Journey Through the Minor Prophets, Part 3নমুনা

Intro

Nicole introduces this lesson about the returning exiles who were living in an age of miraculous return and renewal—but they had to do their part in rebuilding the Temple. The prophet Haggai has something to say about their rebuilding priorities.

Haggai: In the Text

Haggai lived at a time when God’s people had been allowed miraculously to return to their homeland. Although they had God-ordained leaders as they began their lives over again, their priorities needed a major adjustment.

A Symbol for Haggai

The people return from exile. They busy themselves rebuilding their homes and cities. There’s one major problem—they don’t show the same interest in rebuilding the house of God.

God speaks through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you trying to take care of yourselves without taking care of me?” One man, Zerubbabel the son of the governor of Judah, steps forward to lead the building project. Because of his leadership and representation of God’s interests, he is called God’s “signet ring.”

Signet rings were used for endorsing ancient documents and agreements with royal authority. In rebuilding the Temple, Zerubbabel is YHWH’s seal of approval. We might say he “seals the deal” in the people’s return to the land.

On that day, declares the LORD Almighty, “I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,” declares the LORD, “and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the LORD Almighty.

Haggai 2:23 (NIV)

Reckoning with the Reality of the Rebuilt Temple