Build His House - Week 8
Christ in Old Testament | Build His House
Lesson 8 Haggai 1
CONTEXT to Discuss
In Lesson 7, the Israelites were in exile in Babylon because they broke their covenant with God by forsaking the Sabbath and worshiping idols. God specifically ordained 70 years of exile to discipline Israel for the 70 times they did not trust Him and give the land Sabbath rest. During these years of exile, no King of Israel reigned, and no high priest made the yearly atonement necessary to cover and remove the sins of Israel. Now the exile is over, and God called the Israelites to return to their Promised Land to worship Him there. Most remained in exile, but a remnant of 42,360 returned. With a desire to worship God, these built an altar and laid a foundation for the temple; however, the Samaritans obstructed their progress because the remnant refused their help in building the temple. Discouraged, the remnant stopped building the temple. Fifteen years later in 520 BC, God speaks to Haggai.
Connecting to one another
What is a work that God calls us to do or is calling you specifically to do that you have either delayed starting or have stopped doing? At this point do not share any motivations or reasons.
Leaders, after each person shares, ask God to be especially present today as you read & discuss His Word.
Understanding the Truth with one another
Verse by Verse ~ Topic by Topic ~ Argument by Argument
Read Haggai 1:1-15.
1. People and time matter to God. Notice all you can about the who’s and when’s of verses 1 and 15. What is this chapter’s beginning? What is its end?
2. What are people saying about time? (v2). What is God’s response? (v3-4)
3. What four results for delayed obedience does God command them to consider? (v5-6) What is His point?
One way to help us track a book’s message is to choose key words from a paragraph in the same order they occur to write a cryptic summary. See the highlighted words I chose. Then read my summary below.
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
Time not yet? Consider ways|harvest.
4. What does God command the remnant to do? Why? (v7-8)
5. In verses 5-6, God appealed to logic to encourage them to obey. He continues to appeal to logic, but in verses 9-11, He give new details. What are they? How do these details strengthen His appeal to obedience?
7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that Imay be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”
Paragraph 2 Summary -- Build house that I be glorified.
6. How do Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant respond to the Lord’s appeals? (v12)
7. What are all the results? (v13-15)
8. Highlight four to six words to capture your answers to #’s 6-7 and summarize this paragraph.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD . 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD , spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD .” 14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Write your summary. You may add any punctuation you wish. See my samples.
Go back through the three paragraphs. Square every “the word of the LORD came.” Underline every “LORD of hosts.” Circle any remaining “the LORD.”
Living the Truth as we are sent out
9. The LORD refers to the self-existing one, the covenant-keeping God. The LORD of hosts identifies Him as the Almighty, one who leads angel armies. What can you expect from God as you obey Him?
10. The Israelites experienced opposition in rebuilding the temple, yet God did not sanction their stopping the work of rebuilding the temple. What are some reasons why we delay obeying God or stop obeying God that seem logical to us? Consider your answers in the “Connecting to one another” to brainstorm these reasons.
11. Next week we will read Haggai 2, which will continue to encourage us to build God’s house right here in Laredo. Spend time worshiping God right now. He has chosen to dwell within each of you.
Extension Ideas for Today’s Lesson –
1. Ask God to show you His Word on whatever area of delayed or stopped obedience you shared today. Your leader or fellow CG members can help you find Scripture on your topic by posting an inquiry in your group chat.
2. Ask God to stir your heart to obedience. Meet with a CG member for prayer this week. Post prayers in your group chat.
3. Take a step toward God and obedience. Share the step you took in your group chat.
4. Read the book of Ezra 1-6 if you would like more information about the context of Haggai.
Homework – Read Haggai 1-2 for next week’s lesson.
God’s joy & strength to you,