Date: 520 BC
Contents
After the fall of the city of Jerusalem in 587 BC, the survivors are taken into exile to the land of Babylon. Due to the change of power on a world level, the remnants of the empire of Babylon fall into the hands of the Persian Cyrus.
It allows all exiles to return to their own country. A large number of Jewish exiles return to rebuild their own country. It’s a difficult time. In Jerusalem a start is made with the rebuilding of the temple. This work came to a halt in 536 BC. After 16 years of standstill and division, the prophet Haggai steps forward. He demands that work on the temple be resumed in order to provide God with a worthy abode. This book consists of 4 messages.
These were all proclaimed in 520 BC.
The first message is addressed to Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. It is a condemnation of the people, who have more time for themselves than for the building of the temple of God.
The second message is an encouragement for the people who want to build the Temple, but are afraid that the result is not good enough.
The third and fourth messages condemn the corruption of the time. These messages promise GOD’s protection when the people will turn to GOD.
Theological Themes
The prophet Haggai’s message is simple: The spiritual of man is more important than the material. If we want to receive God’s blessing, we must make a temple to GOD, either a building (then) or our heart (today).
Main features
- Message to Joshua and Zerubbabel (1:1-15),
- An encouragement (2:1-9),
- The promise of blessing after the building of the temple (2:10-19),
- God will protect the leaders of the people (2:20-23).
