HAGGAI
Week 5: “The weight of God’s presence in our work”
STUDY GUIDE
Haggai 2:1-9 CSB
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people:
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
4 Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel — this is the Lord ’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land — this is the Lord ’s declaration. Work! For I am with you — the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
5 This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’”
6 For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies.
8 “The silver and gold belong to me” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
9 “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Armies. “I will provide peace in this place” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
God stepped in, speaking through Haggai: “Be strong… I am with you” (Haggai 2:4).
God promised that the glory of this new temple would surpass the former, not because of its
1: Comparison Kills Motivation.
“Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” (Haggai 2:3)
Comparison destroys our ability to see the true value of what
“My (God’s) presence in your work.”
• God has given you a unique purpose, and your significance comes from His presence.
• Ask God to help you see the value in your work, no matter how small it seems.
• God’s presence in your life and work is what makes it significant.
2: Be strong: Maintain the right mindset
“be strong” 3 times for Work!
God’s
Haggai 2:4:
• First, directed to Zerubbabel: “Be strong, O Zerubbabel…”
• Second, directed to Joshua: “Be strong, O Joshua…”
• Third, directed to all the people: “Be strong, all you people of the land…”
ḥazaq (Strong):
• Root Meaning: ḥazaq means “to be strong,” “to strengthen,” “to make firm,” or “to take courage.”
• Contextual Meaning in Haggai 2:4: command for the people to be mentally and spiritually strong, to stand firm in their work, and to trust in God’s power.
• mentally strong (Joshua 1:9).
• physically and spiritually sustained (Isaiah 41:10).
• peace and rest in our work (Exodus 33:14).
• discipline and power to stay focused (2 Timothy 1:7).
• empowered to bear fruit (John 15:5).
• bold and confident to complete the mission (Matthew 28:20).
3: The Glory comes from God
God shows us through this passage that
Defining Glory: Significance from God’s Presence
glory (Hebrew: kavod) means weight, honor, and significance.
When we prioritize Jesus, we are prioritizing
Jesus is the Fullness of God’s Glory
• John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”Jesus Reflects the Glory of God
• Hebrews 1:3: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”Jesus Glorified the Father through Obedience
• John 17:4: “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”
Conclusion:
God’s Presence and Glory make our work matter.