Daily Verse Haggai 1:6
- Thread starter SCAdmin
- Start date
This was such an interesting scripture. I don't recall reading it before. So I did a little digging in my Logos Bible Software:
introduction to Hagai (haggai)
Bavel (Babylon) was the Gentile world power that leads Y’hudah (Judah) into captivity in three successive stages in 605, 597, and 587 b.c.e. In 539 b.c.e., Persia conquers Bavel and Koresh (Cyrus) issues the decree that the Jews could return to their homeland. The book of Ezra records the outworking of God’s promise to restore his people to the Land after seventy years of captivity in Bavel (Jer. 25:11). Shortly after Koresh’s decree, Z’rubavel (Zerubbabel) leads a group of Jews back to the Land of Isra’el (Ezra 2:1–2). This period chronicles the return of about fifty thousand exiles from Persia to Isra’el, for the express purpose of rebuilding the Temple. Not all the Jews who had been taken captive elected to return to their homeland, and many remained spread throughout the Persian Empire.
The book of Ezra records the various forms of opposition that the returning exiles encounter. During the post-exilic period, Persian policy toward the Jews wavered. Although Koresh had allowed them to return, the rebuilding of the Temple is halted because of a request made by people who oppose the returned remnant. However, in 520 b.c.e., Daryavesh (Darius) confirms Koresh’s initial decree and allows the remnant to continue rebuilding the Temple.
God calls Hagai (whose name means “festive”) to prophesy to the people at a time when spiritual apathy, instead of political opposition, is hindering the work. Hagai is the first prophet to preach to the post-exilic community, and he writes to reveal sinful apathy and to encourage the people to continue their work of rebuilding the post-exilic Temple. In the course of his ministry, Hagai communicates that the Spirit’s present work and God’s future promise of a glorious Temple should motivate the people to accomplish God’s current work.
The book of Haggai ends with a word about Z’rubavel (Zerubbabel), who spearheads the completion of the Temple: that he is a “signet” ring or a guarantee that a Messiah would come through the lineage of David.
Rubin, B. (Ed.). (2016). The Complete Jewish Study Bible: Notes (p. 870). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Bibles; Messianic Jewish Publishers & Resources.
1:6 You have sown much Throughout this verse, the prophet emphasizes how the people’s efforts to improve their own lives have proved futile while they have ignored the important task of restoring Yahweh’s house.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Hag 1:6). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
1:1–11 In difficult economic times, the people were saying, “The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord” (v. 2), though they were finding ways to build their own houses (v. 4). God promised that if they rebuilt his temple, he would be with them (Hag. 1:13; 2:4). He would turn the world upside down and bring the long-desired Messiah (2:6–7, 21–23).
Duguid, I. (2013). Haggai. In B. Chapell & D. Ortlund (Eds.), Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version (p. 1237). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
introduction to Hagai (haggai)
Bavel (Babylon) was the Gentile world power that leads Y’hudah (Judah) into captivity in three successive stages in 605, 597, and 587 b.c.e. In 539 b.c.e., Persia conquers Bavel and Koresh (Cyrus) issues the decree that the Jews could return to their homeland. The book of Ezra records the outworking of God’s promise to restore his people to the Land after seventy years of captivity in Bavel (Jer. 25:11). Shortly after Koresh’s decree, Z’rubavel (Zerubbabel) leads a group of Jews back to the Land of Isra’el (Ezra 2:1–2). This period chronicles the return of about fifty thousand exiles from Persia to Isra’el, for the express purpose of rebuilding the Temple. Not all the Jews who had been taken captive elected to return to their homeland, and many remained spread throughout the Persian Empire.
The book of Ezra records the various forms of opposition that the returning exiles encounter. During the post-exilic period, Persian policy toward the Jews wavered. Although Koresh had allowed them to return, the rebuilding of the Temple is halted because of a request made by people who oppose the returned remnant. However, in 520 b.c.e., Daryavesh (Darius) confirms Koresh’s initial decree and allows the remnant to continue rebuilding the Temple.
God calls Hagai (whose name means “festive”) to prophesy to the people at a time when spiritual apathy, instead of political opposition, is hindering the work. Hagai is the first prophet to preach to the post-exilic community, and he writes to reveal sinful apathy and to encourage the people to continue their work of rebuilding the post-exilic Temple. In the course of his ministry, Hagai communicates that the Spirit’s present work and God’s future promise of a glorious Temple should motivate the people to accomplish God’s current work.
The book of Haggai ends with a word about Z’rubavel (Zerubbabel), who spearheads the completion of the Temple: that he is a “signet” ring or a guarantee that a Messiah would come through the lineage of David.
Rubin, B. (Ed.). (2016). The Complete Jewish Study Bible: Notes (p. 870). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Bibles; Messianic Jewish Publishers & Resources.
1:6 You have sown much Throughout this verse, the prophet emphasizes how the people’s efforts to improve their own lives have proved futile while they have ignored the important task of restoring Yahweh’s house.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Hag 1:6). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
1:1–11 In difficult economic times, the people were saying, “The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord” (v. 2), though they were finding ways to build their own houses (v. 4). God promised that if they rebuilt his temple, he would be with them (Hag. 1:13; 2:4). He would turn the world upside down and bring the long-desired Messiah (2:6–7, 21–23).
Duguid, I. (2013). Haggai. In B. Chapell & D. Ortlund (Eds.), Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version (p. 1237). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
One thing I have noticed is those exJWs that have maintained their spirituality / belief in God are definitely NOT complacent. Because they were lulled or duped before they are ever vigilant to be a Berean and go back to scripture. May we help those that are coming out to do the same.
