Haggai is the first of the post-captivity prophets. His prophecy consists of five messages received over the space of four months. Each message is dated relative to the second year of Darius the king. Though God had permitted a remnant of Judah to return to Jerusalem, the former relationship had not been restored. There was no throne; a Gentile ruled over the land; things were both physically and spiritually in a state of ruin. The people who had returned to the land with such joy and energy, having laid the foundation of the temple, had become discouraged.
God in His wonderful love and grace had permitted a remnant to return to Jerusalem. How quickly this had been forgotten. There was tranquility enough to build their own houses. Faith was not required for this and the world offered no resistance (Hag. 1:4). When faith is lacking, circumstances and our own will dictate our doings—“The time is not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built” (Hag. 1:2). In neglecting the Lord’s house, they had really neglected the Lord, and as a result discipline had to come in—such too is God’s heart in love (Hag. 1:5-11). Though things were difficult, the Lord was still with them (Hag. 1:13). Stirred up by the message, the work resumed (Hag. 1:14).
The building that they were erecting was nothing in comparison to the former temple, and this too was a source of discouragement (Ezra 3:12; Hag. 2:1-9). Yet faith in the day of ruin is not pretentious and acknowledges the state of things. This was not that bright day when they were brought up out of the land of Egypt—but the same Lord was with them (Hag. 2:5). A day is coming when the latter glory of the house—still the same house in the eye of God—will exceed the former (Hag. 2:9 JND). This cannot happen until the present state of the world has been addressed, not just Israel, but all the nations. “The heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land” must all be shaken before there can be peace. (Hag. 2:6).
The fourth prophecy states the simple principle (the priests understood it) that the unclean defiles the holy (Hag. 2:10-19). They were unclean and the work of their hands was unclean (Hag. 2:14). The present work did not change that. God alone is holy and cannot be defiled, and it is only when God is admitted in our lives—which He desires in response to His discipline—that blessing can flow (Hag. 2:19).
The fifth and final message addresses itself to Zerubbabel, the leader of those that returned and a descendant of David (Matt. 1:12). With the shaking of the nations, God will establish His throne in the true seed of David, Christ, the Lord’s anointed. “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts” (Hag. 2:23).