Haggai 2:10-19

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Haggai’s Third Sermon to Judah

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. There is a significant difference between sanctification and defilement.

  2. There is a significant difference between worship and religion.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You don’t have to wait for blessing.

QUESTIONS

  1. Refer to Jeremiah 25:4-11 and Jeremiah 29:10. What did the Lord predict through the prophet Jeremiah?

  2. How long was the period of captivity, and how can it be calculated?

  3. What was the rebuilt temple called?

  4. How long were the Jews back in Jerusalem before the temple was completed?

  5. Why did the people stop rebuilding for a while?

  6. What prompted the people to start rebuilding again?

  7. What was the purpose of Haggai’s series of four sermons?

ANSWERS

  1. Jeremiah first predicted that the Jews would spend seventy years as captives in Babylon for their sins against the Lord. The second prediction was that the people would return to their homeland.

  2. It was a period of seventy years. It can be figured from the time that Daniel and others were taken to Babylon in 605 B.C.

  3. Zerubbabel’s Temple

  4. Twenty years

  5. Out of fear, discouragement, and reversed priorities.

  6. The motivating and prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah.

  7. To stir up and challenge the people to begin rebuilding the temple.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. There was no transfer of sanctification (cleanness, holiness) according to the law. Defilement (uncleanness), however, was transferred according to the law. For example, a healthy person doesn’t transfer his health to a diseased person, but a diseased can transfer his disease to a healthy person. The same is true in the moral area. Bad company corrupts good morals.

  2. Haggai drew the distinction between sanctification and defilement to point out to the Jews that even though they had been bringing sacrifices while the temple was in ruins, it was not true worship. Their hearts were not in it and they were just going through “religious” motions. Such activity was unacceptable to God. When there was a change of heart, when they got right with the Lord, there was true worship and obedience and their actions proved it. Are you involved in true worship or religious activity?

CHALLENGE

  1. The people of Haggai’s day had a change of heart and their priorities were set in order. The Lord rewarded them even before the rebuilding was completed. The same is true now– spiritual blessings are available to every Christian now. From this day forward, set your priorities in order and you will be blessed.

KEY VERSES

  • “This people and this nation– every work of their hands, and what they offer is unclean.” Haggai 2:14

  • “‘I struck you in all labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord.” Haggai 2:17

  • “Consider now from this day forward...I will bless you.” Haggai 2:18-19

Haggai, Talks, Old TestamentDeb HarmsHaggai 2:10-19