Page 77 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

Study Section 14: The Book of Haggai

14.1 Connect

Have you ever started out on a big project, and then about half way through, you get
distracted by other things that come up, and really never get the project completed? That
happens to us all. Well, it also happened to the exiles who returned from Persia to
Jerusalem. Their project was to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem as well as reconstruct the
city walls. They arrived all excited and launched into the project, but it was not long before
distractors caused them to cease work. Instead, they started building nice homes for
themselves. They ceased construction on the temple shortly after laying the foundation. For 16 years
they then concentrated on improving their own quality of life rather than making a place of worship to
the Lord.

The book of Haggai was written to address the problem of putting yourself first and putting God on the
back burner. It was a problem for the early exiles, but is equally a temptation that we face every day.

14.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the purpose of the writing of Haggai.

2. The student should be able to state the audience to whom the book was written.

3. The student should be able to answer the key questions presented in the lesson.

14.3 The Book of Haggai

From https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Haggai.html

Author: Haggai 1:1 identifies the author of the
Book of Haggai as the Prophet Haggai.

Date of Writing: The Book of Haggai was written in
approximately 520 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: Haggai sought to challenge the
people of God concerning their priorities. He called
them to reverence and glorify God by building the
Temple in spite of local and official opposition. Haggai called them not to be discouraged because this
Temple would not be quite as richly decorated as Solomon's. He exhorted them to turn from the
uncleanness of their ways and to trust in God's sovereign power. The Book of Haggai is a reminder of
the problems the people of God faced at this time, how the people courageously trusted in God and
how God provided for their needs.

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