Haggai
“Festive or my feast”
Summary
Haggai was a post-exilic prophet who, together with Zechariah, stirred up the returned Jewish community to resume building the Temple after fourteen years of neglect.
☩Historical Context
Haggai prophesied during the reign of the Persian king Darius Hystaspis, who ascended the throne in 521 B.C. Temple rebuilding, begun under Cyrus in 535 B.C., had been suspended for fourteen years due to Samaritan opposition and Jewish indifference. When Darius came to power, the Jews excused their inactivity by claiming the prophesied seventy years had not yet expired. Haggai was commissioned by God to rouse them from this apathy.
☩The Prophet's Message
Haggai's first prophecy (Haggai 1) reproved the people for building elaborate houses for themselves while God's house lay in ruins. He reminded them that their agricultural failures and economic hardships were divine discipline for neglecting God's priorities. Within 24 days of his message, the people resumed building under Zerubbabel's leadership. His second prophecy (Haggai 2:1-9) encouraged those discouraged by the Temple's apparent inferiority to Solomon's, promising that the "Desire of all nations" would come and the latter glory would exceed the former.
☩Later Prophecies
Haggai's third message (Haggai 2:10-19) used ceremonial law to illustrate that outward religious observance cannot cleanse an unclean heart—their works had been defiled by disobedience, but from the day of renewed building God would bless them. His fourth prophecy (Haggai 2:20-23) addressed Zerubbabel as representative of the Davidic line, promising that God would shake the nations and make him as a signet ring—a messianic prophecy pointing to Christ, the true seed of David.
☩Prophetic Significance
Haggai's prophecy that God would "shake the heavens and the earth" is quoted in Hebrews 12:26 as pointing to the final shaking of all created things to establish the unshakable kingdom of God. The prophecy of the "Desire of all nations" coming to fill the Temple with glory found fulfillment when Christ entered the second Temple. The complete fulfillment awaits His second advent when Israel will recognize Him as the true son of David.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Haggai," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Haggai," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Haggai," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).