SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Haggai 1:1 through 2:23

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” (Haggai 1:13-14)

BACKGROUND

The Persian King Cyrus’ decree in 538 B.C. gave permission for the captive Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to Judah and restore their Temple. However, it appears that many of the Jews were so rooted in Babylon after seventy years of captivity that they did not want to relocate. Bible scholars estimate that the first group of returnees, led by Zerubbabel, numbered only about fifty thousand, including women and children—a fraction of the over one million who had been exiled. 

When the returning exiles arrived in Jerusalem, they were confronted with the devastation left by the armies of King Nebuchadnezzar. The city was in ruins and the glorious structure that once was Solomon’s Temple had been demolished. The people began rebuilding the Temple soon after their arrival in 536 B.C., but when they faced opposition from hostile neighbors, they discontinued the work (see Ezra 4:4-5, 24). Because they neglected the rebuilding of God’s house, His blessing upon them was withdrawn and the people suffered. 

While the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah give accounts of the Jewish nation after the restoration from the Babylonian exile, the Book of Haggai describes a series of four messages. These were delivered by Haggai to the returned exiles in 520 B.C., about ten years after they had stopped building. With simple and direct words, he rebuked the people for their failure to finish the Temple, challenged them regarding their priorities, and called for them to obey God by renewing their efforts and completing the task.

‍

QUESTIONS

1. Each of Haggai’s four brief but powerful messages from God was precisely dated, and all were delivered within a period of four months. A review of the two short chapters that make up this Old Testament book reveal that the prophet used the phrases “the word of the Lord,” “thus saith the Lord,” and other similar statements more than twenty times. Why do you think Haggai repeated this so often? What might be the significance of this repetition for us?
   ‍
2. According to Haggai 1:2, what reason did the people give for not building the Lord’s house? Why do you think they offered this excuse?
   ‍
3. In verse 4, God addressed the fact that in the interval since work had ceased on the Temple, the people had taken time to build themselves “ceiled” houses (decoratively paneled homes that were costly), while His house lay waste. What did God want the people to recognize when He told them in verse 5 to “consider your ways”?
   ‍
4. The returned exiles had allowed the house of the Lord to be neglected for ten years while they focused on their personal lives and comfort. How had God responded to the people’s failure to build the Temple? Haggai 1:6, 9-11
   ‍
5. According to verse 12 of chapter 1, how did the people react to Haggai’s message? What is the significance of the date given in verse 15 when compared with the first verse of this chapter?
   ‍
6. In Haggai 1:13, God gave the people an encouraging message through the prophet, promising, “I am with you, saith the Lord.” When the people were failing to obey the Lord, He had withdrawn His blessing from them, and they experienced troubles. Their obedience brought the assurance of His presence. What a great comfort! They did not need to worry about their fields, their crops, and their animals. God would see to it that these were taken care of. In what ways has the Lord been with you?
   ‍
7. In chapter 2, Haggai encouraged the people to continue the work despite the opposition and challenges they faced. In verse 3, he asked, “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?” The older people in the community had memories of the original Temple built by Solomon, and they could clearly see that the rebuilt Temple, when completed, would not compare to it (see Ezra 3:12-13). However, this was not to be a cause for despair. In Haggai 2:4-5, what three things did Haggai exhort Zerubbabel (the civic leader of the people), Joshua (the high priest), and all the people to do?
   ‍
8. About two months after the second message, Haggai delivered his third exhortation from God. In verses 12-13 of chapter 2, the prophet instructed the people to go to the priests with two questions to be answered from God’s Law. The word “holy” is repeated in verse 12, and “unclean” is repeated in verse 13. Based on these two contrasting words and verse 14, what point do you think God was making through the questions that were to be asked of the priests?
   ‍
9. The Book of Haggai concludes with the prophet’s fourth prophecy, recorded in verses 20-23 of chapter 2, which was delivered to Zerubbabel on the same day that the preceding message was given to the people. In this message, Haggai spoke of a coming upheaval, in which God would overthrow kingdoms and would shake the heavens and the earth. He promised that Zerubbabel’s leadership would bear the mark of divine authority and confirmed to this leader that “I have chosen thee.” Why do you think this affirmation would have been an encouragement to Zerubbabel?

‍

CONCLUSION

Though Haggai is one of the shortest books in the Old Testament, the messages contained in it are profound even for today. As we obey God’s commands and keep our priorities straight, we will reap the blessing of the Lord every day of our lives.