A Wake-Up Call is Coming

 O. T. #2256  "A Wake-Up Call is Coming"

August 12, 2022

Introduction to Haggai

Most motels offer a service of a wake-up call in the morning. I'm not sure why, since alarm clocks are provided. Sometimes we need it so we actually get out of bed and not linger in a sleepy state. Well, the Jews need a wake-up call, so God sent it by way of a prophet named Haggai. I hope you join me for some encouragment found here, too.

Background

This Minor Prophet Haggai had little recorded about his parents or tribal ancestry, nor his occupation. Some commentaries say that Haggai the prophet was born in Judah before 586 BC, and was one of a small company who had seen the former Temple in its glory. If that were so, then he would have been over 70 years of age when writing his prophecy. He was the first to prophesy in the new Israel.

What happened in the world was this-the Medes and Persians conquered the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus the Great reigned in the outlying land whil Darius reigned in what was Babylon (at least I think that is how it was). Cyrus made a decree that allowed the Jews could return to the place Jerusalem was located and rebuild the Temple. Haggai mentions King Darius in verse 1. 

Zerubbabel led the first group of Jews, about 50,000 of them, and Joshua the high priest. Nehemiah told us the details about this. Opposition resulted in the work abandoned for about 10-16 years. So God used Haggai to prophesy 4 messages to the Jews, to encourage them to get back to work. His ministry only lasted a short 4 months. His motivation was sufficient, and the people started again. 

Also, their spiritual priorities brought them back to worship God and keep the feasts required. the Temple represented God's dwelling place and His presence with His chosen people. God's glory had departed Jerusalem when the Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

This leads to the Millennium reign of the Messiah Jesus Christ when He returns to earth to rule as King of kings. There will be national peace and blessings at that time.

[Resource: The MacArthur Bible Commentary]

I hope you will join us as we read what God had to say to the Jews by Haggai and to us today. He sends a wake-up call and a shake-up call. Don't we need it today, dear friend?