Series: Living for God’s Glory
Theme: From this day on
Reading: Haggai 2 v. 10-25
Sermon date: Sunday 1st December (Advent Sunday)
 
Icebreaker
 
It would be useful to give a summary of the background to Haggai (see NOTES for last two weeks) and to quickly go over the main points so far (especially for the benefit of those who missed last week’s study). Give an opportunity for any questions or further insights that members of the group may have had.
 
Please read together Haggai 2 v. 10-25
 
There are a number of questions at the end of this section. Because this passage is not an easy one to understand, you may like to work through it verse by verse before tackling the questions.
 
Verses 10-19. In these verses Haggai uses questions directed to the priests as an analogy to force reflection upon the uncleanness of the people before the LORD (14).
 
Verse 10 can be dated (using our calendar) to December 18th, 520BC. It was just three months since the work of restoration had begun and it would have been time for sowing seed.
 
Verse 11. It was the duty of priests to give a ruling on matters of ritual and law (Leviticus 10:10-11).
 
Verse 12. Holy meat was that which had been dedicated for sacrifice. It was assumed that holiness could be transferred from a consecrated object to a person or other object (Lev 6.27). Haggai’s question is whether holiness can be transferred from that second consecrated object/person to a third.
 
Verse 13. If a person is defiled by contact with a dead body, then this will pollute all that he contacts.
 
Verse 14. We now come to the conclusion that Haggai has been working towards – all that the people are doing is unclean. This had nothing to do with any improper use of the current sacrificial system (Ezra 3:3-7) but rather that they permitted a “corpse” (i.e. the unfinished Temple) to remain in their midst.
 
These verses may seem rather strange to us, and it may be felt that they have no relevance at all to our situation today. However, we do need to ask an important question:
 
Is there anything in my life; in the life of our group; in the life of our church which is holding back God’s blessing?
 
Verses 15-17. Before the restoration began, even though the people were not prospering this did not lead them to repentance. So a loving Father had to act in a drastic way but even then to no avail as the people still did not return to the LORD (16).
 
Verses 18-19. The mention of four things essential to the life of the people (vine, fig-tree, pomegranate and olive tree) are seen as a promise that God’s blessing is on its way: “From this day on I will bless you.” An abundant harvest is coming.
 
Verses 20-25, this final message (given directly to Zerubbabel) complements what has gone on before. Haggai paints a picture of a future royal vision of trembling creation, overthrown kingdoms and perishing enemies. A divine King whose hand bears, as a signet ring, the promise of David’s house restored is seen in the person of Zerubbabel.
 
Ring = evidence of royal majesty and ownership.
 
Riders going down (22) – see Exodus 14:22-29.
 
Details of the future are unspecified – is this another hint at the coming Messiah? And is this glorious future something still to be achieved when Jesus returns in glory and majesty?
 
To consider
 
It may be that you have already had a discussion about some of the following questions, so please “pick and choose” as appropriate.
 
“If we are greedy for things; if we put ourselves first in our lives, it can have an awful effect. It can take us away from God and lead us to become proud and self-satisfied. Look what I have achieved!” 
How might we avoid becoming proud and self-satisfied? Do the words from Proverbs 30:7-9 have any relevance to us today?
 
“It is easy to attend to our own interests first, and then consider what I should be giving to God.” It is worth pointing out that putting wood on the walls of houses was an expensive luxury. 
Consider this in the light of Mark 10:17-31.
 
“We can insist that we need to look after ourselves and our family and this can lead to great satisfaction” 
But what does Haggai say this is like? (1:6). Consider this is the light of 1 Timothy 6: 6-7.
 
“When we do not please ourselves; when we really do put God first, then we are truly able to honour God in our lives.”
 
      Look at 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
 
“Money cannot buy the best things in life.” The rebuilt Temple was not a great building (and some who could remember the previous Temple were disappointed), but the people (once they put God first) showed that they really wanted to honour God.
 
We do better to reflect on the day that is to come (2:20-23). When Jesus returns (and who knows when that will be?) then all our wealth and possessions will be worth …. NOTHING! (Matthew 6:19-21).
 
Do we really think and pray about Jesus’ return?
Or is it simply something which no longer plays a part in our Christian lives? If not, should it?
 
Prayer
 
Rather than a time of general intercession (important though that is), if you have the technology why not play a song like “Be still, for the presence of the Lord” and allow each person to make their commitment to the Lord in the light of these challenging words of Haggai. Yes, they were spoken centuries ago into a very specific situation, but there is still a challenge in what he had to say for us today.
 
Malcolm Raby