Page 120 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook
P. 120

Message: Covenant obedience (rebuild temple) will bring covenant blessings!

               Oracle #1: Rebuild!   (1:1-11) Speaking to their political (Zerubbabel) and religious (Joshua) leaders,
               YHWH charges His people with spiritual apathy and misplaced priorities.   They were busy with building
               lavish homes for themselves while God’s temple lay in ruins (2-4). He reminds them of their poverty, a
               consequence for their continued covenant disobedience (5-6, 9-11). Then, YHWH calls them to renew
               their efforts to rebuild His temple for His pleasure and glory (7-8).

               Interlude: Response (1:12-15) When the people heard Haggai’s message, they all repented, changing
               their attitude (fear) and actions (obeyed). [Rebuilding began only twenty-three days after the initial
               message.] After an initial response, YHWH instilled courage in His people, reassuring them of His
               continued presence (13)

               Oracle #2:  Future Glory (2:1-9)  Speaking to His leaders and His people, near the anniversary of the
               temple dedication (1 Kings 8:2), YHWH compares their meager rebuilding to the grandeur of Solomon’s
               temple (1-5, cf. Ezra 3:12). However, He reminds the remnant of His continued covenant presence, and
               He reassures them that He will make the glory of this temple greater than in former times (6-9).  [This
               oracle may refer to a future temple, sought by many nations (Isa 2/Mic. 4) and filled with God’s glory
               (Ezek. 40-48), and/or the salvific glory of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ (Lk. 2:32, Isa. 60:1-3)]

               Oracle #3: Future Blessing (2:10-19) Using priestly images, YHWH reminds His people that holiness is
               not transferrable, unlike the defilement of sin.  Their offerings did not cover but were tainted by sin (11-
               14). Challenging His people to consider their recent past, YHWH attributes their economic poverty to
               their covenant disobedience (Dt. 28-30), but He promises to bless their obedience (15-19).

               Oracle #4: Future Victory (2:20-23) In addition to future glory and blessing, YHWH promises a future
               victory of cosmic proportions, defeating all earthly enemies. He promises to restore Davidic rule through
               His ‘servant’  (cf. Ezek. 34:24), reversing the previous curse on Jehoiachin (cf. Jer. 22:4).

               Exiles Return: (1) Zerubbabel (538)             [Rebuild stopped, Ez. 3-4]             Temple Restart (520)
               Esther in Persia (2) Ezra (458)        [Rebuild stopped, Ez. 4:11f] (3) Nehemiah (444)
               Persian Rulers: Cyrus (538-30), Darius I (522-486) Ahasuerus/Xerxes (485-65) Artaxerxes I (464-24)

                                   The Book of Haggai

















                                                             119
   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125