Haggai 2:1-23

2:1-9 | Haggai delivered God’s second message to Israel on October 17, the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which commemorated God’s presence with His people in the wilderness (Lev. 23:33-44). The Lord’s words reminded them that the same covenant was still in effect and that the same Spirit remained with them.

2:3-4 | Less than two months into their building project, the people became discouraged because this second temple was as nothing compared to the splendor of Solomon’s original temple. Yet God again had Haggai encourage the Israelites to work; for I am with you (Deut. 31:6) – the same charge David had given Solomon regarding the first temple (1 Chron. 28:20). The key to defeating discouragement is for people to stop listening to themselves and start listening to God’s words of promise.

2:10-19 | The Lord’s third message to Israel promised spiritual cleansing and renewed blessing. The people had believed that their sacrifices made them acceptable in God’s sight. Here, they are told what was preventing their blessing in spite of their work: they were still unclean and needed to confess their sins. A pure, repentant heart is necessary to carry out the Lord’s work.

2:18-19 | The day when the people laid the foundation of the LORD’s temple marked a new day – the beginning of God’s renewed blessing and the people’s renewed obedience.

2:20-23 | This fourth and final message, delivered on the same day as the third one, proclaimed that God will judge the nations and continue the Davidic dynasty through Zerubbabel. From his line will come the ultimate King, the messiah, Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:12-13).

2:23 | Ancient rulers used personalized signet rings to seal official documents and to mark their contents as authentic (Gen. 41:42; Esth. 8:8; Dan. 6:17). The title My servant frequently indicates the promised king in David’s line (2 Sam. 3:18; 1 Kgs. 11:34; Isa. 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 52:13-53:12; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24-25).