As we discussed last week in the introduction to Haggai, the book contains 4 separate and distinct prophecies. They seem to have a common theme: to encourage the Israelites who returned to Judah after the captivity of God’s faithfulness. Why would that be necessary? Because these people and their parents/grandparents had been captives in Babylon for 70 years. The temple worship had ceased during that time as well. So their knowledge of the Scriptures, and their own history with God, was limited. They were a lot like modern Christians who get saved but then never grow because they don’t get in the Word and their pastors don’t teach it.
Last week we looked at the first prophesy, which more or less said: it’s time for you all to get back to work building the temple. You’ve spent the last 15 years or so building your own houses and businesses while my house has remained a pile of rubble. God told them that if they got back to work, he would be with them. His presence would protect them from the locals and the Mede-Persian government that was in control of the land at that time. Today, we’ll look at the second prophesy. It is a challenge to the people to remember the past; to remember the temple’s former glory.
