Reading
- Hag. 1:1-15; 2:1-9
- Zech. 1:1-6
- Hag. 2:10-23
Devotional
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah received important messages from GOD which they declared to the Israelites in 520 B.C. First, GOD tells Haggai to rebuke the people for focusing so heavily on their own houses that they had neglected rebuilding GOD's house. He tells them this is the reason they have not prospered in all their work, because GOD had withheld prosperity from them due to their priorities being misaligned.
Thankfully, led by Zerubbabel and Joshua the son of the high priest, the people obeyed and resumed work on the temple, because they feared GOD. GOD told Haggai to tell the people that He was with them.
Next GOD gave a message to Haggai concerning the older Israelites who were greatly saddened by the reduced size and beauty of this new temple. The message was that one day GOD would fill this house with glory, because the "desired of nations" would enter it—referring to Jesus. In fact, GOD said, because of this, the glory of this house would be greater than the glory of the last one which Solomon had built.
GOD then called Zechariah to preach a reminder to the people of what their forefathers had done in rebelling against GOD and His commands and they had received the punishment which GOD had foretold would occur if they rejected Him. The people repented when they heard this and acknowledged that GOD had done what was just in punishing their forefathers.
Haggai then reminded Israel that if the temple builders lived unholy lives then they would defile the temple as they built it. GOD promised to bless the people from that day forward. Haggai told Zerubbabel that GOD would shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow royal thrones and shatter the power of foreign kingdoms. And on that day, GOD said, He would take His servant Zerubbabel and make Him like GOD's signet ring. Given that this is referring to when Jesus comes, and Zerubbabel would be long-dead by then, GOD is obviously referring to Jesus here.
This is the last we hear from the prophet Haggai. Despite the shortness of the book of Haggai, the actions recorded there provide us valuable insight into the happenings at this time of restoration in Israel.
