Life & Times of the Minor Prophets

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Prior Lesson: Anthony Alford

Josiah

Obediah

Zephenia

Life & Times:HaggaiSunday School SeriesLesson 9 – Perry Parks

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Topics Last four kings of Judah Overview

The Exile and the Return

The Message of Haggai

High-level view to help enrich your personal study

Goal

The Timeline

Last 4 Kings of Judah

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Jehoahaz – Josiah’s Son

Put in place by Elders after Josiah’s death 3 month rule Taken captive by Pharaoh Neco (Egypt)

Jehoiakim (Eliakim)-Josiah’s Son

Chance to prevent exile (Jeremiah 26) Ignored Jeremiah…Killed the prophet Uriah Rebelled against Babylon in 605 BC Captured and exiled by to Babylon Deportation of Daniel

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The Trip to Babylon (900 mi?!)

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Zedekiah(Mattaniah) - Burned Jehoiachin’s uncle…Ignored Jeremiah Rebelled against Babylon…killed fo rebellion. Temple Destroyed; Walls demolished (586 BC) Last group of exiles make the Journey

Land is desolate…people are exiled to Babylon

Jehoiachin –Taken to Babylon Last king in line of David Taken to Babylon…Zerubbabel’s grandfather Temple plundered…people exiled (597 BC)

The Exile & the Return

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The Foreign Kings of the Exile Nebuchadnezzar –Babylon

Belshazzar - Babylon

Cyrus – Medo-Persia

All humbled by God…All used as his instruments

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Nebuchadnezzar Daniel & the Dream (Dan 2) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan 3) Driven Insane until he praises God (Dan 4)

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:37)

All humbled by God…All used as his instruments

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Belshazzar (Dan 5) Threw a party with temple treasures Ghost hand wrote his judgment on the wall Condemned for not learning from father Kingdom conquered that night…Medo-

Persia Medo-Persia’s rule over Judah from 539 BC

All humbled by God…All used as his instruments

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Cyrus the Great & the prophesy Ended exile in 538 BC…prophesied by Isaiah Isaiah 44:28-45:7…written 688 BC…150yrs

before Manuscripts exists today that pre-date Cyrus! Cyrus responds appropriately:

“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. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.” (2 Chron 36:23)

All humbled by God…All used as his instruments

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The Return from Exile(Ezra1-3) 3 Trips…900 miles!

Zerubbabel in 538 BC – Cyrus – 50K ppl

Ezra 80 yrs later –458 BC–Artaxerxes -2K ppl

Nehemiah 12yrs later – 445 BC –Artaxerxes-

few

Focusing today on the FIRST trip, Zerubbabel & Haggai

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Deciding to Stay or Go 1st trip: 50,000 ppl…many stayed behind Long, difficult road…many Jews were wealthy Traveling 900 mi to a ruined city God moved the hearts of a committed few

Be constantly willing to change your lifestyle to build God’s Kingdom!

God First…great zeal upon return! Nervous about surrounding peoples (Ezra 3:3) Built altar…started worshiping, though afraid Began to lay foundation of temple

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The Opposition

The would-be Samaritans

Resettled after Assyrian conquest (722 BC)

The “Nice guy approach” (Ezra 4)

Zerubbabel rejects their help (Ez 4:2)

The opposition escalates…bribing officials

Few faithful hands > many unfaithful hands

Do not be yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14)

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Running out of Gas?!

Temple work stop after a few yrs…535 BC

Cyrus dies 529 BC...Darius rules from 522BC

Focus shifted to building homes not the

temple

Dissapointed in temple foundation?

(Ezra4:12)

A once zealous people lose perspective

The Message of Haggai

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The book of Haggai Message to Zerubbabel & Joshua

Ch1 – Breaking them down

God calls the people to focus on HIM

Ch 2 – Building them up

Focus on His glory in the temple, not how it

looks

God declares them holy and promises fruit

He encourages Zerubbabel for his faithfulness

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Haggai 1:1-12 –the breakdown

God frustrated their work to expose their

focus

If we focus on God he will take care of us

If we focus on us, he will get our attention

They repented in their fear…got back to work!

Fruit grows by watering the root…not the fruit

Seek first His Kingdom, and God will take care of the rest

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Haggai 1:13-15 – the build-up

“I am with you.” THE great promise;

inspires boldness, courage and resolve!

God stirred their spirits to be willing to work!

Same promise when we seek & save the lost!

God’s spirit protects us AND motivates us.Ps 51…begging God’s spirit to be with & motivate

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Haggai 2:1-9– I am with you…Temple was looking less impressive

outwardly…

…but God promised more glory inwardly!

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Haggai 2:10-19– I will bless you

Object lesson on the importance of holiness

Before this God’s hand was against them…

…after this day it will be FOR them.

“From this day on I will bless you.” (2:19)

God declares an end to their fruitless labor

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Haggai 2:20-23– the signet ring

The Lord will display his power,

Zerubbabel…chosen to be God’s signet ring

God is pleased when we lead others to him

Lessons Learned…

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Matt 6:33 – Seek First His Kingdom“Water the root, not the fruit”

Spend your energy on getting what you want……He will keep you from it to get your attention!

More than he wants us comfortable…

…He wants us HOME

Go get your Kids!!