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“Consider your ways”: Haggai’s Prophecy (Study 2 of 2). Laindon Bible Class 23 rd January 2008. Prologue / Introduction. Messages 3,4 & 5 : Further encouragement and admonition Chapter 2. Messages 1 & 2 : A call to arouse is heeded Chapter 1. Epilogue / Conclusion.
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“Consider your ways”:Haggai’s Prophecy (Study 2 of 2) Laindon Bible Class 23rd January 2008
Prologue / Introduction Messages 3,4 & 5: Further encouragement and admonition Chapter 2 Messages 1 & 2: A call to arouse is heeded Chapter 1 Epilogue / Conclusion Our two studies (God willing)
What we have learnt so far… • Prophecy – future prediction and Divine instruction • 2 x “Consider your ways” – Heb. ‘Set your heart…’ • God and His house must come first in life of believer • Prophecy given post exile, c.520 B.C., over 4 months • Haggai’s pivotal role in energising the people • 5 messages (2 in chapter 1, 3 in chapter 2) • People’s energy focused on own houses not LORD’s • God’s blessings had been withheld (unbeknown) • The need to glorify and give pleasure to the LORD • 23 days later, action taken, a leader-led initiative • Desperate situation reversed “I am with you” (ch.1v13)
Message Contained in verses Recipient(s) Timing One To rouse Ch. 1v1-11 Ze. + Jo. then also people 1st Day, 6th Month Two To commend Ch. 1v12-15 Ze. + Jo. and people 24th Day, 6th Month Three To encourage Ch. 2v1-9 Ze. + Jo. and people 21st Day, 7th Month Four To confirm Ch. 2v10-19 Priests 24th Day, 9th Month Five To assure Ch. 2v20-23 Zerubbabel 24th Day, 9th Month Messages three, four and five Exhortational focus Prophetic focus
<Chapter 2, Verse 1> <Message 3> A significant timing – 21st Day, 7th Month • This was the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23v34-36), also know as Feast of Ingathering • Its timing aligned with the fruit (esp. grape) harvest • It involved the construction of tabernacles or booths and points forward to the Kingdom age (see Revelation 21v3, Zechariah 14v16) Haggai 2v1 1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, God’s purpose works in phases: There have been different stages of the LORD’s house (including one yet to come)
<Chapter 2, Verses 2-3> <Message 3> The former and the latter house compared • Note: “this house”, in God’s eyes the same house continues • Had Haggai seen the “first glory” (any that had 75+ years old)? • To comfort disappointed, given future vision of greater things… Haggai 2v2-3 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Haggai 2v9 <Future house> 9The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
<Chapter 2, Verses 4-5> <Message 3> A three-fold utterance – “be strong” • A repeated phrase at key times in Israel’s history, e.g. • Moses/Joshua (1), David/Solomon (2), Hezekiah (3), Post-exile (4) • It is only through absolute determination that the victory can be won, there can be no ‘half measures’… • Are we remaining resolute to the end? Haggai 2v4-5 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: 5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. (1) Deut. 31v6,7,23; Josh. 1v6,7,9,18,10v25 (2) 1 Kin. 2v2; 1 Chr. 22v13,28v10,20 (3) 2 Chr. 32v7 (4) Zech. 8v9,13
<Chapter 2, Verses 6-7> <Message 3> The great shaking – introduced • The stages of “emendation” (Brother John Thomas) • A dramatic change is required, therefore the scriptures often use the figure of an earthquake (e.g. Revelation 16v17-18) • This will be both a literal and a symbolic upheaval in the world (physical changes, political changes) Haggai 2v6-7 6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
? <Chapter 2, Verses 6-7> <Message 3> The great shaking – explained, part one Haggai 2v6 6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; Hebrews 12v26-28 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: The New Testament explains the Old Testament • Main theme of Hebrews is passing away of Mosaic order (e.g. ch. 1v10-12, 8v13, 9v26). Hence, this heavens and earth = Jewish commonwealth (as Deut. 32v1, Jer. 4v23) = AD70 • “Things… made” = temple & ordinances (Heb. 9v1-2,11) • “Things… cannot be shaken” = God’s laws (Matt. 24v35)
AD70 Future <Chapter 2, Verses 6-7> <Message 3> The great shaking – explained, part two Haggai 2v6 6 … I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations … Haggai 2v21-22 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;22And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. A Divine Plan with Two Phases • “The sea, and the dry land”, a reference to judgments to be meted out on the Gentiles / Heathen (“all nations”) • “Sea” of (Gentile) nations a scriptural symbol, e.g. Isa. 60v5 • Mid-sentence split as with Isa. 61v2 cp. Luke 4v19-20 • Haggai 2 therefore covers two phases (as with the Olivet Prophecy recorded in Luke 21, covering AD70 and the Future)
<Chapter 2, Verses 6-7> <Message 3> The great shaking – “a little while” • It is only “a little while” in the context of the whole plan and purpose of God! Psalm 90v2 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 2 Peter 3v7-9 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Singular Plural <Chapter 2, Verses 6-7> <Message 3> “The things desired of all nations” (RV) Haggai 2v7 (RV mg.) 7 and I will shake all nations, and the things desired of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. LXX “the choice things of all the nations” Ta eklekta panton ton ethnon Eklektais undeniably linked to the Greek from which “elect” is derived in the NT (e.g. Luke 18v7 “elect” = eklektos) I will fill this house with glory – God manifestation (perhaps reference to the bride, Rev. 21v9-11)
<Chapter 2, Verses 8-9> <Message 3> The LORD’s silver and His gold Haggai 2v8 8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. • The Wealth of the Gentiles to be brought to Jerusalem • Isaiah 60v5-6 [mg. “forces” = ‘wealth’] • Isaiah 61v6 • The Redeemed and those of Tried Faith, God’s treasure • Malachi 3v17 • 1 Peter 2v9 / Deuteronomy 7v6 [lit. ‘special treasure’] 2 Timothy 2v20-21 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
<Chapter 2, Verse 10-14> <Message 4> A message to the Priests – clean / unclean • The effects of uncleanness are more pervasive than the effects of holiness (contact with holy things does not make us holy, but contact with unclean does sully) • A reference to the sin offering (Leviticus 6v27) and ceremonial uncleanness (Numbers 19v22) [diagram] Haggai 2v11-13 11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
<Chapter 2, Verse 15-19> <Message 4> More self-examination required… • Once again, the people’s attention is drawn towards their previous position (outside of God’s favour) • The situation now turned around, from… • “I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail” (v.17) • <to> “from this day will I bless you” (v.19) • Care must be taken not to return! (2 Peter 2v20-22) Haggai 2v15,18 15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: … 18Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it.
<Chapter 2, Verse 20-23> <Message 5> The signet of delegated authority • The signet imbued its holder with all of the authority of its originator (Genesis 41v42, Esther 3v10/12) • Jesus’ heavenly authority (Matthew 21v23-27) • Jesus “my servant” e.g. Isaiah 42v1 • Interesting: Zerubbabel had a guardianwho was not his real father (last study) • Jesus “chosen” e.g. Matthew 12v18 Haggai 2v23 23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
Lessons & conclusion of our two studies • It all comes down to our priorities… • We need to regularly consider these to remain on the right track… • It is all too easy to build up our own houses to the exclusion of the House of the LORD… • There is fairness – what we sow is what we will reap… • We can only survive the great shaking yet to come if we build upon a rock…
Holiness and Uncleanness (Msg 4) Back Sin Offering = Holy Touches Priest’s garments = Holy No further effects Dead body = Unclean Anything touched = Unclean Anything touched by that = Unclean