“Be strong, all you people of the land… and work; for I am with you.” Haggai 2:4 (NKJV)
Sixteen Years of “Not Yet”
Haggai is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It is two chapters and 38 verses long, and it takes about ten minutes to read. It may be the most practical ten minutes in the Old Testament.
The year is 520 BC. The Jewish people have come home to Jerusalem after decades of exile in Babylon. They came back to rebuild God’s temple, the center of their worship, which an invading army had burned to the ground. They laid the foundation. Then opposition came, life got busy, and the work stopped. It stayed stopped for about sixteen years.
They did not walk away from God. They just kept saying, “Not yet.” In the meantime they built their own houses, planted their own fields, and wondered why nothing they did seemed to satisfy.
What Is the Book of Haggai About?
God sends a prophet named Haggai with four short messages in the space of four months. (A prophet was someone God sent to deliver His message to His people.) The first message asks the people to take an honest look at their priorities. The second gives them courage: be strong and work, because God is with them. The last two promise a fresh start, with blessing “from this day” forward.
The people listened. About three weeks after the first message, they were back at work. A few years later, the temple was finished.
Why Does It Matter Today?
Most of us do not have a temple to build. But most of us know what it is like to put off something God has asked of us, and to fill the time with good things that are not the main thing. Haggai asks quiet, direct questions:
- What have I been telling God it is not yet time for?
- Where am I working hard and still coming up empty?
- What would I attempt if I really believed God was with me?
- Is there a place where I need a fresh start, beginning today?
Over three Sundays in November we will walk through the whole book, verse by verse. If you have never read Haggai, or have never been to church, you are welcome here.
Three Sundays in Haggai
After each Sunday, that message gets its own page with the video, a full transcript, the main points, answers to common questions about the passage, and questions you can use on your own as a devotional, with your family, or in a small group.
Companion Resources
Ten free guides to download, print, and share. Each one stands on its own, so start wherever you like.
Understand the Book
The background, the timeline, and the hardest passage explained.
Meet the People
A closer look at the prophet and the two leaders he spoke to.
Take It Home
For your family, your own reflection, and your reading this week.
For Children Who Learn by Seeing
Made for children who think in pictures, including autistic children and children who do not use spoken words.
Haggai at a Glance
Who was Haggai?
Haggai was a prophet in Jerusalem in 520 BC. He spoke to the Jewish people who had returned from exile in Babylon, and to their leaders, Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. Very little else is known about him.
Where is Haggai in the Bible?
Haggai is near the end of the Old Testament, between Zephaniah and Zechariah. It is one of twelve short books known as the Minor Prophets, a name that refers to their length and not their importance.
What does “consider your ways” mean?
The Hebrew phrase means, literally, “set your heart on your ways.” It is a call to stop and take an honest look at how you are living and where it is leading.
Invite Someone to Church
Many people will come to church if a friend simply asks. Here is a message you can send as it is, or change to sound like you.
Hey! We’re doing a short three-week series at church on a little book of the Bible called Haggai. It’s about getting back to what matters most. It starts at 9:00 AM, and I’d save you a seat. Want to join me?
The text and email buttons open a new message with the invitation already written. You choose who to send it to. Save the picture to share it on Facebook or attach it to your message.
We’d Love to Have You Join Us
Every Sunday at 9:00 AM at Superstition Foothills Baptist Church, 6320 S. Kings Ranch Rd., Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. Watch live online or come in person.