Haggai 2:1-5

 

Haggai 2:1 (KJV)

In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,

 

This next message that the Lord gave to Haggai had come at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles.  It was King Solomon that dedicated the first temple in the seventh month.  There may be a correlation between the timing of this divine message and the timing of the dedication of Solomon’s temple.

 

Haggai 2:2 (KJV)

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

 

God now wanted Haggai to deliver the message not only to Zerubbabel and Joshua, but this time he includes the residue of the people.  These were the people who came out of Babylon to rebuild the temple and does not mean the entire nation of Judah that went into captivity in 586 B.C.  This message came at a time when encouragement was needed in rebuilding the temple.

 

Haggai 2:3 (KJV)

Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

 

It has been 66 years since the tribe of Judah was removed to Babylon and now God is posing the question to them of who had witnessed the glory of the first or Solomon’s Temple?  If there would have been any there who did remember, they would probably be well into their 80s or 90s.  God also asks them to make a comparison between what they saw 66 years ago and what they are seeing now.  In their minds and eyes what do they think in comparison to what they had before they went after other gods?  Old men have a tendency to make comparisons of what they had years ago and what they have today.  God then asks them that in comparison to the glory of Solomon’s temple are you determining in your mind that this temple is nothing in comparison to the glory of Solomon’s temple?  Some of the old men may have been claiming that this temple of Zerubbabel was so small and basic in comparison to Solomon’s temple that it may not have been worth rebuilding it.  Maybe this was one of the reasons God sent that second message of encouragement because maybe the leaders were becoming discouraged too.  The size of the temple plus the outside persecution they were receiving may have added to discouragement which was no doubt spreading throughout the entire congregation.

 

Haggai 2:4 (KJV)

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:

 

Then the Lord gives an individual message of encouragement to all three by name.  He tells Zerubbabel to be strong, then he tells Joshua to be strong, and then he tells all the people who came back to build the temple to also be strong and then the Lord states they are not alone in this venture but that he is with them.  He tells them to continue in the work and to realize they were not just building some type of religious or social building, but it was the temple and when God’s people are involved in God’s work, he promises to be with them as he promised them here.  So no matter what hardships or persecutions they faced, God was with them through the entire process.   God identifies himself as the “Lord of Hosts” which signifies he is the Lord of the armies of Heaven and earth.

 

Haggai 2:5 (KJV)

According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

 

Exodus 29:45-46 (KJV)   And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.  {46} And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.  Just as God promised to be with the children of Israel when they came out of the land, he now repeats that promise that he will be among the people who returned to build the temple.  The Spirit in view that will be with them will be the Holy Spirit whom they consistently vexed.  Isaiah 63:10 (KJV)   But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.  Yet he told them not to fear because God was holding to the covenant that he made with their ancestors 900 years prior.

 

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