Journal Through the Bible: Week 98 Saturday

"Haggai Promises the Temple's Grandeur"
Horne, Charles, and Julius Bewer.
The Bible and Its Story: Prophets–
Gospels, Ezekiel to Matthew Family Record. Vol. 8.
New York, NY: Francis R. Niglutsch, 1909. Print.
(Public domain, but seen here courtesy of
  Faithlife: Logos Bible software)

Haggai chapter 2


Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Haggai to question the people to see how many of them remembered the former temple.
• God commanded Zerubbabel and Josedech, the high priest to be strong.
• God commanded Haggai to ask the priests certain questions concerning what is pure and what make something impure. Then he was to use their answers as analogies concerning the spiritual impurities of the people and their nation.
• God told Haggai to speak to Zerubbabel and tell him that God would do mighty works.

Does God  make any promises?

• God promised to be with the people in the covenant relationship just as He had promised their forebears when they left Egypt. He said His Spirit remained among them.
• When God told them to consider that they had not been blessed by Him but had instead suffered drought and loss since the time that they ceased their labors on the temple He also promised that from that day forward He would bless them because He was sending them back to work on the temple.
• God promised Zerubbabel that He would shake the heavens and the earth and would overthrow kingdoms.
• God promised Zerubbabel that He would make him a signet because He had chosen Zerubbabel.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the "desire of all nations" of verse 7.
• Zerubbabel is the type of Christ in this passage because he is the one chosen by God to lead His people and to do His will.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Verses 7-9 are still to be fulfilled when "the desire of nations" shall come. Then the future temple (that remains to be built) will be filled with the glory of the LORD. And that temple shall be greater than the first one. This is the temple that Ezekiel described.
• Verses 20-22 promise the future destruction of nations. This event follows the shaking of the heavens and the earth.
• Verse 23 says that Zerubbabel would be a signet (a seal, or sign) that the things of verses 20-22 would come to pass. Zerubbabel was the ancestor of both Mary and Joseph, the humans chosen to parent the King who will ultimately overthrow all nations.