Haggai and Zechariah

When one reads the book of twelve, you cannot help but be overjoyed at the thought of the restoration of Jerusalem.

Israel and Judah were severely punished by the Assyrians and Babylonians. After their punishment, God brought them home and promised to restore their kingdom, king, temple, priest, military, and economic prowess.

The Jews in the centuries leading up to the birth of Christ sought eagerly for such a restoration.

In hindsight, we obviously understand the restoration of “the new Jerusalem” in light of the church and a kingdom not of this world.

But for the Jews that lived while the post-exilic prophets taught, they had no such benefit of having seen Jesus.

They saw the words of the prophets as the physical (earthly) restoration of Jerusalem’s former glory.

As you read through these books, we need to try not to see them either from the Jews incorrect perspective or through a post-resurrection and ascension standpoint, but, rather, see Jerusalem the way Jesus did in Luke 19.41-2

“As he came near and saw the city.” Jesus began weeping over Jerusalem and said, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

Jesus wanted the inhabitants of Jerusalem to take part in the promises found in the prophets.

The Jews lack of understanding, however, condemned them to destruction.

Jesus was heartbroken over their incomprehension.

We find in these writings demands for faithfulness, justice, love, and mercy.

Unequivocally, the prophets teach, the righteous will live by faith.

Anshan

A Persian king from the city of Anshan Defeated the Median king Astyages in

550 BC Likely with help from Babylon

By 546, he conquered Lydia, now controlling land from the Persian Gulf to the Aegean Sea

539, the Persians prevailed at the battle of Opis on the Tigris River

A few weeks later, Cyrus walked into Babylon liberating the oppressed Babylonians without a fight

On a clay barrel called the Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus boasts of his feats in Babylon. He: Abolished slavery Improved housing Returned sacred images to their peoples Rebuilt sanctuaries Returned exiles to their homelands Instituted freedom of religion Abrogated Assyro-Babylonian policy of

deportation

Ezra 1:2-4 (Hebrew version) and 6:3-5 (Aramaic version)

“In the first year of Cyrus the king, cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt.”

Persian Period Rise of Cyrus to the coming of

Alexander the Great 538 – 333 BC

Historical sources Ezra-Nehemiah—covers 538 to 400 BC From the first return to Jerusalem to

the end of Nehemiah’s second term as governor of Judah

Earliest Greek and Hebrew manuscripts have Ezra-Nehemiah as a single book

Ezra 2—approximately 50,000 returned to Judah after the Cyrus edict Likely over several generations Josephus claims that many were loath to

leave their established positions in Babylon

In Babylon, the Jews, the name by which the people then became known, built houses, planted gardens, married, and raised families (Jer. 29.4-9)

Consequently, the ones that left Babylon were zealous for a Judean revival and rebuilding the temple

Sheshbazzar (538) Returned with temple vessels that

Nebuchadnezzar had removed (Ezra 1.7) Laid foundation of temple only (Ezra

5.16) Unknown fate

Zerubbabel (520) Likely Sheshbazzar’s nephew; grandson

of Jehoiachin, a direct descendant of David

Ezra (458) Nehemiah (445)

Samaria, just to the north of Judah, was inhabited by a people settled initially as exiles during the Assyrian empire.

The inhabitants of Samaria had become an eclectic nation, descendents of mixed marriages between the people settled during the Assyrian empire and the Judeans who had escaped exile after the Babylonian deportation

Zerubbabel rejected the Samaritans offer to help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem

Consequently, Samaria’s initial offer to help turned to open hostility, doing everything they could to stop the building of the temple

With a bitter economic and political rival just to the north, the work of the temple came to a halt by the time Cyrus died (530)

The second year of the reign of Darius I (522-486 BC)

The word of the LORD came by Haggai to Zerubbabel the governor and to Joshua the high priest on August 29, 520 BC

At a time of economic hardship and drought, the people did not feel it was appropriate to build a temple

“Is it time for you to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” 1.4

Before giving devotion to God’s house (1.6) Sowing much, harvesting little Eating, but not satisfied Drinking, but not enough to become drunk Putting on clothes, but never warm Earning money, but can’t afford a bag

without holes to put it in! Misplaced priorities

What seemed right to a people under hard economic conditions was completely wrong

Only by putting God first would the people regain God’s blessing

The people responded to Haggai’s first message and started rebuilding the temple

However, disappointment had set in when the older generation compared the new temple to the first temple

Take courage, v. 3, “my spirit is in your midst”

The new temple will be filled with glory, exceeding that of the former house; v. 7, “I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory.”

Interpretation If coming glory was greater than

former glory and “glory” is counted in physical terms, then this promise of God was never fulfilled

If “glory” is God’s glory, then why would his glory be greater now than formerly?▪ Because “all nations,” not just the Jews,

would be included starting in Jerusalem and then spreading out to all of the world

Uncleanness is more contagious than holiness (2.11-13)

Message delivered on the day the foundation was laid, prompting the LORD to declare, “From this day on I will bless you” (2.19).

Directed to Zerubbabel (2.20-23), whom God calls his “servant.”

God is about to “overthrow the thrones of kingdoms.”

Again, if interpreted from a physical kingdom standpoint, it didn’t happen

If, however, Zerubbabel, as a branch of David, if representative of Christ the Messiah, then the spiritual kingdom has been and continues to be established.

Completed by 515 (Ezra 6.14-15)

The people listened and followed through with the message and encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah

No record of what happened to Haggai after delivering his message

Worship is to be performed the way God has authorized when physically possible Obedience is not optional Build you life around the house of God!

Putting God’s purposes before your own material needs ensures that those needs are well-supplied (Matt 6.25-33)

As a contemporary of Haggai, his message revolved rebuilding the temple

Chapters 1-8 comprise an elaborate literary arrangement with intriguing symbolism and powerful meaning

1. Four horses and peace2. Four horns/craftsmen and interpretation3. Measuring line and call to return from

north4. Satan accuses; Joshua cleansed; the

Branch5. Two anointed ones (priest and king)6. Measured flying scroll7. Woman in ephah and interpretation8. Four chariots and peace

High priest crowned (Zech 6.11)The Branch will build the temple

(6.12)

Jesus prophesied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2.19)

He is our high priest (Heb 3.1)He is our King of kings and Lord of

lords (Rev 19.16)

Jesus undoubtedly has patrolled the earth

Defeated powers and principalities (Eph 1.21)

Called us to return from captivity of sinBeen challenged by Satan and prevailedAnointed Branch into which all may be

graftedSent forth his wordContained wickednessSent the Comforter to maintain peace

1. Jesus undoubtedly has patrolled the earth

2. Defeated powers and principalities

3. Called us to return from captivity of sin

4. Been challenged by Satan and prevailed

5. Anointed Branch into which all may be grafted

6. Sent forth his word7. Contained

wickedness8. Sent the Comforter

to maintain peace

1. Four horses and peace2. Four horns/craftsmen

and interpretation3. Measuring line and call

to return from north4. Satan accuses; Joshua

cleansed; the Branch5. Two anointed ones

(priest and king)6. Measured flying scroll7. Woman in ephah and

interpretation8. Four chariots and

peace