Just less than a month after the Jews restart the rebuilding project, the Lord sends another message through Haggai to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, to Joshua, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people (2:2). The Lord’s message asks the older Jews—the ones who “saw this house in its former glory” (2:3)—how they view the Temple they are rebuilding. This question comes because many of the older Jews had wept when the foundation was laid; they grieved because they felt the rebuilt Temple would never measure up to Solomon’s grand Temple (Ezra 3:12-13). The Lord addresses their disappointment, asking, “Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” (2:3).
While He acknowledges their negative assessment, the Lord challenges it as well. Four times, in rapid succession, he admonishes the leaders (Zerubbabel and Joshua) and the rest of people to “be strong” (2:4). The reason for their renewed courage stems from one overriding truth: “I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst” (2:5). His presence among them, promised in the Mosaic covenant, gives them a compelling reason to “Fear not” (2:5).
As the “Lord of hosts” (armies), He pledges “in a little while, I will shake all nations so that the treasures of all nations shall come in and I will fill this house with glory” (2:7). This temple will not lack beauty and splendor for the Lord owns all the silver and gold needed to adorn it; “The sliver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts” (2:8). Much to the surprise of the Jews who believed this rebuilt Temple would never measure up to Solomon’s Temple, the Lord declares “the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former” (2:9). In this rebuilt Temple, the Lord promises to “give peace” to His people (2:9).
Just over two months later, on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the Lord speaks again through Haggai the prophet. In this message, the Jews are directed to “ask the priests” regarding the stipulations for purity prescribed in the law. The first question asks whether something consecrated as holy (“holy meat”) can transfer holiness through touching “bread or stew or wine or oil or any other kind of food” (2:12). The priests answer, “No” (2:13). This leads to a second question: If someone is ceremonially unclean due to contact with a dead body (see Num 19:11), would physical contact with any of these food items render them unclean? (2:13). Here the priests answer in the affirmative; defilement, unlike holiness, is contagious and can be contaminate whatever it touches.
Haggai then responds to the priests in light of their answers: “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean” (2:14). In other words, the defilement of the disobedient Jewish remnant contaminated their “every work” and their “offerings” on the altar; it was all considered “unclean” by God (2:14). This is the reason they have experienced a constant lack of gain or wine (2:16). The Lord was disciplining them for their misplaced, self-centered priorities: “I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail” (2:17). Until recently, the Jews had not adequately considered their ways (1:5, 7). Though their crops failed to produce what they hoped, they failed to respond with repentance and realignment. As the Lord declares, “you did not turn to me” (2:17).
However, now that the nation had listened to the Lord’s message through Haggai (1:12-15), things had changed. The Lord invites them to “consider” what is about to happen from “this day onward” (2:18). It’s true they haven’t seen a bountiful harvest yet—the seed is still in the barn (2:19). It’s true the fruit is not yet on the vine, fig trees, pomegranates, or olive trees (2:19). However, the Lord promises “from this day on I will bless you” (2:19). God’s blessing will follow renewed obedience!
On the same day as the previous message from the Lord to the priests, Haggai receives another “word of the Lord”, this time for Zerubbabel (2:20). Zerubbabel is told the Lord is about to “shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms” (2:21). Global upheaval is coming; armies will clash and “horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother” (2:22). However, despite the conflict and chaos, God has a good plan for His servant, Zerubbabel: “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” (2:23). God has his hand on Zerubbabel and will make Zerubbabel “like a signet ring” (2:23). Zerubbabel will act with God’s authority in leading the nation through turbulent times.
Knowing God: Understanding His Person and Ways
God blesses the renewed obedience of His people. When the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah respond with repentance to God’s rebuke through Haggai, God promises to begin blessing them instead of disciplining them. Their crops would begin to flourish, their vines and orchards would start to produce. So today, the way of blessing lies along the path of renewed obedience. As we seek first His kingdom and righteousness, He promises to supply all our needs (Matt 6:33).
God is with us as we work with Him. While rebuilding the Temple was a daunting task, complicated by external opposition and financial hardship (1:6), God commanded the Jews to “be strong”, to “work” and to “Fear not” (2:4-5). To bolster their faith and courage, God promised “I am with you” (2:4); “My Spirit remains in your midst” (2:5). Jesus gave this same promise to His followers as they work to make disciples of all nations: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). As we work with Him, He empowers us with His presence.
God can make our work for Him more glorious than we ever dream. In the eyes of the Jews who had seen the former Temple, this reconstruction project was doomed to disappoint. It could never match the glory of what had gone before. The Lord surprises them with a stunning promise: “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former” (2:9). Further, He declares that in this Temple, He will “give peace” (2:9). This promise was fulfilled in part by Herod the Great’s refurbishing work on this Temple. Even more importantly, it was into this Temple that the Lord of Glory, Jesus, would come. His presence would bring the glory of God to the Temple in a way that eclipsed anything from the past. Those of us who see our labour for the Lord as small and inconsequential must realize God can accomplish more through our efforts than we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20; 1 Cor 15:58).
Joining God: Moving with God on Mission
Our estimates of our work for God can be short-sighted and small. Many of the Jews, especially the older ones who had seen Solomon’s Temple, viewed the rebuilding efforts as inadequate and inferior to the former Temple. Their assessment was wrong. God declared He would make this Temple, though seemingly second-rate, to be more glorious than Solomon’s Temple. Centuries later, the glorious Son of God would enter this Temple and cleanse it. His death outside Jerusalem would be the way God would “give peace” to sinful people who trusted in Him (2:9).
When our lives are disobedient, our work and offerings are defiled. The Lord tells His disobedient people that their failure to put Him first by rebuilding the Temple has defiled the “work of their hands” and “what they offer” on the altar (2:14). When our lives are unclean in God’s sight, our works are as well. Here is a reminder of the truth told to a disobedient king Saul: “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam 15:22). Our top priority must be to align (or realign) with God’s priorities.
God keeps his hand on His leaders in turbulent, dangerous times. Haggai’s final message comes to Zerubbabel, telling him (and the nation) to expect tumultuous times ahead. God was about to shake the nations. Armies would attack; nations would rise and fall. But in the midst of the upheaval, God would keep Zerubbabel as a signet ring on His sovereign hand. He would allow Zerubbabel to exercise leadership with the Lord’s authority. God keeps His hand on His leaders and uses them to accomplish His will.
Reflection Questions:
- When I am tempted to view my efforts in serving the Lord as small and inadequate, how can the message from Haggai 2 reorient and encourage my heart?
- How will I draw encouragement today from the Lord’s promise to be with me (2:5) as I seek to serve His purposes?