A contemporary of Zechariah after the exile, Haggai calls the returnees to prioritize rebuilding the Temple of the Lord. The Temple was not only the place of worship but a sign of God’s covenant. As the books closes, the earthly prince Zerubbabel is held up, like David, as a picture of the Messianic Ruler who will come in the future.
Sermon OutlinE
“Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. (Haggai 1:8)
Haggai’s First Message (Haggai 1:1-15a)
- It is time to get out of your paneled houses and rebuild the temple!
Haggai’s Second Message (Haggai 1:15b-2:9)
- Don’t worry that the temple you’re building seems inferior to Solomon’s temple.
Haggai’s Third Message (Haggai 2:10-19)
- It’s easy to fall into sin, so keep your hearts pure as you work on the temple.
Haggai’s Fourth Message (Haggai 2:20-23)
- God will intervene in human history through the line of King David.
Haggai Life Hacks
- Give careful thought to your ways.
- Don’t despise small things.
- Be strong and don’t be afraid.
- Give God pleasure and honor.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- 1. Haggai was one of the few successful prophets – his audience actually listened to him. What other minor prophet was successful in getting the people to heed his words? (Hint: He didn’t want to be successful.)
- 2. Look at Deuteronomy 28:15-19 and see the curses God warned His people He would deliver if they disobeyed Him. How do we see these curses play out in the book of Haggai? (See Haggai 1:6, 10-11 and 2:17)
- 3. God also gave the promise of blessings if his people obeyed him. (See Deuteronomy 28:1-6) Why did God say He would stop the “blight, mildew and hail” and bless His people (Haggai 2:19b)?
- 4. God didn’t give this same blessing and curse promise to the church, so we can’t apply it the same way they could in ancient Israel. But reflect on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” How is our call to put God first similar to the call to the people in Haggai’s day to put God first?
- 5. God allowed Zerubbabel to be appointed governor of Judah by King Cyrus. How might Zerubbabel’s role have helped the people hold on to the hope of a Davidic king?
- 6. The writer of Hebrews quotes Haggai 2:6 in Hebrews 12:26. What does the writer of Hebrews say the Haggai verse refers to?
- 7. Wouldn’t you love to be a signet ring on God’s hand? You’d be safe and secure, and you would know God is using you to write His story. Think about how encouraging Hag 2:23 would have been to Zerubbabel, the prince in the line of David, who wondered if God would still honor His covenant with His people.
- 8. In Haggai 1:13, the Lord tells the people, “I am with you”. If you knew God Almighty was right there with you, is there anything you would be afraid to do?
- 9. Which one of the 4 “Haggai Life Hacks” is speaking to your heart the most?