Haggai part 4 - the big picture

Haggai 2:1-3

This happens about a month after they had started work (just before Zechariah starts prophesying). A month into the work and the people may have been discouraged - the early stages of a building project never seem to produce much visual progress for a lot of hard work.

It's now 70 years since the original temple had been destroyed so only the oldest people would have any memory of the original. It looks like nothing now, but that will only emphasise the greatness of God when He does something with it. That's why God uses the weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). We should look at our ruined lives and give God the glory for anything good coming out of it.

yesterday, today and forever

Haggai 2:4-5

Thinking about the past (verses 2-3) may be discouraging, but God uses the past to encourage people in a few ways:

• Jehozadak never attained the role of high priest but here God continually reminds Joshua that he will be the high priest.


• God being with them is all they need to work and not fear.


• God reminds them of their history - He brought their ancestors out of Egypt. The same Spirit is with them now. The same Spirit is with us today!

How does it link to Jesus?

• He is unchanging in His stance towards us. Love. Offering forgiveness. That doesn't expire.

God is unchanging. He's done great things in the past and will continue to do great things today.

the bigger picture

Haggai 2:6-9

Shaking the heavens, earth, all nations refers to judgement and the new heaven/new earth

The desired of all nations is Jesus. He is the only thing that can satisfy all our desires.

The temple they were building did not have the silver and gold of Solomon's temple but God could provide it if He wanted to, because all the silver and gold are His. Regardless of that, He says He will make this temple more glorious than the last because it is not the physical stuff that makes it glorious, but the presence of God. Peace (between God and man) is brought into that place when the veil is torn in two at the moment of Jesus death.

How does it link to Jesus?

• Prophecy of Jesus coming - that the nations will be judged and that His death brings peace between us and God.

The bigger picture is not about the temple - it's about Jesus.