdoesNOTmean“God”.
Genericallyitmeanssomethinglike“divinebeings”.So,biblicallyspeaking,God
isportrayedasthehighestoftheelohim,whositsabovetheDivineCouncilof
elohim.But,sincetheDivineCouncilelohimarecreatedbeings,yetGodis
self-existent,thenitisnotmeanttosaythatGodisasuper-elohimanymore
thanGodisasuper-humanbeing.Ratheritisthatsinceelohimisthenameof
theofficeoftherulingadministrativecasteofHeaven,andYehovehsitsasthe
ultimateruleroverthatDivineCouncil,thenHecanbethoughtofasTheHighest
ElohimeventhoughHeisofadifferentandhighertypeandsubstancethanthe
otherelohim.And,infact,werunacrossthetermforGodasTheHighestElohim
onseveraloccasionsintheBible.
Thus,Israelitethought,andtheirliteraturesees,Godasthegreatjudgeorking
whoproclaimsHisoraclesto,andinconsultationwith,theDivineCouncil.I’mnot

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goingtodebateexactlyhowthisprocessworks,becausewe’renottold.However,
therealityisthattheacknowledgementandeffectoftheexistenceandoperation
oftheDivineCouncilinconcertwithGodisdeeplyembeddedinbiblicalprophecy,
issimplytakenasagivenbytheProphetsthemselves,aswellastheIsraelites
whoheardorreadthoseprophecies.Thisishowweneedtounderstandwhatis
beingsaid,challengingasthatmightbe.
WhatisinterestingisthatthisscenarioI’vejustdescribedisbroughttolifequite
vividlyinZechariahchapter3.Andso,whenIfinishHaggai,andthenwemove
quicklyontoZechariah,I’llspendmoretimewithitwhenwegettoZechariah3.
OK.Backtoverse1.
TheoraclefromHeavenwasthroughHaggai,butitwastoZerubbabeland
Joshua.ZerubbabelwasacommonBabyloniannamethatmeant“seedof
Babylon”.Therefore,tofurtheridentifyhimwelearnthathisfather’snamewas
Shaltiel.ItappearsthatthisZerubbabel,governorofYehud,wasactuallya
descendantofKingDavid,andthegrandsonoftheexiledKingJehoiachin.So,
althoughhewasappointedbytheKingofPersia,theJudeansacceptedhimas
legitimatebecausehewasoftheproperlineage.Itissimilarfortheothernamed
Jewishofficial,Johsua,whowastheHighPriest.He,too,wasappointedbythe
KingofPersia,butbecausehehewasoftheproperHighPriestlineage,sothe
JudeanswerefullyonboardwithhimbeingtheHighPriest.Clearly,thePersian
monarchywantedtodowhatwasrightandacceptablefromtheperspectiveof
theJudeanexiles…amagnanimousandenlightenedgesturetobesure.
Nearlyalwaysinthepast,aProphetwasassignedtoaking.So,theProphet
wouldbringGod’smessagetoaparticularking.HaggaiwasnotbriningGod’s
messagetoaking,butrathertoagovernorandanappointedHighPriest.This
demonstratesthatwhileZerubbabelandJoshuahadameasureofauthorityover
theresidentsofYehud,theywereinnowaytheultimateauthorityasaking
represents.Thepeoplewerefullyawareofthis.
ItiscommonamongBibleexpositorstosaythatZerubbabelisjustanother
nameforSheshbazzar(SheshbazzarwastheappointedgovernorofYehud
duringthefirstwaveofJewishimmigrationbacktoYehud).Thisisnotcorrect.
SheshbazzariseithertheuncleorthebrotherofZerubbabel…2differentpeople.

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Oneofthereasonsforthisdiscrepancyisbecauseinthe1Chronicleschapter3
lineageofKingDavid,wedon’tfindaSheshbazzarlisted,butwedofinda
Shenazzar.Thereislittledoubtthatthisissimplyacopyist’smisspelling,and
ShenazzarisactuallySheshbazzar.
TheEnglishnameJoshuaisspelledtwodifferentwaysinHebrew.Pronouncingit
phonetically,onewayisYehoshua,andtheotherwayisYeshua.Youheardthat
correctly.IfonewantedtomoreproperlysayOurSaviorYeshua’snamein
English,itwouldbeJoshuaandnotJesus.Translateditmeans“Yehovehsaves”.
Haven’thearditthatway?Thinkabouttheramificationsifthisweretobe
acknowledgedbytheChurch,andthatwillhelpyouinunderstandingwhyonly
rarelyisChrist’snameexplainedintermsofitsmeaning,andthenitisusually
saidtomean“Godsaves”.SinceYehovehisthenamethatatMt.SinaiGodsaid
wasHisformalname,andsinceYehovehandYeshuaareclearlytwodifferent
entities,spokenaboutseparatelyintheBible,thenitsaysthatChrist’sname
meansthatGodtheFathersaves.Now,tobeintellectuallyhonest,aperson’s
nameusuallymeanttoputforwardahoped-forattributeofthatperson,butit
didn’tmeanthatliterallythatperson(possessingwhatevername)actuallyfully
exhibitedthecharacteristicsthatthenameimplies.
SoastocompletethatthoughtaboutYeshuaandthemeaningofHisnameas
“Yehovehsaves”,thebestwayI’velearnedtoexplainexactlywhatitisthat
YeshuarepresentsinHisroleintheGodhead,isbydefiningHimas“God’ssaving
will”.Thatis,astheHolySpiritcanbesaidtorepresenttheteachingand
comfortingwillofGod,soYeshuacanbesaidtorepresentGod’sdesireand
vehicletosavehumanity.
Verse2beginswiththesamemistranslationusedbynearlyallBibleversions
saying“Lordofhosts”ratherthantheliteral“Yehovehofhosts”.So,thisisstill
referringtheoraclegiverasTheFather,orastheHebrewsofthatdaywould
havementallypicturedit,GodasthesupremeheadoftheHeavenlyDivine
Council.
Thecruxofverse2isasarebukeofthosereturnedJewishexilesfortheir
indifferencetowardsrebuildingGod’sHouse.Asarationalizationfortheirlackof
concern,theysaidthatitjustwasn’ttime,yet,torestarttheproject.Whatwould

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havemadeittherighttimefromtheirviewpointisn’tstated.Itistruethatwhen
thatfirstwaveofreturningJewsarrived,theyfacedalargelydisagreeableand
unwelcomingbunchofrelativelynewresidents,manyofwhichwere
Samaritans…thatis,ahybridHebrew/gentilepeoplethatmigratedtoJudahfrom
theformerNorthernKingdomofEphriam/Israel.And,thosedisagreeable
residentskeptfindingwaystosubverttheeffortstorebuildtheTemple,leading
totheJudeansabandoningit.Therealityisthatdespitealltheloftyreligioustalk
theymadetooneanotherupinBabylon,ofwantingtoreturntotheirhomeland
primarilytorebuildtheTempleandstarttheservicesagaininordertorestore
fellowshipwithGod,itwasreallyfarmoreabouttheirpersonalinterests,no
doubtreclaimingfamilyfarms,vineyardsandorchardsasthepriority.Hadthey
exercisedfaithmightGodhavedealtwiththeSamaritans,andprovidedenough
funding,tocompletetheproject?There’snowaytoknowforcertain.However,
clearly,GodwasmostdispleasedwithHispeopleforhavinglittleinterestin
gettingbacktoworkonHisHousenowthatconditionshadchangedforthe
better.
ItisrathertellingthatGodsays“thispeopleissaying”ratherthan“Mypeople
aresaying”.Itisn’tthatGodhasdisownedthemasmuchasitisexpressingHis
disgustatthem.BynowthejobofrebuildingtheTemplehadbeenstoppedfor
15years!
InHisoracletoZerubbabel,Joshuaandthepeople,Godaskswhatcanprobably
belabeledarhetoricalquestiontingedinsarcasm.Itisessentiallythis:yousay
itisn’ttherighttimeforyoutorebuildMyHousethatlayinruins,butInoticeyou
foundittimeforyoutorebuildyourownhousesusingfineandexpensive
materialslikewoodpaneling.Thecontrastisn’treallyaboutthenicematerials
thepeopleusedtobuildtheirhomeswith.Rather,itisbetweenthatwhichis
finished,andthatwhichisn’t.Thepeople’shousesarefinishedandtheyare
settledinthem,butGod’shouseisunfished.
InresponsetoHisownlargelyrhetoricalquestion,GodcontinuesHisupbraiding
ofHispeople.TheCJBsaysthatGodtellstheJudeansto“thinkaboutyourlives”.
MostotherEnglishtranslationscounterwith“Consideryourways”.Whatitsays
literallyis:“Setyourhearttoyourways”.Sincebiblically“heart”means“mind”
insuchacontext,thentheinstructionisfortheJudeanstothinkabouttheir

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conduct,withtheinherentmeaningtorealizewhattheyhavebeendoingby
ignoringrebuildingtheTempleisselfishandnotevenasbeneficialtotheirown
bestinterestsasthey’dliketobelieve.IlikethewaythatJ.H.Michaelisputsit:
thepeopleshouldponder“yourdesignsandactions,andtheirconsequences”.
Indeed,verse6goesontospellouttheconsequencesforthepeople’sneglectto
rebuildGod’sHouse.They’vesownplentyofseed,butthecropyieldissmall.
Theyoughttohaveenoughfood,buttheyhavetorationwhattheyhave…they
justdon’thaveenoughfoodtofullysatisfytheirappetites.Theyhavesomewine
todrink,butnotenoughtogetjoyouslytipsy.Theyhaveclothing,butnot
enoughtokeepthemproperlycomfortableandwarm.And,thereisworktobe
hadinordertohaveanincome,butthatmoneydoesn’teverseemtogofar
enoughtoproperlycarefortheirfamilies.Inotherwords,insteadofabundance
andgainthereturnedexilesarefacinglackinmostareasoftheirlives.The
peoplearenotfaringwellatall;anditisadirectresultoftheirlackofenthusiasm
forrebuildingGod’sTemple.
Althoughthisisn’talessonontithingandgiving,theBibletellsusthattheresults
ofgiving,ornotgiving,areratherironicinoutcome.GivingtoGod’sministryand
towardshelpingothersbringstangiblerewards.Onemightfeelthatgivingwill
simplydepletewhatwehavetospendonourownneeds,suchthatbynotgiving
itallowsustohavemoreforthethingswewant.Icannotsaythatinsome
instancesthatmightbeso.Butoftenasnot,theresultsaretheopposite.For
reasonshardtofathom,givingtendstoactuallybenefitthegiverintangible
ways.Itcouldbeassimpleasourmoneysomehowgoingfarther.Ourmaterial
possessionssomehowlastinglonger.Ourlaborssomehowproducingmore.Or,it
mightbeamatterofhavingagreatersenseofwell-beingorhavingactually
betterwell-being.Yes,sincetithingisacommandmentofGod,thenitisan
obligationandnotanoption.Ofcourse,Goddoesn’tstandoverustocollect.
I’mcertainlynotonetopreachtheProsperityDoctrinebecauseIthinkitis
nonsenseatbest,andhypocriticalatworst.TheProsperityDoctrinewouldhave
usgivefornothingbutselfishmotives.But,wearealsoshownthroughoutGod’s
Wordthatgivingintherightattitudeandmotivationcan,andusuallydoes,result
inpersonalbenefit.ThestoryhereinHaggaiisaboutGod’speopledecidingnot
togiveandGodissaying,solookattheresultofyourdisobedienceandlackof
faithfulness.

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Inverse8,Godsaystogettowork!GogetthewoodnecessaryfortheTemple.
InthisHewillbeglorified.We’vealreadydiscussedwhy,onapracticallevel,a
Templeisanecessaryandongoingsymbolofthecovenantpeople’sagreement
tobeincovenantwithYehoveh.AndthattheTempleiswhereGodintendson
havingfellowshipwithHispeople.So,whileGodbeingproperlyglorifiedby
havingtheTemperebuilt,andhavingacloserleveloffellowshipwithHispeople,
areparamount…atthesametimeHeisprescribinghowthepeoplecanmove
fromtheirpresentstateofinsufficiencytoplenty.Itisalltiedtogether.Yet,let’s
notoverlooksomesimplewordsthatalsoimpactwhyGodwantsHisTempleto
berebuilt.
ItistowardstheendofthisversewhereGodsaysHewantstheTemplesothat
Hewillbeglorified.TheRSVtranslatesthismoreliterallyanditcomesoutthis
way:
RSV
Haggai1:8Gouptothehillsandbringwoodandbuildthehouse,thatImay
takepleasureinitandthatImayappearinmyglory,
Here’sthething;whatdoesitmeanforGodtoappearinHisglory?Wetypically
takethistomean“inHissplendor”orsomesuchapproach.Idon’tthinkthat’s
correct.Wehavetogobacktothedayswhenthisoraclewasgiven,andthe
conceptsintheHebrews’andintheothernations’mindsaboutgodsandtemples.
TheideawasthatthegloryofGodwasbutanothermanifestationofGodinthe
samewaythatChristiansthinkofHisSonoroftheHolySpiritasother
manifestationsofGod.Thatis,weneedtocapitalizethewordGlorybecauseitis
apropernoun…itisanameofadivineentity.God’sGloryintheTemplewasthat
manifestationofHimthatindicatedHispower,Hispresence,andHispleasurein
beingthere.Afineexampleofthisiswhenwereadaboutacloudfillingupthe
sanctuaryinSolomon’sTempleonthedayitwasinauguratedintoserviceThat
cloudwasGod’svisibleGlory.So…theideaisthatGodWANTStobepresentin
theTempleintheformofHisGlory,butthatobviouslycan’thappenuntilthe
Templeisrebuilt.Andrightnow,thereisnothingbutafoundationthathasbeen
leftabandonedfor15years.

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Verse9,then,isactuallypronouncingadoublecurseonthesereturnedexilesas
theconsequenceoftheirsinofnotputtingGodfirstandbuildingHisTemple.God
saysthatyouhadhighexpectationsforyourincomesofproduceandlabor,but
insteadyougotlittle.And,whatlittleyoudidgetyoutookithomeand(likechaff
inawind)Godblewitaway.Curse1,littleresultsofthefruitsoftheirlabors.
Curse2,whatlittletheydidgetdidn’tstretchasfarasitshouldhave.And,so
thatthepeopleareveryclearastowhythisishappening,thefinalwordsofthis
versereiterateit.
CJB
Haggai1:9...Why?'asksADONAI-Tzva'ot.'Becausemyhouseliesinruins,
whileeveryoneofyourunstotakecareofhisownhouse
CarolandEricMeyersofferanalternativereadingofverse9thatIthinkhas
muchmerit.WhenIfirstbegantolookatthischapterinearnest,Iwasstruckby
thewordsthatspokeofGodblowingsomethingaway.Ican’trecallanything
anywhereelseintheBiblethatphrasesGod’sthoughtsorwordsinsuchaway.
Andwhenthathappens,weneedtolookcloserathowtheHebrewisbeing
translatedbecauseeithertherehasbeenacopyisterrorhandeddowninthe
Hebrew,orthetranslationisoffthemarkprobablyduetonotunderstandingthe
ancientcontext.
Where,inthemiddleofverse9,virtuallyeveryBibletranslationreads,“…when
youbroughtithome,Iblewitaway”,theMeyers’sayitoughttoread,“…what
youhavebroughttotheHouse,Ihaveblownaway”.Inotherwords,itisnot
referringtosomeone’shome,butratheritisreferringtowhatthepeoplebrought
totheAltarastheirsacrifices,andthecontextisprobablyspeakingoftheir
firstfruitssacrifices,whichGodhasrefusedtoaccept.Thatis,weneedtorealize
thattheAltarwasinoperationeveniftheTemplebuildingitselfhadnotyetbeen
rebuilt.TheHighPriest,Joshua,aswellastheotherpriestsandthepeople
assumedthattheycouldsacrificeusingtheAltar(whichwouldhavebeenrather
cheapandeasytoreconstruct),withouttheexistenceoftheTemplesanctuary.
WhenwereadintheTorahofGodacceptingthesacrificesofHispeopleit
sometimesspeaksofGodfigurativelyinhalingthesmokeofthesacrificeandthe
sweetsmellbeingpleasingtoHim.ThismeansthatHeisacceptingthesacrifices
thatHecommandedbeperformedbecausethepeoplewerebeingobedientin
doingthem,andindoingthesacrificesproperly.Here,Goddoesn’tinhalethe

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smokeanddeclareitsweet,insteadHeblowsthesmokeawayfromHimselfasa
signofHisnon-acceptance.Imustadmit,inadditiontothisalternativereading
beinggrammaticallypossible,itmakesmoresense.Theassumptionhasalways
beenthatofananalogytoawindthatblowschaffaway,butthat’sallithasever
been…anassumption…becausethereisnothinginthisversethatexplicitly
makesthatconnection.WhileIhavemypreferentialreadingasitbeingabout
sacrificesthatGodrefusestoaccept,bynomeansamIamcertainofit,evenif
thecontextallowsforthatunderstandingbetterthanthemoretraditional
interpretation.
Further,ifthisalternativereadingiscorrect,thenthismeansthatthe2
nd
ofthe
2cursesisnotaboutfoodnotstretchingsufficientlyforthepeople,butratherit
isthatGodwon’taccepttheirsacrifices.And,thatisreallyseriousbecauseit
meansGod’speoplehavebeendeceivingthemselvesintothinkingtheycanuse
theAltarwithoutputtingtheTemplebackintooperation.
Verses10and11continuewithGodexplainingthe“why”ofIsrael’scontinuing
lackofbasicnecessitiesthathavehauntedandconfoundedthepeople.The
problemisthatthelandisn’tproducingasitshould,andthisisprimarilybecause
notenoughrainisfallingorattherighttimes.Iremindyouthatthisprophetic
oracleisbeinggivenduringthelatesummer/earlyfallharvesttime.Obviously,
theharvestiscominginmostdisappointing,somethingI’msurethefarmers
alreadyknewwasgoingtohappenastheywatchedtheircropsnotthrive.God
cursedthelandwithadrought,whetherontheplainsorthehills.Nowherein
Yehudwastheirenoughrain.Thus,everymannerofproducefromgraintoolive
oiltowinehasbeennegativelyaffected.Humanswereaffectedaswellas
animals.Thismeansthatevendrinkingwaterhadbecomescarce.Whatis
emphasizedisthatGoddidthisaspunishment;itwasnotcoincidenceanditwas
notmerelysomerandomweathercycle.
Thenthereisthis:thebulkoftheJewswhoreturnedtotheirhomelandhadbeen
bornincaptivity.Theyknewnothingofthelandandclimateconditionsthattheir
parentshadbeensentawayfrom,norhowfarmingwasaccomplishedthere.Up
inBabylon,agriculturethatusedirrigationtechniquesreliedlessonrainfalland
sotheirannualyieldsweremoreevenandpredictable.Withoutdoubtthosewho
returnedseriouslyoverestimatedthecropyieldstheycouldexpect,andwereso

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veryconcernedtoseetheirfields,orchards,andvineyardswitheringup,having
noremedyforit.WhatGodsaidthroughHaggailikelywouldhavehadmuch
impactonthemasthefollowingversestellusitdid.
Verse12saysthatasaresultofwhatwashappeningtotheirfoodsupply,and
whatHaggaisaidabouttheirlackbeingdirectlyconnectedtonotrebuildingthe
Temple,theJewishleadershipandthepeopleofYehudfinallypaidattentionto
whatGodsaidandchangedtheirways.But,asisthehumanway,theydidn’t
changeuntiltheyhadexhaustedallhumanmeansoftryingtosolveaproblemon
theirown.Untilconditionsbecamedireenough,theirearsandheartswere
closed.Peopleoffaith,wedon’thavetobethisway.Wedon’thavetodespairor
sufferuntilwecometotheendofourselvesbeforewesincerelyseekGod,open
towhatHeshowsus.Yet,always…itwillinvolveourobedience.Notobedienceto
somesubjective,intangiblethoughtsthatwearesureiscomingfromGod,but
ratherobediencetoGod’swrittencodeofconductandmoralitythatHesetdown
3300yearsago.IfourwalkwithGodteachesusonething,itisthatbyliving
righteouslyinHiseyes,thentherestwilltakecareofitself.However,inthe
midstofcontinuingdisobedience,wewillnotseekGodorwewillattemptto
operateoutsideofHiscovenantprovisions,whichmeansnothingwillchangefor
thebetter.
Itisinterestingthatverse12saysthatthepeoplewerefilledwiththefearofGod
whentheyfinallylistenedtoHaggai.I’dliketotalkonthismatterforalongtime,
butI’llrestrainmyselfandcomerighttothepoint.FearingGodcarriesadouble
meaningintheBible.It’smeanstohaveallegiancetoHim,anditalsomeansto
haveahealthytrepidationaboutgoingagainstHimorbeingdisobedienttoHim.
ThemodernChurchhasoverturnedthisbiblicalrealityandsaidthatwithJesus,
wenolongerneedtofearGod.Thatisafalsedoctrine.Godhasabsolutepower
overus,andovereverything.HewillreactagainstusifHedeemswedeserveit,
whetherwebelieveinChristasSaviorornot.Ifthatdoesn’tbringabouta
healthyfearthenyoudon’tbelievewhattheHolyScripturestellusaboutGod.
Andthat,dearfriends,isverydangerous.
CJB
Proverbs9:10ThefearofADONAIisthebeginningofwisdom...

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Haggaiisamessenger.God’swilliscommunicatedtoHispeoplethroughHis
Prophets,andhereGodismakingitclearthatHaggaiisGod’sauthorized
messenger.SincetheendofthePropheticera,becausewenowhaveGod’s
communicatedwordtousinwriting,thentobeaProphetandamessenger
meanstoteachpeopleGod’swrittenWord.Therefore,forIsraeltoignorethe
Prophets’messagestothem,isthesameasusignoringGod’swrittenWord.
Attheendofverse13whenGodsays“Iamwithyou”,itisnotanicetymeantto
givethepeoplesomeintangiblecomfortoremotionalsupport.Rather,invariably
intheBibleithastodowithIsraelbeingtangiblyprotectedfromsicknessorfrom
anenemy,oritisabouthavingtheprovisionofsufficientwaterandfood.So,
whenGodsaystoIsrael(ortosomeothergroup)Iwillnotbewithyou,itmeans
theopposite.
Verse14isstraightforwardenoughinitsessence:theleadersZerubbabeland
Joshua,alongwiththecommonfolks,becameinvigoratedaboutrebuildingthe
Temple.TheverseliterallysaysHaggai’smessage“rousedthespirit”ofthe
leadersandthepeople.Itmeansanarousaltoaction.TheLordfilledthe
returneeswithenergyandenthusiasmto,together,doataskthatuptonowhad
beenneglected.So,aswereadinverse15,workbegananewontheTemple
preciselyonthe24
th
dayofthe6
th
month,themonthofElul.Ithadbeenonly23
dayssinceHaggaiconfrontedthepeoplewithGod’smessage.Welearnthat
whenGodmovesinourhearts,itisnearlyimpossibleforustositstill;wesimply
mustact.
Nodoubt,duringthose3weeksmuchdiscussionwithinthegovernment,and
withcertainrepresentativesofthepeople,tookplace.Then,preparationshadto
bemadetogetconstructionunderway.Itisreallyquiteremarkableforsucha
hugedecisiontobemadeandputintoactioninbut23days,butsuchisthe
powerofthePropheticWord.Someyearsago,Ispokeaboutthepowerofthe
PropheticWord.TherealityisthatGod’swilltodosomethingexistedlongbefore
itwasbroughttoaction.Whatbroughtittoaction?ThePropheticWord.Once
God’sPropheticWordisspoken,theactionphasebeginsanditisunchangeable
andunstoppable.

Lesson2-HaggaiChapter1
13/13
ThisappliestotheEndTimesPropheticWordaswell.Allthatwereadofthe
variousProphets’wordsabouttheEndTimeshavesetthewheelsofitsreality
intomotion.Letmebeclear:thepronouncementofthePropheticWordisthe
powerandthemomentthatGod’swillissetintomotion.Humanitymaynothave
noticedit,norinsomecasesnoticedthelongandslowprocessofitheading
towardsfulfillment;butrestassureditishappening.
Nexttimewe’llopenupthesomewhatlongerchapter2oftheBookofHaggai.