By
Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
LESSON NOTES:
I.
THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING
THE ENTIRE BIBLE. If
you understand that the Bible is written to show us how humanity was created
for God, fell into sin, was reconciled through Christ (who was the product of a
family) and God will restore everything through His sacrifice on the Cross;
then you have the message of the entire Bible.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him.
I.
JESUS AND THE EARLY CHURCH
TAUGHT THAT THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHES ABOUT JESUS. You can preach the Gospel
from ANY Old Testament book; just as well as you can the New Testament.
John 5:39-40 39You
study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal
life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you
refuse to come to me to have life.
Luke 24:44-47 44He
said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you:
Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the
Prophets and the Psalms." 45Then he opened their minds so they
could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what
is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and
repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 18:24-28 24Meanwhile
a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned
man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been
instructed in the way of the LORD, and he spoke with great fervor and taught
about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He
began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him,
they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more
adequately. 27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and
sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he
arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For
he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the
Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Acts 13:13-39
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions
sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to
Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian
Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and
the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying,
“Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his
hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen
to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our
ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty
power he led them out of that country; 18 for
about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in
Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave
them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the
people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the
tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After
removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning
him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will
do everything I want him to do.’
23 “From this man’s descendants God has
brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before
the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of
Israel. 25 As John was
completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one
you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am
not worthy to untie.’
26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you
God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been
sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers
did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of
the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though
they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him
executed. 29 When they had
carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the
cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But
God raised him from the dead, 31 and
for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to
Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32 “We tell you the good news: What God
promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children,
by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You
are my son;
today I have become your father.’
today I have become your father.’
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will
never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“‘I
will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You
will not let your holy one see decay.’
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in
his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his
ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the
dead did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know
that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through
him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you
were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
II.
THE BOOK OF HABUKKUK.
A.
THE AUTHOR OF HABUKKUK. It is believed that Habakkuk
himself wrote the book.
Habakkuk
1:1 1The
prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk 3:1 1A
prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
B.
WHAT DOES THE NAME HABUKKUK
MEAN? It
means to, “embrace.”
C.
PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HABUKKUK.
1.
HIS MINISTRY WAS TO THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH.
2.
HE PROPHECIED THAT THE CHALDEANS WERE GOING TO INVADE
JUDAH.
Habakkuk 1:5-7 5Behold ye among the heathen, and
regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye
will not believe, though it be told you. 6For, lo, I raise up the
Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth
of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7They
are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of
themselves.
a.
WHO WERE THE CHALDEANS? The Chaldeans were a tribe within Babylon; however the
term “Chaldean” is also used to describe the entire empire of Babylon. Abraham
was closely related to the Chaldeans.
Genesis 11:27-28 27This
is the account of Terah's family line. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor
and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28While his father
Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his
birth.
Genesis 11:31 31Terah
took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law
Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the
Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled
there.
Genesis 15:7 7He
also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the
Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."
D.
WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE OF THIS
BOOK? It
was to warn that judgement was coming. Habakkuk could not figure out why God
would do nothing about the corruption in the nation of Judah. God told him that
the Babylonians would be the source of judgment. This shocked Habakkuk; because
the Babylonians were far worse people than the Jews. But, Habakkuk determined
that he would trust God’s decision.
E.
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF HABUKKUK? We do not always
understand or even agree with what God does; but we must trust Him and obey.
1.
HABAKKUK COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CORRUPTION OF JUDAH AND
GOD’S ANSWER IS TROUBLING (Habakkuk 1).
Habakkuk 1:2-13
Habakkuk’s
Complaint
2 How
long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
5 “Look
at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
9 they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind
and gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings
and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
9 they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind
and gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings
and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
12 Lord,
are you not from everlasting?
My God, my Holy One, you will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
My God, my Holy One, you will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
2.
HABAKKUK’S FAITH AND GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THE BABYLONIANS
(Habakkuk 2).
Habakkuk 2:1-2
2 I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
The Lord’s Answer
2 Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
Habakkuk 2:3 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but
at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because
it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:4-6
4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—
5 indeed, wine betrays him;
he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations
and takes captive all the peoples.
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—
5 indeed, wine betrays him;
he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations
and takes captive all the peoples.
6 “Will not all of them taunt him with
ridicule and scorn, saying,
“‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on?’
and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on?’
Habakkuk 2:20
20 The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
let all the earth be silent before him.
3.
HABAKKUK DETERMINED TO TRUST GOD (Habakkuk 3).
Habakkuk 3:16-19
16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips
quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in
myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the
people, he will invade them with his troops.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and
the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and
there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my
feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To
the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
F.
JESUS IN HABUKKUK. God’ glory is going to
fulfill the Earth when Christ returns and rules the world from Jerusalem.
Habakkuk 2:14 14For the earth will be filled with
the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
III.
THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH.
A.
THE AUTHOR OF ZEPHANIAH. It is believed that
Zephaniah himself is the author.
Zephaniah
1:1 1The word of the LORD that
came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the
son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
B.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ZEPHANIAH
MEAN? Hidden
by the LORD.
C.
WHAT ARE SOME PERSONAL
THINGS ABOUT ZEPHANIAH?
1.
HE IS THE ONLY PROPHET THAT WAS ROYALTY. He was the great grandson of Hezekiah; who was a godly
man.
Zephaniah 1:1 1The
word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the
son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon
king of Judah:
2.
HE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL PROPHET. Not only did he minister to Judah; but to all the other
nations surrounding Judah.
1.
THE PHILISTINES WERE TO THE WEST.
Zephaniah 2:4-7
4 Gaza will
be abandoned
and Ashkelon left in ruins.
At midday Ashdod will be emptied
and Ekron uprooted.
5 Woe to you who live by the sea,
you Kerethite people;
the word of the Lord is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines.
He says, “I will destroy you,
and none will be left.”
6 The land by the sea will become pastures
having wells for shepherds
and pens for flocks.
7 That land will belong
to the remnant of the people of Judah;
there they will find pasture.
In the evening they will lie down
in the houses of Ashkelon.
The Lord their God will care for them;
he will restore their fortunes.
and Ashkelon left in ruins.
At midday Ashdod will be emptied
and Ekron uprooted.
5 Woe to you who live by the sea,
you Kerethite people;
the word of the Lord is against you,
Canaan, land of the Philistines.
He says, “I will destroy you,
and none will be left.”
6 The land by the sea will become pastures
having wells for shepherds
and pens for flocks.
7 That land will belong
to the remnant of the people of Judah;
there they will find pasture.
In the evening they will lie down
in the houses of Ashkelon.
The Lord their God will care for them;
he will restore their fortunes.
2.
MOAB AND AMMON WERE TO THE EAST.
Zephaniah 2:8-11
8 “I have heard the insults of Moab
and the taunts of the Ammonites,
who insulted my people
and made threats against their land.
9 Therefore, as surely as I live,”
declares the Lord Almighty,
the God of Israel,
“surely Moab will become like Sodom,
the Ammonites like Gomorrah—
a place of weeds and salt pits,
a wasteland forever.
The remnant of my people will plunder them;
the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.”
and the taunts of the Ammonites,
who insulted my people
and made threats against their land.
9 Therefore, as surely as I live,”
declares the Lord Almighty,
the God of Israel,
“surely Moab will become like Sodom,
the Ammonites like Gomorrah—
a place of weeds and salt pits,
a wasteland forever.
The remnant of my people will plunder them;
the survivors of my nation will inherit their land.”
10 This is what they will get in return for
their pride,
for insulting and mocking
the people of the Lord Almighty.
11 The Lord will be awesome to them
when he destroys all the gods of the earth.
Distant nations will bow down to him,
all of them in their own lands.
for insulting and mocking
the people of the Lord Almighty.
11 The Lord will be awesome to them
when he destroys all the gods of the earth.
Distant nations will bow down to him,
all of them in their own lands.
3.
ETHIOPIA (CUSH) WAS TO THE SOUTH.
Zephaniah 2:12
12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my
sword.
Zephaniah 3:9-10
9 For then will I turn to the people a pure
language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my
suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
4.
ASSYRIA WAS TO THE NORTH.
Zephaniah 2:13-15 13He will stretch out his hand
against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry
as the desert. 14Flocks and herds will lie down there, creatures of
every kind. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns. Their
hooting will echo through the windows, rubble will fill the doorways, the beams
of cedar will be exposed. 15This is the city of revelry that lived
in safety. She said to herself, "I am the one! And there is none besides
me." What a ruin she has become, a lair for wild beasts! All who pass by
her scoff and shake their fists.
D.
WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE OF THIS
BOOK? Zephaniah
denounced the idolatry of the Jews and the wickedness of surrounding nations.
E.
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF ZEPHANIAH?
God
will purge us from sin; so that He can restore us to live correctly.
1.
GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE JUDAH FOR HER SINS (Zephaniah 1).
Zephaniah 1:2-6
2 “I will sweep away everything
from the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord.
3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea—
and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”
from the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord.
3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea—
and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”
“When I destroy all mankind
on the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord,
4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah
and against all who live in Jerusalem.
I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,
the very names of the idolatrous priests—
5 those who bow down on the roofs
to worship the starry host,
those who bow down and swear by the Lord
and who also swear by Molek,
6 those who turn back from following the Lord
and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”
on the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord,
4 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah
and against all who live in Jerusalem.
I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,
the very names of the idolatrous priests—
5 those who bow down on the roofs
to worship the starry host,
those who bow down and swear by the Lord
and who also swear by Molek,
6 those who turn back from following the Lord
and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”
2.
INTERNATIONAL PROPHECIES AGAINST OTHER NATIONS (Zephaniah
2). Please see section above.
3.
GOD WILL RESTORE AFTER JUDGEMENT (Zephaniah 3).
Zephaniah 3:1-2
3 Woe to the city of oppressors,
rebellious and defiled!
2 She obeys no one,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
rebellious and defiled!
2 She obeys no one,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
F.
JESUS IN ZEPHANIAH. God is going to gather and
restore His people at the Second Coming of the Messiah.
Zephaniah 3:9-20
9 “Then
I will purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you
the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trust in the name of the Lord.
13 They will do no wrong;
they will tell no lies.
A deceitful tongue
will not be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid.”
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 From beyond the rivers of Cush
my worshipers, my scattered people,
will bring me offerings.
11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12 But I will leave within you
the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trust in the name of the Lord.
13 They will do no wrong;
they will tell no lies.
A deceitful tongue
will not be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
and no one will make them afraid.”
14 Sing,
Daughter Zion;
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I
will remove from you
all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.
all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
which is a burden and reproach for you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they have suffered shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.
IV.
THE BOOK OF HAGGAI.
A.
THE AUTHOR OF HAGGAI. It is believed that Haggai
was the author.
Haggai 1:1 1In the second year of King Darius,
on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the
prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua
son of Jozadak, the high priest:
B.
WHAT DOES THE NAME HAGGAI MEAN? It means, “festive.”
C.
WHAT ARE SOME PERSONAL
THINGS ABOUT HAGGAI?
1.
HAGGAI IS A PART OF THE DELEGATION THAT RETURNED TO
JERUSALEM AFTER THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY. Zerubbabel
was governor of Judah at the time; having been appointed by the Persians.
Ezra 5:1-2 1Now
Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied
to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was
over them. 2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of
Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with
them, supporting them.
Haggai 1:1 1In
the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word
of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:
D.
WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE OF THIS
BOOK? Haggai
was used by God to encourage the people to rebuild the temple. The project had
been lying dormant for 16 years.
Haggai 1:2-15
2 This is what the Lord All-Powerful said, “The people say it
is not yet the right time to build the Lord’s Temple.”
3 Again Haggai received a message from
the Lord. Haggai spoke this message: 4 “You
people think the right time has come for you to live in nice houses. You live
in houses with beautiful wooden paneling on the walls, but the Lord’s house is
still in ruins. 5 Now
the Lord All-Powerful says, ‘Think about what is happening. 6 You have planted many seeds, but you have
gathered only a few crops. You have food to eat, but not enough to get full.
You have something to drink, but not enough to get drunk. You have some clothes
to wear, but not enough to keep warm. You earn a little money, but you don’t
know where it all goes. It’s as though there is a hole in your pocket!’”
7 The Lord All-Powerful said, “Think about what
you are doing. 8 Go up to the mountains, get the wood, and
build the Temple. Then I will be pleased with the Temple, and I will be
honored.” This is what the Lord said.
9 The Lord All-Powerful said, “You people look for
a big harvest, but when you go to gather the crop, there is only a little
grain. So you bring that grain home, and then I send a wind that blows it all
away. Why is this happening? Because my house is still in ruins while each of
you runs home to take care of your own house. 10 That is
why the sky holds back its dew and why the earth holds back its crops.
11 “I gave the command for the land and the mountains
to be dry. The grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and everything the earth
produces will be ruined. All the people and all the animals will
become weak.”
12 The Lord God had sent Haggai to speak to
Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. So
these men and all the people listened to the voice of the Lord their God and to the words of Haggai
the prophet. And the people showed their fear and respect for the Lord their God.
13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, delivered this message to the
people: “The Lord says, ‘I am with you!’”
14 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel was the governor
of Judah. Joshua son of Jehozadak was the high priest. The Lord made them and the rest of the people
excited about working on the Temple of their God, the Lord All-Powerful. 15 So they
began this work on the 24th day of the sixth month in the second year Darius
was the king.
E.
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF HAGGAI?
God
has a plan and we have a role to play in the plan. Failing to follow through
and do our part is punishable. Blessings follow obedience.
1.
IT IS TIME TO REBUILD GOD’S HOUSE (Haggai 1).
2.
GOD’S GLORY IS GOING TO FILL THE HOUSE (Haggai 2).
F.
JESUS IN HAGGAI.
1.
THE GLORY OF THE LATTER HOUSE. God showed him that this new temple (which would later
be renovated by Herod the Great) would be greater than the one that Solomon
built; because the Son of God would enter this new house of worship.
Haggai 2:2-9
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to
the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this
house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem
to you like nothing? 4 But
now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be
strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you
people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work.
For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you
when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not
fear.’
6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little
while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and
the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is
desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with
glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is
mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present
house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares
the Lord Almighty.”
Luke 2:46
Then, after three days they
found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening
to them and asking them questions.
Matthew 21:12
And Jesus entered the temple
and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and
overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were
selling doves.
Matthew 21:23
When He entered the temple, the
chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching,
and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this
authority?”
Mark 11:11
Jesus entered Jerusalem and
came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for
Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.
Mark 11:15
Then they *came to Jerusalem.
And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and
selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the
seats of those who were selling doves;
Luke 19:45
Jesus entered the temple and
began to drive out those who were selling,
John 8:2
Early in the morning He came
again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down
and began to teach them.
Mark 11:27
They came again to Jerusalem.
And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the
elders came to Him,
John 10:23
it was winter, and Jesus was
walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
Matthew 21:14
And the blind and the lame came
to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Mark 12:35
And Jesus began to say, as He
taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the
son of David?
John 7:28
Then Jesus cried out in the
temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I
have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
John 8:20
These words He spoke in the
treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour
had not yet come.
John 18:20
Jesus answered him, “I have
spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple,
where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.
Luke 22:53
While I was with you daily in
the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of
darkness are yours.”
John 5:14
Afterward Jesus *found him in
the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore,
so that nothing worse happens to you.”
John 7:14
But when it was now the midst
of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
2.
THE SIGNET RING. The
governor Zerubbabel was the connection between David and the Redeemer. So God
is fulfilling His promise to bring us our Savior.
Haggai 2:23 23"'On
that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel
son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring,
for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Matthew 1:12
(Joseph’s genealogy) 12After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the
father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Luke 3:27
(Mary’s genealogy) 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of
Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
V.
PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this
Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I
have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust
in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself
when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I
surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of
forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name,
Amen."
No comments:
Post a Comment