1. Haggai 2:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

2. Knowing God’s Word
Haggai

3. Knowing God’s Word
Last week we studied Zephaniah, containing prophecy to Judah, Jerusalem and the surrounding nations
This week we move on to the book of Haggai
The book of Haggai is the 37th book of our OT; the 10th of the minor prophets

4. Knowing God’s Word Haggai is the author of this book (1:1)
The Hebrew name Haggay means “festal” or “festive”
Haggai could have been born on the day of a major feast
He is mentioned only in this book save 2 mentions in Ezra (5:1 & 6:14)

5. Knowing God’s Word
Haggai is a post-exilic prophet (the first) that prophesied in the time of Zerubbabel
Zerubbabel was the leader of the first group of exiles to come back to Jerusalem
Their main purpose in coming back was to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar

6. Knowing God’s Word The dating of this prophecy would be 520 BC (1:1)
Haggai is a book that gives us 6 very specific dates (1:1, 15; 2:1, 10, 18, 20)
This is one of the reasons that we are able to be so specific and sure when it comes to the date of 520 BC

7. Knowing God’s Word
The purpose of Haggai’s prophecies were simple: to encourage the people to rebuild the temple
The people had been back in Jerusalem for about 18 years
They had worked the first 2 years, laying the foundation, but then work had ceased for 16 years

8. Knowing God’s Word
The prophecies of Haggai are all delivered in a 4 month period
The people would eventually get back to work, finishing the temple in about 4 more years
Haggai was a contemporary of Zechariah (Ezra 5:1; 6:14)

9. Knowing God’s Word
The book itself is outlined as a series of 4 messages
These messages address specific concerns with the 50,000 or so exiles that had returned to Jerusalem
Again, hope is given to the people as God always seems to do

10. Knowing God’s Word
Key Verses in Haggai:
1:1-4
1:7-8
2:4-9

11. Knowing God’s Word Outline of Haggai:
1st Message: Rebuild The Temple (1)
2nd Message: Encouragement (2:1-9)
3rd Message: Holiness (2:10-19)
4th Message: Future (2:20-23)