Wisdom from the Minor Prophets
Study Guide Week One:
Message for Sunday May 20, 2018
This Week Reading: Haggai 1:1-15 Additional Reading: Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14-16
Introduction
Haggai is one of the twelve books of the Minor prophets in the Old Testament. Haggai was called by God to deliver God's message to God's people. Understanding the situation will help you understand the meaning of the message. God's people had disobeyed God and turned to follow other gods. As a result God kept sending his message to them through many prophets over many years. The message was simple - repent and turn back to God and avoid God's judgment. The people however did not listen. As a result God sent judgment upon their country. They were invaded by the Babylonians and the people were taken into exile and the the temple where they worshiped God was destroyed. After 70 years they were allowed by God to return to their country and the City of Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the temple to worship God. They started to build the temple but became discouraged and distracted and stopped building. Instead they focused on building fancy houses for themselves. God's house, the temple remained unfinished. Yet despite all there hard work it seemed they were making little progress. God then sent Haggai with one simple clear message - Build God's house first and you will be blessed.
Haggai is one of the twelve books of the Minor prophets in the Old Testament. Haggai was called by God to deliver God's message to God's people. Understanding the situation will help you understand the meaning of the message. God's people had disobeyed God and turned to follow other gods. As a result God kept sending his message to them through many prophets over many years. The message was simple - repent and turn back to God and avoid God's judgment. The people however did not listen. As a result God sent judgment upon their country. They were invaded by the Babylonians and the people were taken into exile and the the temple where they worshiped God was destroyed. After 70 years they were allowed by God to return to their country and the City of Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the temple to worship God. They started to build the temple but became discouraged and distracted and stopped building. Instead they focused on building fancy houses for themselves. God's house, the temple remained unfinished. Yet despite all there hard work it seemed they were making little progress. God then sent Haggai with one simple clear message - Build God's house first and you will be blessed.
Some Background Information
The condition of Jerusalem was bad when the Jews returned. The walls and houses were in ruins and the temple was destroyed and food was scarce. They had to make a choice about what to do first. They chose to focus on building their own houses first. Their idea was we will get to building God's temple after we take care of everything else first. This is a spiritual example for us. Haggai's message lets them know that if they put God's work first and build the temple all else will fall into place. But if they put there houses first they will never make progress. If they put building God's house last then everything will be a struggle.There are some key lessons for us to apply from the book of Haggai. First, Faithfulness to God and material blessings are connected. Second, discouragement is not an excuse for neglecting duties. Third, the time to build a foundation in God is now. The basic problem with the people is that they were self focused and had excuses for not building their spiritual base first. They are told to consider their ways - in other words to step back and see how it is working out to neglect building their base in God. The best way to apply this book to our lives today is to equate building the temple with building God's temple in our lives and hearts.
Digging Deeper Questions:
1. Read verse 1 and 2. What types of reasons do people give for putting off building a strong foundation in God?
6. Read verses 12-15. What was the effect of God's word upon the people? Can you imagine that today?
7. What is your application from this study?
This Week’s Victory Challenge: Tell the message of Haggai chapter one to someone this week. Look for a natural opportunity and then say something like Can I tell what I learned this week at my Bible study?
The condition of Jerusalem was bad when the Jews returned. The walls and houses were in ruins and the temple was destroyed and food was scarce. They had to make a choice about what to do first. They chose to focus on building their own houses first. Their idea was we will get to building God's temple after we take care of everything else first. This is a spiritual example for us. Haggai's message lets them know that if they put God's work first and build the temple all else will fall into place. But if they put there houses first they will never make progress. If they put building God's house last then everything will be a struggle.There are some key lessons for us to apply from the book of Haggai. First, Faithfulness to God and material blessings are connected. Second, discouragement is not an excuse for neglecting duties. Third, the time to build a foundation in God is now. The basic problem with the people is that they were self focused and had excuses for not building their spiritual base first. They are told to consider their ways - in other words to step back and see how it is working out to neglect building their base in God. The best way to apply this book to our lives today is to equate building the temple with building God's temple in our lives and hearts.
6. Read verses 12-15. What was the effect of God's word upon the people? Can you imagine that today?
7. What is your application from this study?
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