It is Building Time – Introduction

Haggai 1:1 – 2:23

Among the writings of the Old Testament, there is a group of books we know as the Minor Prophets. This term likely applies, not to their insignificance nor lack of importance, but to the length of the writing and/or the short duration of the prophet’s ministry. However, therein is a wealth of spiritual nourishment and divine guidance for our lives.

Before lowering our buckets into this old well, we may find it beneficial to look at some background. In 586 B.C., the Kingdom of Judah (commonly known to many as the southern portion of Israel) was conquered by the Kingdom of Babylon (presently Iraq) under King Nebuchadnezzar. Most of the able-bodied people who were not killed were forced into exile in Babylon as servants/workers. Later, in 539 B.C., the Persians (presently Iran), under King Cyrus, overthrew Babylon. Some of the Jews were taken to Persia (books of Nehemiah and Esther) while others remained in Babylon. It has been estimated that the total number of Jewish exiles was between 2 and 3 million.

In 538 B.C., Cyrus issued a decree allowing all Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild. He specifically ordered that the temple be restored and returned all the temple articles which Nebuchadnezzar had taken. These were placed in the hands of Zerubbabel who was then commissioned to lead the return and rebuilding of the temple.

Zerubbabel led a company of about 50,000 back to Jerusalem and began the process of rebuilding in 536 B.C. The majority of the Jews chose to remain in Babylon, where they enjoyed a rather comfortable life, rather than endure the journey of 600-800 miles and face the hardship of rebuilding a destroyed temple and city.

Once the work had begun, they were opposed by the inhabitants of Samaria, who had been placed there from other regions. They were further disheartened by drought and crop failure. With all that, they gave up and abandoned the temple building project just two years later in 534 B.C.

The unfinished temple laid desolate for the next 14 years while the people turned their attention to their own houses and personal desires. They excused themselves by pointing to the political opposition and a theory that the temple was not to be rebuilt until some later time (Haggai 1:2).

At some point, it appears that the Lord had waited long enough. He had restored their freedom from captivity and granted them the opportunity to renew their place as God’s people under God’s covenant in God’s promised land. But now, they were captives again to fear, complacency, and apathy.

God’s word was about to come with clarity and power, “It is building time, My people; it is building time”.

We pause here to suggest that this message from 2543 years ago must not lay desolate as the temple did in that day. No, just as we, today, face opposition from many about us and are beset with other difficulties and distractions, God’s word still rings true, “It is building time, My people; it is building time”.

As we proceed with this study, may I further suggest that we may not apply Haggai’s messages toward the construction of physical buildings of steel, stone, mortar and wood. Rather, we may consider the temple of our bodies (I Corinthians 6:19), the temple of our believing families (I Peter2:4,5); and the temple of the wider fellowship in Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22). May our God find in us a place to come and abide.

With that being said, we plan for four offerings to follow in which we will glean from the four sermons of Haggai. Our hope and prayer is that the messages of this “minor prophet” will encourage us: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20,21).

Fr. Andrew