00:00:02
An introduction to the book of Haggai.00:00:05
00:00:07
Haggai was likely born in Babylon.00:00:10
00:00:10
In 537 B.C.E., he traveled00:00:13
00:00:13
with a remnant of the Jewish nation00:00:15
00:00:15
to Jerusalem,00:00:16
00:00:16
where he would later serve as a prophet.00:00:19
00:00:19
Haggai completed his book00:00:21
00:00:21
in 520 B.C.E.00:00:23
00:00:23
But why did Jehovah cause him00:00:25
00:00:25
to begin prophesying?00:00:27
00:00:27
In 536 B.C.E.,00:00:30
00:00:30
the Jews laid the foundation00:00:32
00:00:32
for the new temple in Jerusalem.00:00:34
00:00:34
Sadly, the work stopped for many years00:00:37
00:00:37
because of opposition from enemies00:00:40
00:00:40
and apathy on the part of the Jews.00:00:43
00:00:43
In the year 520 B.C.E.,00:00:45
00:00:45
Jehovah sent Haggai00:00:47
00:00:47
to rekindle the zeal of the Jews00:00:49
00:00:49
in order to resume temple construction.00:00:52
00:00:53
The temple was finally completed00:00:55
00:00:55
in 515 B.C.E.00:00:57
00:01:00
Did you know?00:01:02
00:01:02
In the 38 verses
that make up chapters 1 and 2,00:01:06
00:01:06
Haggai uses the name Jehovah 35 times,00:01:10
00:01:10
14 times in the expression00:01:12
00:01:12
“Jehovah of armies.”00:01:14
00:01:18
The book of Haggai has two chapters00:01:20
00:01:20
that convey four inspired messages.00:01:23
00:01:25
Chapter 1 directs the first message00:01:27
00:01:27
toward those who
are focusing on their own interests00:01:30
00:01:30
while Jehovah’s house lies in ruins.00:01:33
00:01:35
Governor Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua,00:01:38
00:01:38
and the rest of the people respond favorably00:01:41
00:01:41
and go to work on the temple just 23 days00:01:44
00:01:44
after Haggai started to prophesy.00:01:46
00:01:48
In chapter 2,00:01:49
00:01:49
Haggai delivers the second inspired message.00:01:52
00:01:52
Jehovah promises
that he will shake the nations00:01:56
00:01:56
and cause their precious things to come in00:01:59
00:01:59
and that he will fill his house with glory.00:02:01
00:02:04
Later, Haggai delivers
the third inspired message to the priests,00:02:09
00:02:09
explaining that neglect of pure worship00:02:11
00:02:11
has made the nation unclean before God.00:02:14
00:02:17
Then Haggai proclaims the fourth message.00:02:20
00:02:20
Again, Jehovah speaks
of shaking the heavens and the earth,00:02:23
00:02:23
but this time it will mean00:02:26
00:02:26
the complete annihilation of human kingdoms.00:02:28
00:02:32
Centuries afterward,00:02:34
00:02:34
the apostle Paul quoted Haggai’s words00:02:36
00:02:36
to show that God’s Kingdom
in the hands of Jesus Christ00:02:40
00:02:40
will never be shaken.00:02:42
00:02:43
As you read Haggai,00:02:45
00:02:45
note how personal interests00:02:47
00:02:47
must take a back seat to spiritual interests,00:02:50
00:02:50
how mere formalistic worship00:02:52
00:02:52
does not please Jehovah,00:02:54
00:02:54
and how God’s Kingdom
in the hands of Jesus Christ00:02:57
00:02:57
will never be shaken.00:02:59
Introduction to Haggai
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Introduction to Haggai
An introduction to the book of Haggai.
Haggai was likely born in Babylon.
In 537 B.C.E., he traveled
with a remnant of the Jewish nation
to Jerusalem,
where he would later serve as a prophet.
Haggai completed his book
in 520 B.C.E.
But why did Jehovah cause him
to begin prophesying?
In 536 B.C.E.,
the Jews laid the foundation
for the new temple in Jerusalem.
Sadly, the work stopped for many years
because of opposition from enemies
and apathy on the part of the Jews.
In the year 520 B.C.E.,
Jehovah sent Haggai
to rekindle the zeal of the Jews
in order to resume temple construction.
The temple was finally completed
in 515 B.C.E.
Did you know?
In the 38 verses
that make up chapters 1 and 2,
Haggai uses the name Jehovah 35 times,
14 times in the expression
“Jehovah of armies.”
The book of Haggai has two chapters
that convey four inspired messages.
Chapter 1 directs the first message
toward those who
are focusing on their own interests
while Jehovah’s house lies in ruins.
Governor Zerubbabel, High Priest Joshua,
and the rest of the people respond favorably
and go to work on the temple just 23 days
after Haggai started to prophesy.
In chapter 2,
Haggai delivers the second inspired message.
Jehovah promises
that he will shake the nations
and cause their precious things to come in
and that he will fill his house with glory.
Later, Haggai delivers
the third inspired message to the priests,
explaining that neglect of pure worship
has made the nation unclean before God.
Then Haggai proclaims the fourth message.
Again, Jehovah speaks
of shaking the heavens and the earth,
but this time it will mean
the complete annihilation of human kingdoms.
Centuries afterward,
the apostle Paul quoted Haggai’s words
to show that God’s Kingdom
in the hands of Jesus Christ
will never be shaken.
As you read Haggai,
note how personal interests
must take a back seat to spiritual interests,
how mere formalistic worship
does not please Jehovah,
and how God’s Kingdom
in the hands of Jesus Christ
will never be shaken.
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