ROUTE 66 - HAGGAI Building And Blessing Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor November 13, 2013 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in teaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was taught. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. These revelations occurred in a four month period of time: Haggai 1:1 sixth month first day Haggai 2:15 sixth month 24th day Haggai 2:1 seventh month 21st day Haggai 2:10 ninth month 24th day Haggai 2:20 ninth month 24th day I. REBUILD THE TEMPLE Haggai 1:1-11 A. Background The warnings of the previous prophets have been fulfilled they are all pre-exilic Israel was taken captive by Assyria in 722 B.C. Judah fell in 586 B.C. 536 B.C. Persian emperor Cyrus issued a decree permitting Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:2-4) that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. 50,000 people returned under Zerubbabel, the newly appointed governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest their call was to rebuild the Temple and re-establish spiritual priorities a godly lifestyle these people settled in and around Jerusalem and began the process of restoration cleared the Temple Mount replaced the altar of burnt offerings on its base laid the foundation for a new temple in the fall of 536 B.C. Trouble Samaritans became hostile when their help in rebuilding the Temple was refused Cyrus died in battle his successor Cambyses (Esther s husband also called Ahasuerus in Ezra 4:6) was persuaded to stop the work the work ceased desire to rebuild died out 15 years pass people were living as secular occupants of an impoverished land in 520 B.C. God raised up Haggai to challenge the people to rebuild he had seen the previous temple (Haggai 2:7) and wanted to return the glory of that Temple people responded and rebuilt the Temple completed under the guidance of Ezra (Ezra 6:15) walls were completed under Nehemiah Haggai is set in this time Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 mentioned with Zechariah the prophet who was a contemporary Zechariah prophesied from 522-509 B.C. Haggai prophesied in a short span of four months in 520 B.C. Haggai 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month... not Darius the Mede mentioned in Daniel 5:31 this is Darius Hystaspes became king in Persia in 521 B.C. after the death of Cambyses an officer of Cambyses and the great-grandson of Cyrus the Great s brother retained loyalty of the Persian army he reigned until his death in 486 B.C. B. The attitude of the people Haggai 1:1, 2 continues the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, This people says, The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt. Zerubbabel means seed of Babylon refers to someone born in Babylon grandson of Jehoiakim (1 Chronicles 3:17,19) had right to throne as king Zechariah 4:6-10 lists him as the leader of the Temple rebuilding project The saying This people says this is the remnant of Israel not the whole nation thousands had been shipped off to captivity under Assyrian siege from 722 to 586 B.C. thousands of others had been taken to Babylon most of them stayed there only 50,000 returned this is that remnant evidently summed up the feeling of the people regarding the rebuilding of the Temple shows God regarded them as This people and not My people they showed a disregard for the Lord no interest in rebuilding the Temple 1
The first thing they did when they returned was take a freewill offering to rebuild the Temple Ezra 2:68-69 Some of the heads of fathers households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments. silver alone weighed three tons worth more than half a million dollars then after the first harvest brought in their first earnings of the first year, they proceeded to lay the foundation of the Temple they had the means and the inclination These people had willingly left their comfortable living conditions in Babylon and had a desire to rebuild the Temple But they grew discouraged and comfortable in pursuing the good life Ezra 3:1-13 shows their fear of the people living around them Common danger God doesn t dwell in buildings but the Temple stood for God being the center of people s lives in all facets religious beliefs cultural practices relationships C. Consider your ways Haggai 1:5-7 1. Examine your lifestyle Haggai 1:3-4 Haggai 1:3-4 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? I think it s fair to say that God knows where you live and how you live and what relationship your lifestyle has with His work! They were making excuses I need to take care of my family yes, but paneled houses sign of wealth walls and ceilings overlaid with cedar were common in wealthy homes Jeremiah 22:14 Who says, I will build myself a roomy house With spacious upper rooms, And cut out its windows, Paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red. do you spend everything you have on your home and possessions! do your spending habits reflect any concern for the things of God? American Christians are so much like these exiles offer lame excuses: We don t serve because we re just too busy We don t give because we re mortgaged to the hilt husband and wife work houses loaded with expensive stuff yet we tip God Missions is for someone else Don t join a church because we ve bought the lie that we are individual spiritual entrepreneurs Support para-church ministries because churches don t get it 2. Count the cost Haggai 1:5-6 Haggai 1:5-6 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes. Five pictures of indulgent lifestyle: 1) You sow, but have little 2) You eat, but aren t satisfied 3) You drink, but don t enjoy it 4) You dress up, but can t get warm 5) You earn money, but it s never enough Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 2
3. A call to action Haggai 1:7-11 Haggai 1:7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways! second time instruction to rearrange priorities get busy doing the right things being devoted to God isn t merely feelings and emotions the pietistic tradition emphasized thinking and prayer and meditation but sometimes we are just to get up and get busy doing something! Haggai 1:8 Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified, says the Lord. this isn t rocket science go get some wood and get busy building the Temple it isn t the building alone but God seems to be concerned about building as a sign of commitment to Him in the Old Testament The connection between our lifestyle and the blessing of God is direct Haggai 1:9 You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts, Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. you take care of your own business and think of your religion as self-centered consumerism! we are devoted to jobs, families, hobbies, self-fulfillment Many occupy a seat in church and never do anything they don t give, they don t serve, they don t volunteer I question whether they even worship possibly whether or not they are even saved! how can you ignore the Bride of Christ and call yourself saved? For those who ignore God Haggai 1:10-11 Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands. economic drought and the effects of climate etc. are in God s hands! II. THE PEOPLE RESPOND Haggai 1:12-15 The people responded to Haggai s prompting these were different people than pre-exile they had seen the effects of generations of sin knew they had been taken captive because they forgot God Haggai 1:12 And the people showed reverence for the Lord. in response to the heart of the people, God said, I am with you Haggai 1:13 He always is He never leaves us Haggai 1:14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God III. RESTORATION OF GLORY Haggai 2:1-9 A. Remember the good old days Haggai 2:3 One month later Haggai 2:2-3 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying, Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? Evidently Zerubbabel had been alive to see Solomon s Temple he would have been over 70 if that s the case three successive questions seem to indicate that they had paid a price for their sin Zerubbabel s Temple wasn t what Solomon s was [see pictures] 3
SOLOMON S TEMPLE ZERUBBABEL S TEMPLE Remembering the good old days is deceitful we romanticize the events forget the reality of what happened there is no use pining for what went on before some remember their former church and the glories that occurred yesterday Forget yesterday you are living the good old days right now this family this house this church these friends these events this is what God has given you NOW enjoy it! B. Take courage Haggai 2:4 Haggai 2:4 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. God s people are always in the minority we are never going to rule Washington we are never going to live in a culture where everyone at school or work is friendly to Christians you are probably never going to work in a Christian environment [People during the Reformation had to take courage and fight the Catholic Church as well as the system of royalty Inquisition killed thousands The cruelties used by the imperial troops, under Count Tilly in Saxony, are thus enumerated. Half strangling, and recovering the persons again repeatedly. Rolling sharp wheels over the fingers and toes. Pinching the thumbs in a vice. Forcing the most filthy things down the throat, by which many were choked. Tying cords round the head so tightly that the blood gushed out of the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. Fastening burning matches to the fingers, toes, ears, arms, legs, and even the tongue. Putting powder in the mouth and setting fire to it, by which the head was shattered to pieces. Tying bags of powder to all parts of the body, by which the person was blown up. Drawing cords backwards and forwards through the fleshy parts. Making incisions with bodkins and knives in the skin. Running wires through the nose, ears, lips, etc. Hanging Protestants up by the legs, with their heads over a fire, by which they were smoke dried. Hanging up by one arm until it was dislocated. Hanging upon hooks by the ribs. Forcing people to drink until they burst. Baking many in hot ovens. Fixing weights to the feet, and drawing up several with pulleys. Hanging, stifling, roasting, stabbing, frying, racking, ravishing, ripping open, breaking the bones, rasping off the flesh, tearing with wild horses, drowning, strangling, burning, broiling, crucifying, immuring, poisoning, cutting off tongues, noses, ears, etc., sawing off the limbs, hacking to pieces, and drawing by the heels through the streets. The enormous cruelties will be a perpetual stain on the memory of Count Tilly, who not only committed, but even commanded the troops to put them in practice. Wherever he came, the most horrid barbarities and cruel depredations ensued: famine and conflagration marked his 4
progress: for he destroyed all the provisions he could not take with him, and burnt all the towns before he left them; so that the full result of his conquests were murder, poverty, and desolation. 1 C. God isn t finished Haggai 2:5-7; 9 Haggai 2:6-7 For thus says the Lord of hosts, Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. He had already done it multiple times Egyptian dynasty had fallen Assyrians had fallen now Babylonians had their moment in the sun God is in control of the nations He took Israel and Judah captive for 70 years then caused a pagan king to order their return they came back and rebuilt the Temple in Ezra But He isn t finished the people continued to fall back into sin lived mediocre religious life until the time of Christ Temple destroyed again in 70 A.D. Israel banned as a nation in 135 A.D. Is God finished? no Bass recitative from the Messiah he will shake... There are a number of temples in the Bible The Tabernacle 1444 B.C. Solomon s Temple destroyed in 586 B.C. Zerubbabel s Temple 516 B.C. desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 169 B.C. Herod s Temple 19 B.C.-70 A.D. The present Temple our bodies 1 Corinthians 6:19 Ezekiel s Temple Ezekiel 40 The eternal temple Revelation 21:22 But God isn t merely talking about Haggai s time all the nations hasn t been fulfilled another millennial prophecy! Luke 21:25-27 There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. D. The gold is mine Haggai 2:8 Haggai 2:8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of hosts. why does God say this? to remind us that all of the things we give our energy to are controlled by Him He made the earth He controls the nations even the gold and silver are His Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the Lord s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. IV. PROMISED BLESSING Haggai 2:10-19 Back to basics enough talk about the future how about now? two key questions to applying God s blessings now A. Is consecration contagious? Haggai 2:12 Haggai 2:12 If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy? And the priests answered, No. you can t get holy merely by hanging around good people or going to church or doing religious things God hates religious ritual 1 John Foxe, William Byron Forbush, ed., Foxe s Book of Martyrs (repr., 2004, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2008), 213 5
Isaiah 1:11-15 What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me? Says the Lord. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. B. Is contamination contagious? Haggai 2:13 Haggai 2:13 Then Haggai said, If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, will the latter become unclean? And the priests answered, It will become unclean. it is far easier to spread evil than virtue you don t have to plant weeds! bad company corrupts good morals you d better watch who you hang with! C. Is the seed still in the barn? Haggai 2:14-19 Haggai 2:19 Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you. the people of Israel had planted the seed i.e. they were working on the Temple but it wasn t finished it takes time to bear fruit but if we are trying God will bless us V. CHOOSING OF ZERUBBABEL Haggai 2:20-23 Haggai 2:23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant, declares the Lord, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts. the signet ring was a symbol of honor, authority, and power this was a symbol of a king s scepter which was used to seal letters Zerubbabel, as God s signet ring, stands as the official representative of the Davidic dynasty and represents the resumption of the messianic line interrupted by the Exile Zerubbabel, who reestablished the Davidic line of kings, which would culminate in the millennial reign of Christ he is in the line of Christ both through Joseph and Mary in the New Testament possibly through a levirate marriage (Luke 3:27), thus bypassing God s curse on the lines of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22:24 30; 36:27 32). 6
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