Haggai (520-516 B.C.) "haggay" (festal)
In 520 B.C. eighteen years after the Jews had returned from exile in Babylon, Haggai urged them to forget their own interests and finish rebuilding the temple.
The Jews, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, started to rebuild the Temple but somehow they became discouraged and quit. They were more concerned with their paneled houses than the Temple which laid desolate.
The Lord said through Haggai that they were not being blessed and the recent drought and misfortunes were directly related to their laziness in the things of God:
Haggai 1:7-8
Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.God's love is also illustrated in Hosea's willingness to buy back his wife after her harlotry had led her to be sold at the slave block.
Haggai, along with the prophet Zechariah, urged them on. Within 4 years it was completed. They became courageous in the work and the Lord told them to mark this day and to watch from now on because they were obeying and His blessings were gonna come:
Haggai 2:18-19
"Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid-- consider it: 'Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day forward I will bless you.'"
Haggai also spoke of the Messiah and the future glories of the Messiah's kingdom with Jesus present on the earth and the gentiles flowing to Him:
Haggai 2:6-7
"For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 'and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.
The Story of the Bible - Part One - The Old Testament
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