The People Prosper Under His Preaching
Haggai is the first prophet to emerge after the people of Judah return home from captivity. He’s also a preacher. He ministers after some Hebrew exiles in Babylon are repatriated under the decree of King Darius.
Haggai is a contemporary of Zechariah and Ezra, along with Zerubbabel. He also has a two-chapter book that contains his prophecy. It’s called Haggai. Notably, the writers of Hebrews quote Haggai 2:6 in Hebrews 12:26.
Haggai chastises God’s people who live in fine homes while the temple—the Almighty’s home here on earth—sits in shambles.
God tries to get his people’s attention for years, but they continue to miss it. Each year they plant much but harvest little. They struggle to survive.
God wants them to rebuild his temple and reestablish it as their center of worship. He wants his people to put him first and think about their own needs second. When they do this, he will provide for them.
Ezra remarks that the people prosper under the preaching of Haggai, a fine tribute to his effectiveness as God’s messenger.
If we feel we aren’t receiving God’s blessings, it’s up to us to determine why. Do we need to reorder our priorities, or do we need to allow our Lord to grow himself in us, preparing us for the future?
Is seeking God and doing his will our first priority?
What do others say about our work?
[Read about Haggai in Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14. Discover more in Haggai 1–2.]
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More Old Testament Sinners and Saints is part of the Bible Character Sketches series.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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