Haggai

Author: Haggai
Date of Writing: 6th century BC
Type of Book: Prophetic
Theme: The rebuilding of the temple

Haggai was the first of the three postexilic prophets, meaning that he wrote and prophesied to those who had returned from exile following the Babylonian captivity. In 536 BC, Cyrus, the king of Persia, signed a decree that allowed the Jews to return to their land. Ezra led about 50,000 back to Jerusalem, and with Zerubbabel began the rebuilding of the temple. There was a great deal of opposition and the process bogged down. By 520 BC, the Temple Mount was a mess and the rebuilding had ceased.

Haggai challenged the people to get back to work and to finish building the house of the Lord. He chastised them for their sinful neglect and reminded them of the importance of God's Word and of keeping the Lord in the center of their lives. Haggai's exhortation helped; the people did get back to work and finished the temple.

The early part of this book contains Haggai's rebukes and calls to repentance, while the latter part contains encouragement, as the people began to obey the Lord and to build the temple. We see in Haggai that great balance that is so necessary for ministry. He confronted the people for their sins, but he also encouraged them for their obedience and the work they were doing.

It is so easy in ministry to either beat people up for their sins, or to just give warm and fuzzy encouragement without honest confrontation. Haggai had a balance of correction and encouragement. As a result, he was used to help get the Lord's work done. This book provides some good words of correction for those who are not doing anything for the Lord; and it also offers encouragement to those who are working diligently to serve the Lord in whatever way He has called them. It is a book with great practical value and should be read alongside Ezra and Nehemiah.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith: The Word for Today Bible