Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
In v.15-19 we are told three times to "give careful thought".
God wants to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) not remove them!
In v.15-19 we are told three times to "give careful thought".
God wants to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) not remove them!
v.4-5 'But now be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord.'Be strong, Joshua… Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
I have been reading elsewhere about the balance between trusting and trying and these verses bring this out. We trust God for his enabling but we also have work to do.
v.4-5 'But now be strong, Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord.'Be strong, Joshua… Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
I have been reading elsewhere about the balance between trusting and trying and these verses bring this out. We trust God for his enabling but we also have work to do.
v.23 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
In Jeremiah 22:24 we read "'As surely as I live,' declares the Lord, 'even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off.'…This is what the Lord says: 'Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.'"
Note that Zerubbabel was a descendant of Jehoiachin (Matthew 1:11-12).
(From Scripture Studies) "A "signet ring" was a ring with a seal on it, which was the legal stamp and signature of its owner. It was used to sign letters and legal documents. It was a prized possession of its owner, especially those in positions of power and honor. The royal line of David was supposed to be the signet ring of the Lord, His representative on earth, but they failed miserably, and so, after Jehoiachin, the Lord no longer saw them as His signet ring. However, in His message to Haggai, the Lord promised that honor would once again be restored to the royal line: "I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you." The judgment upon Jehoiachin would be reversed. The honor of the royal line would be restored in the person of Jesus Christ, who was a direct descendant of Zerubbabel (see Matt. 1:13)." http://www.scripturestudies.com/Vol6/F8/ot.html
God overruled past failures and worked a complete reversal in Zerubbabel's life and He can do the same for us.
v.23 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
In Jeremiah 22:24 we read "'As surely as I live,' declares the Lord, 'even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off.'…This is what the Lord says: 'Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.'"
Note that Zerubbabel was a descendant of Jehoiachin (Matthew 1:11-12).
(From Scripture Studies) "A "signet ring" was a ring with a seal on it, which was the legal stamp and signature of its owner. It was used to sign letters and legal documents. It was a prized possession of its owner, especially those in positions of power and honor. The royal line of David was supposed to be the signet ring of the Lord, His representative on earth, but they failed miserably, and so, after Jehoiachin, the Lord no longer saw them as His signet ring. However, in His message to Haggai, the Lord promised that honor would once again be restored to the royal line: "I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you." The judgment upon Jehoiachin would be reversed. The honor of the royal line would be restored in the person of Jesus Christ, who was a direct descendant of Zerubbabel (see Matt. 1:13)." http://www.scripturestudies.com/Vol6/F8/ot.html
God overruled past failures and worked a complete reversal in Zerubbabel's life and He can do the same for us.
v.2-3 Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?'
(From Constable's Commentary) "The second peril was a problem of incorrect perspectives. When the workers began rebuilding again, some of the people started comparing the structure they were working on to the previous temple that the Babylonians had destroyed. They were saying that the present temple was nothing in comparison to Solomon's temple (2:3)…It looked as though all their work would amount to nothing significant."
v.2-3 Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?'
(From Constable's Commentary) "The second peril was a problem of incorrect perspectives. When the workers began rebuilding again, some of the people started comparing the structure they were working on to the previous temple that the Babylonians had destroyed. They were saying that the present temple was nothing in comparison to Solomon's temple (2:3)…It looked as though all their work would amount to nothing significant."
v.14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.’”
(From Constable's Commentary) "The third peril was a problem of unrealistic expectations. The people thought that because they had taken on the project of rebuilding the temple, God would begin to bless them greatly. They looked at their external obedience as what God should bless (2:12). Haggai reminded them that it was wholehearted devotion to God that was necessary to obtain His blessing, not just piling stone upon stone."
v.14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.’”
(From Constable's Commentary) "The third peril was a problem of unrealistic expectations. The people thought that because they had taken on the project of rebuilding the temple, God would begin to bless them greatly. They looked at their external obedience as what God should bless (2:12). Haggai reminded them that it was wholehearted devotion to God that was necessary to obtain His blessing, not just piling stone upon stone."
v.22 "I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms."
(From Constable's Commentary) "The fourth peril was a problem of unnecessary fears. The people looked at the strength of the Gentile nations around them, and concluded that their small community would never amount to anything. Haggai had to remind them that God would judge the Gentile nations one day. They needed to look beyond the immediate future, and believe God's promises concerning Israel's ultimate restoration and exaltation over the nations (2:21-22)."
This is the fourth message in Haggai's book, each one dealing with a peril. Constable in his Commentary has listed these as: misplaced priority, incorrect perspective, unrealistic expectation, and unnecessary fear.
v.22 "I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms."
(From Constable's Commentary) "The fourth peril was a problem of unnecessary fears. The people looked at the strength of the Gentile nations around them, and concluded that their small community would never amount to anything. Haggai had to remind them that God would judge the Gentile nations one day. They needed to look beyond the immediate future, and believe God's promises concerning Israel's ultimate restoration and exaltation over the nations (2:21-22)."
This is the fourth message in Haggai's book, each one dealing with a peril. Constable in his Commentary has listed these as: misplaced priority, incorrect perspective, unrealistic expectation, and unnecessary fear.