Page 120 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

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

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