by Keith Sharp
Author
Haggai wrote the book named for him. His name means “festive” or “festival.” He was a prophet of God who returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem from Babylon (536 B.C.) after Cyrus, King of Persia, issued the decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland following the Babylonian captivity (538 B.C.). Haggai and Zechariah were the two prophets to that generation (Ezra 5:1-2).
Date
Haggai began to prophesy in the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia, i.e., 520 B.C. (1:1).
Background
42,360 Jews traveled from Chaldea to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel the governor (Ezra 2:1,64). Led by Joshua the high priest, they immediately restored Temple worship (Ezra 3:2) and began rebuilding the Temple Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed in 586 B.C. (Ezra 3:8-13).
The Israelites built themselves houses, but, due to opposition from their Gentile neighbors, they ceased work on the Temple (1:2-4; Ezra chapter 4). Since they put their own comfort ahead of the Lord, God did not bless them, and they were in great distress (1:5-11).
Message
Haggai, as Obadiah and Nahum, had a single message. His cry was, “build the temple” (1:8). Haggai did not use eloquence, but relied on the authority of the Lord. Twenty-six times in the thirty-eight verse book he appeals to the Lord as the source of his message.
As Old Testament Israel, we must put the Lord and His kingdom ahead of our personal comfort and success (Matthew 6:19-34).
Success
Haggai was eminently successful. Twenty-three days after his first prophecy the people began again to rebuild the Temple (1:12-15). Four years later it was complete (Ezra 6:14-16). Haggai promised great honor for the Temple and for Zerubbabel (2:1-9,20-23).
