Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
HAGGAI 2
1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Blessings for a Defiled People
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: 12 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.”
13 Then Haggai said, “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.”
14 Then Haggai said, “ ‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
15 “ ‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. 16 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. 17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
“ ‘From this day on I will bless you.’ ”
Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 “ ‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Application Notes
2:1-9 This is Haggai's second message. It was given during the Festival of Tabernacles in October 520 BC (see Leviticus 23:33-43). The older people could remember the incredible beauty of Solomon's temple, destroyed 66 years earlier. Many were discouraged because the rebuilt temple was smaller and less ornate. But Haggai encouraged them with God's message that the glory of this temple would surpass that of its predecessor. The most important part of the temple is God's presence. Some 500 years later, Jesus Christ would walk in those temple courts and refer to his own body as the temple (John 2:19-22).
2:4 “Be strong ... and work. For I am with you.” Judah's people had returned to worshiping God, and God had promised to bless their efforts. But they also needed to get to work on the rebuilding project. We must be people of prayer, Bible study, and worship, but eventually we must get out and do the work God has in mind for us. He wants to change the world through us, his ambassadors. God has given you a job to do in the church, at your place of employment, and at home. Has the time now come for you to be strong? Get going, because God is with you!
2:5 The Israelites had been led from captivity in Egypt to their Promised Land. They were God's chosen people, guided and cared for by his Holy Spirit. Although God had punished them for their sins, he kept his promise and never completely left them (Exodus 29:45-46). No matter what difficulties we face or how frustrating our work may be, God's Spirit is with us.
2:6-9 The focus of the message shifts from the local temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem to the worldwide reign of the Messiah on earth. The words ·in a little while· are not limited to the immediate historical context; they refer to God's control of history—he can act any time he chooses. God will act in his time and at the right time (see Ephesians 1:9-11; Hebrews 12:26-27).
2:7-9 "What is desired by all nations" (literally "the treasure," or "that which is choice") has two possible meanings: (1) It could refer to the Messiah, Jesus, who, some 500 years later, would enter the temple and fill it with his glory and his peace (Luke 2:27, 32). (2) It could refer to the riches that would flow into the temple, given as offerings to God and his people.
2:7 When God promised to shake all the nations with his judgment, he was speaking of both his present judgment on evil nations and future judgment during the last days.
2:8-9 God wanted the temple to be rebuilt, and he had the gold and silver to do it, but he was looking for willing hands. God has chosen to do his work through people in every generation. He provides the resources, but willing hands must do the work. Are your hands available for God's work in the world?
2:10-19 The example given in this message (delivered in December 520 BC) makes it clear that holiness will not rub off on others, but contamination will. In the same way, work cannot flourish with bad attitudes and motives. As the people began to faithfully keep God's covenant, God promised to encourage and prosper them. But they needed to understand that their work on the temple would not clean up their sin or guarantee their prosperity. That would come as a by-product of their changed hearts. If we insist on harboring wrong attitudes or doing work for the wrong reasons, we will contaminate what we do. God's real work through us begins when God's Holy Spirit transforms our hearts.
2:14 When a child eats spaghetti sauce, very soon his or her face, hands, and clothes become red. Sin and selfish attitudes produce the same result—they stain everything that touches them. Even good deeds done for God can be tainted by sinful attitudes. The good news is that when God cleanses us, he begins blessing us immediately {as he promised to do for Haggai's listeners in 2:19).
2:16 For many years, the grain had only given 50 percent of the expected yield, and wine had done even worse.
2:18-19 The people rebuilt the temple foundation, and immediately God blessed them. He did not wait for the project to be completed. God often sends his encouragement and approval with our first few obedient steps. He is eager to bless us! When blessings begin to come, leaders should highlight them to keep their people from being discouraged.
2:20-23 Haggai's final message acknowledged that he was merely the messenger who had brought the word of the Lord. It was addressed to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah.
2:23 A signet ring was used to guarantee the authority and authenticity of a letter. It served as a signature when pressed in soft wax on a written document. God was reaffirming and guaranteeing his promise of a Messiah through David's line (Matthew 1:12).
2:23 God closed his message to Zerubbabel with this tremendous affirmation: “1 have chosen you.” Such a proclamation is ours as well—each of us has been chosen by God (Ephesians 1:4). This truth should make us see our value in God’s eyes and motivate us to work for him. When you feel down, remind yourself, God has chosen me!
2:23 Haggai's message to the people ·was intended to get their priorities straight, help them quit worrying, and motivate them to rebuild the temple. Like them, we often place a higher priority on our personal comfort than on God's work and true worship. But God is pleased and promises strength and guidance when we give him first place in our lives.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)