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Proper Priorities. Haggai 1. Context: Post-Exilic. Exile = 70 years (Jer 25.11-12).
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Proper Priorities Haggai 1
Context: Post-Exilic • Exile = 70 years (Jer 25.11-12). • Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: ‘This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up”’ (2 Ch 36.22-23; cf. Ezra 1.1-3)
Improper Priorities • “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘These people say, “The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built.” …Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’” (Hag 1.2-4)
“Give careful thought to your ways” (1.5b, 7b). • You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it’” (Hag 1.5-6; cf. Deut 28.38-40). • “because you did not obey the LORD your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you” (Deut 28.45bβ).
“Give careful thought to your ways” (1.5b, 7b). • God has ruined [hrb] crops (1.11) • God’s temple lies in ruins [hrb] (1.4, 9d)
Proper Priorities • Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people obeyed the voice of God (1.12). • Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people’s spirits were stirred by God (1.14). • Result = “They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty” (1.14b) • God: “I am with you” (1.13b).
God’s Spiritual Temple • “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2.4-5).