The Resume of the Building of the Temple

Ezra 5:1 – Haggai and Zechariah Prophesy

- Book of Haggai
o This prophecy is for
o Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah
o Joshua/Jeshua (Book of Ezra) the son of Jehozadak, the high priest
He prophecy
- To remind the people of Israel of their responsibility why they returned to Jerusalem
o As they came home from Babylon – King Cyrus ordered them to build the temple of the Lord but
then they were busy building their own houses
 Because of that, the Lord withheld His blessings from the people of Israel – Haggai 1:10
 Haggai 1:6 – they harvest a little
 They eat but not enough to be satisfied
 They drink but not enough to become drunk
 They put on clothing, but no one is warm enough
 Earn wages but still would not suffice
 Everything is not enough, because, Haggai 1:9 “Because of My House which lies desolate
 Because of that reminder, Haggai 1:12 – Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the Remnant obeyed
the voice of the Lord. v14 the Lord stirred up their spirit to work on the House of the
Lord of hosts, their God.
Chapter 2:1-9 – Addressing Shattered Expectations
The Lord encouraged the people of Israel because they were not happy, especially those old men.
Why? The building that they are rebuilding is really pretty unimpressive. It is nothing compared to the glory
of the temple Solomon built some 500 years ago. So morale was really low for finishing the project.
- Haggai 2:3 – Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do see it now?
Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?

- Ezra 3:12 – Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had
seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their
eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,

So Haggai reminds the people of the great prophetic promises of the future kingdom of God and about this temple.
He draws from the earlier prophets especially Isaiah 9, 60, 62, and Micah 4-5 about the new Jerusalem and that it
would be the place from which God would redeem the whole world and where all the nations would come and
participate in God’s kingdom, resulting in an era of peace.

Haggai calls on the people to work in hope despite the disappointing circumstances.
- v4 – `But now take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, `take courage also, Joshua son of
Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the LORD, `and work;
for I am with you,' declares the LORD of hosts.

The Lord reminded the people of Israel of His promised

- v5 – `As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your
midst; do not fear!'

Chapter 2:10-19 – He calls for the people to remain Faithful in the Covenant (Pabilin nga matinud-anon sa
kasabotan) – Haggai Challenge is that it is only by true repentance and covenant faithfulness that their building
efforts will result in God bringing His kingdom and blessing.

So, in a sense, Israel’s future lay in their hands. God is waiting for his people to be faithful. So, the choice that Haggai
is laying before the exiled generation is very similar to the challenge Moses gave the wilderness generation before
entering the land. Their obedience will lead to blessing and success while faithlessness will lead to ruin.
Chapter 2:20-23 – The book concludes with Haggai’s summary of the future hope of God’s
kingdom.

God is in Control

God says through Haggai that He is about to shake the heavens and the earth. While
chariots and their riders (Haggai 2:22) were a symbol of a kingdom’s military might, God
declared that He is in control. He has the power and ability to destroy the strength of the
kingdoms of the nations. This week, let’s look at two truths from the book of Haggai that
remain true today.

1 God is sovereign. Ang Dios Gamhanan

21“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens
and the earth, 22and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the
strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders.
And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his
brother.” ^HAGGAI 2:21–22
In what way God will show His Sovereignty?
- I am about to shake the heavens and the earth – Pagatay-ogon sa Dios ang langit
ug yuta
o To overthrow the throne of kingdoms
o To destroy the strength of the nations
o To overthrow the chariots and their riders
- The Lord talks about the end of the suffering of His people from their oppressor
- The Lord will bring justice to His people
- The Lord will bring changes
- Matapos na ilang kalisod, ang pagdaug-daog sa katawhan sa Dios
- Greater things are yet to come
What is that for us today?
- The Lord will also shake heaven and earth for us
- Taposon niya ang atong mga pag-antos gikan sa mga pagdaog-daog kanato niining
kalibotan
- Magdala Kanato sa kadaugan
What are those things that we consider an oppressor in our life? As a church? As a family?
- Financial crisis/Poverty – Kalisod, Food Crisis, Economic Crisis
- Balatian – Health issues/problems, Family Problem, Early Marriage
- Inequality- ang dili pagka-pantay pantay nga pagkinabuhi-pagtagad, Terrorism
- 2 Timothy 3:2-5 -  2Ang mga tawo maghunahuna lamang sa ilang kaugalingon ug
sa kuwarta. Hambugiro sila, mapahitas-on, bugalbugalon, masupilon sa ilang mga
ginikanan, dili mapasalamaton ug dili diosnon. 3Wala silay kaluoy, walay puangod,
tigbutangbutang, mapatuyangon, bangis, madinumtanon sa maayo, 4mabudhion,
mapasagaron ug garboso kaayo. Palabihon nila ang kahilayan kay sa
Dios. 5Magpabilin silang relihiyoso apan isalikway nila ang matuod nga gahom
niini. Likayi kining mga tawhana.
To fulfill God’s Plan
2 God sets people in place to fulfill His purpose.
“On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my
servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I
have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” ^HAGGAI 2:23

A signet ring is a tool that carries an imprint representing a person, clan, or

organization. In the time of kings, the signet ring symbolized the authority of the king
who owned it. Haggai’s prophecy was significant to the Israelites because God was
restating His promise to put a descendant of David (Zerubbabel) on the throne.

The truth that this conveys to us today is that God sets people in place to fulfill
His purpose. God has the authority to raise and collapse nations and powers, and He
commanded us to do His work (Matthew 28:18–20). What has been your response to
God’s sovereignty and His charge to make disciples

Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up

20
Sa ika-24 nga adlaw sa bulan gisultihan na usab ni Yahweh si Hageo. Miingon ang GINOO, 
21
“Sultihi si Zerubabel, ang gobernador sa Juda, nga hapit ko na tay-oga ang langit ug ang
yuta 
22
ug lumpagon ko ang mga gingharian ug taposon ang ilang gahom. Limbuwaron ko ang
mga karwahi ug ang mga kabayo ug ang mga kasundalohan mag-unay pagpinatyanay. 
23
Niadto unyang panahona ikaw, Zerubabel nga akong alagad, himoon ko nga hari sa akong
katawhan kay gipili ko man ikaw,” nag-ingon ang GINOO nga Labing Gamhanan.