SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS FROM THE BOOK OF HAGGAI
When the Chaldean kingdom of Babylon was destroyed (that the word of the Lord by the mouth of prophet Jeremiah might be fulfilled), the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to make a proclamation throughout his kingdom which allowed all Israelites who were held captive by Nebuchadnezzar to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of God.
Ezra 1: 1-2 1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 2Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
A total of fifty thousand people consisting of the descendants of David from the tribe of Judah, Zerubbabel and the people of Israel (Judah) returned to Jerusalem from the faraway land of Babylon to begin the work of rebuilding the holy temple. However, owing to obstructions from their adversaries and the Samaritans, the work of rebuilding the temple was forced to come to a halt during the reign of King Artaxerxes (as recorded in the book of Ezra Chapter 4).
There was no progress on the work of rebuilding the temple up to the second year of King Darius’ reign (approximately 520 B.C.). Therefore, prophet Haggai arose in the name of God to encourage the people of Israel to rely on the might of God to expedite the temple rebuilding works. He also prophesied and taught them the principles of godly reverence by using his zealous earnestness and simple but powerful words to awaken their slumbering faith.
The whole book of Haggai is filled with vigor in loving God and serves as a motivator in stirring up the faith of His chosen people. The crucial contents and spiritual teachings from the Book of Haggai are carefully summarized here into a few salient points for brethren in the Lord to discuss and rely on for spiritual growth.
1. Concern For The Matters Of God’s Temple (Chapter 1)
On the first day of the sixth month into the second year of King Darius’ reign, the people of Israel were unable to work on the rebuilding of the holy temple. They gave excuses saying that the time had not come for the Lord’s house to be rebuilt. Hence, the Lord rebuked them through prophet Haggai. Prophet Haggai let them know that it was not because the time had yet to come or because they lacked funds to commence work, but it was because they were not concerned with God’s matters. They dwelled in their panelled houses but allowed the temple of God to lie in ruins. Due to this, God had caused them to face obstacles in all things. They sowed much but harvested little, ate but were not filled, clothed themselves but were not warm, earned wages but were unable to enjoy their hard-earned money.
Hag 1:3-6 3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6“You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Prophet Haggai warned the people of Israel to consider their ways and to ponder why they failed to attain their wants (for they had allowed the temple of God to remain in ruins but ran to their own houses). Due to their transgressions, God had caused the heavens to withhold the dew, the earth to withhold its fruit and called for a drought on the entire land. They were told to be repentant of their behaviour by going up to the mountains to collect wood to rebuild the holy temple and glorify God. This is so that He would take pleasure in it and relieve them from their trials (by removing the disasters).
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest and all the remnants of the people of Israel listened to the words of prophet Haggai as God had sent him. They feared the presence of the Lord, for God had stirred up their spirits so that they went and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius’s reign.
Hag 1:14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
2. Be Strong And Courageous (Chapter 2: 1-9)
In the same year during the twenty-first day of the seventh month (after the people had resumed the work of rebuilding the holy temple for almost a month), God encouraged Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people of Israel to be strong and continue in their work in order to complete the rebuilding works.
Hag 2:4-5 4Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts. 5‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’
Prophet Haggai asked if anyone who was left among them had seen the temple in its former glory, alluding to the great glory of the holy temple in the past. He assured them to be strong and courageous in order to rebuild the glorious temple, for God would be with them. God would shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land once more. He would shake all nations and the treasures of all nations would come to Jerusalem so that the temple would be filled with glory. God told the people of Israel to rebuild the holy temple without worrying about what was lacking, for all silver and gold were His. It was also prophesied that the latter temple established by God would be far more glorious than the former temple and in this place He will give peace.
(The holy temple that was built by Zerubbabel was not bigger than the former temple but the builders’ spirits in worshiping God surpassed those who had come before them. Hence, it is apparent that the glory of the holy temple does not lie in its facade but within the people’s hearts and this spirit of godly reverence is the quality that God places emphasis on. This prophecy was further manifested as God later established His own true church.)
3. Seek Sanctification (Chapter 2: 10-19)
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the same year (three months after work on the holy temple had commenced), God spoke to the priests through prophet Haggai, asking the people of Israel to keep His laws and commandments and change their previous unholy ways. Prophet Haggai asked the priests, “If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?” The priests answered, “No”. He asked again, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?” “Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.” The reason why prophet Haggai questioned the priests was so that they would understand that an unclean person or object is unable to become sanctified even if he or it is in close proximity with sanctified objects. In fact, one who is unclean but comes into contact with clean objects will cause the latter to become defiled.
Prophet Haggai enlightened the priests that prior to the building of the holy temple, all of the things they did was unholy. Hence, they had busied themselves but to no avail. The people were deprived and hungered before the divine work had commenced as they had allowed the temple of God to remain in ruins. Not one stone was piled on top of another in the temple. Consequently, when anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty, for God had struck all the work of their hands with blight, mildew and hail. In addition, all their vine, fig trees, pomegranate and olive trees failed to bear any fruits prior to the laying of the foundation of God’s temple.
The people cast aside their unsanctified ways for prophet Haggai encouraged them to rely on God and look after His temple whole-heartedly if they wanted to receive great blessings from Him.
Hag 2:19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’”
4. Rely Upon God To Triumph (Chapter 2: 20-23)
The word of the Lord came to prophet Haggai again on the twenty-fourth day of the month, asking him to tell Zerubbabel that God was going to shake the heavens and the earth. God would overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. He would overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders would fall, each by the sword of his brother. On that day, Zerubbabel would be chosen as a worker of God, His precious vessel, and made as God’s signet ring.
The prophecies and teachings of prophet Haggai served to encourage the Israelites to rebuild the holy temple and gave them strength. He used his zeal in loving God and refined words to motivate the Israelites and awaken their faith that was in stupor and slumber. Due to this, Zerubbabel and the Israelites heard the calling of prophet Haggai and worked together for the divine work of God. They completed the building of God’s holy temple after four years and enabled the people of God to behold the glory of His temple once more.
Hag 2:23 ‘In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.
Conclusion
The holy temple that was built by Zerubbabel no longer exists today. Nevertheless, the teachings of prophet Haggai on always relying on God’s will have survived until now (in the Bible) for our spiritual edification. Today, the work undertaken by God’s people to build His spiritual temple is much more important and difficult than Zerubbabel’s time. Hence, it is hoped that all of us Christians are able to accept prophet Haggai’s words and strive together wholeheartedly to work for God. Then, we too will be able to complete the building works of the glorious, spiritual temple under God’s guidance in the days to come.
The spiritual true church of God requires all believers (and not only persons-in– charge) to come together and show concern for her. Hence, we as the believers should reach out to assist the church voluntarily when she faces difficulties and obstacles. We should be strong and courageous when we face impediments, and persevere in our faith to overcome all things for God will be with us. Apart from this, it is crucial that we preserve our holiness in all things we do instead of being tainted by the pollutions of this world. We will obtain God’s pleasures if we strive to abstain from emulating the world. It is only then that we are able to rely upon God’s strength and triumph over the authorities of the darkness of the world to become a glorious church.
(Holy Spirit Times, 01.09.1968)