Haggai

 

Haggai

After the Persians conquered Babylon, King Cyrus abruptly decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland.

About fifty thousand Jews left Babylon and returned to their homeland to rebuild the temple and restore the nation. They laid the foundation of the temple, but the work was stopped by their enemies and was not resumed until 16 years later by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. (Ezra 1-6).

Haggai’s purpose was to get workers back on the job and to keep them working until the temple was completed. He told the people to be honest and put God’s house before their own houses. He told them to be strong, be clean and be encouraged. He told them that their neglect of the temple was really a neglect of the Lord.

Haggai reminds us that good intentions are not good if our day-to day priorities are wrong. Haggai prophesied the future glory of the temple, the future blessings for God’s people, and the future victory over God’s enemies.

God challenges us to give careful thought to our ways, and our priorities. This is a good thing to do when we find ourselves in a time of disappointment. Discouragement can be a signal that tells us to pause and consider our priorities. The things of God never change, they never disappoint. In God’s will alone can we find fulfillment, satisfaction, and lasting joy our hearts long for.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

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