HAGGAI
Week 2: A Timely Kick in the Pants
Haggai 1:1-2
STUDY GUIDE
Ezra 4:1-5 (CSB):
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.” 4 Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build. 5 They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.
Ezra 4:24 (CSB):
24. Now the construction of God’s house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
Point 1: Spiritual Leaders need a push sometimes, too.
Zeruabbel and Joshua, mentioned in 1:1 were pivotal in the rebuilding of the Temple, representing both political and spiritual leadership for the people of Israel.
• Zerubbabel:
o “seed of Babylon”
• Joshua:
o “The Lord saves” or “The Lord is salvation.
Zerubbabel managed the construction and governance, while Joshua focused on reestablishing worship and guiding the people in their relationship with God.
How They Foreshadow Jesus:
o Zeruabbel’s name “seed of Babylon”: Zerubbabel coming out of Babylon signifies how God can bring forth a Savior or deliverance from unexpected places.
o Joshua’s name, meaning “The Lord saves,” directly points to Jesus, whose name in Hebrew is Yeshua.
Hebrews 4:14
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast to our confession.
God’s word came to the leadership first then it’s directed to God’s people.
Point 2: Spiritual leaders can’t be hindered by what people say.
Haggai points out that the people want to delay obedience but delayed obedience is still
הָעָם הַזֶּה אָמַר - “This people says” or “The people say.”
-distance or disapproval from God.
Hebrew Phrase:
• הָעֵ֥ת (ha’ēt): “The time” or “the appointed time”
• לֹא (lō’): “Not” or “no”
• בָ֖א (bā): “Has come” or “has arrived”
Literal Translation: The literal translation of this Hebrew phrase would be “The time has not come”
The people’s use of this phrase was a way of
1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB:
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Greek Word: περισσεύοντες (perisseuontes)
• Root Word: The root of perisseuontes is περισσεύω (perisseuō), which means “to abound,” “to overflow,” “to be in abundance,” or “to exceed.”
• Form: Perisseuontes is a present participle, which conveys ongoing action, suggesting a continual state of abounding or excelling.
Abounding: The primary meaning of perisseuō is “to abound” or “to be in excess.” It conveys the idea of having more than enough, overflowing, or exceeding what is necessary now and continually.
Spiritual procrastination:
1. James 4:17 “So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.” (CSB)
Proverbs 6:4-11 “Don’t let your eyes sleep or your eyelids slumber. Get up and take care of your fields! Look at the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest. How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.” (CSB)
Ecclesiastes 11:4 “One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.” (CSB)
Hebrews 3:15 “As it is said: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (CSB)
Human rationale:
1. Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” (CSB)
- Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. ‘For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (CSB)
The best way to maintain the right mindset is to:
• Colossians 3:2 (CSB):
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
• Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV):
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Conclusion:
1.
2. Learn from
3. Rely on God’s
4. Seek to