Today's passage: Haggai 2:10-23

Helpful thoughts:

• In the law concerning ceremonial cleanness, “clean” things could not make the unclean, clean.  However, “unclean” things could make what was clean, unclean.
  • The people were proceeding with worship without the temple and without worshiping God His way.  The offerings they were bringing were made unclean and unacceptable.
  • We might like to think we can do one good thing to undo a wrong, like penance.
• God made a clear promise to the Jews.  Since they had refused to obey previously, they were not blessed.  Once the building of the temple resumed, His blessing came.
• Zerubbabel should have/would have been the king of Judah had there been no rebellion and exile (Matthew 1:12-13, Luke 3:27 – He is in both Joseph and Mary's line).  In the final verses, the Lord points forward to “That day” (The day of Christ's rule and reign) and encourages Zerubbabel in his future role.

Questions to consider:

1. Can a sinner cleanse his or herself?  Why not?  When Jesus touched the “unclean” lepers, what happened to them (Matthew 8:1-3)?  Did Jesus become unclean? Who alone can cleanse the unclean?
2. What can we learn from this principle of the “Clean” and “Unclean”?  How does it relate to the idea of us being in the world, but not of it?  What (Or better, who) can we offer to the world for cleansing?
3. God commanded the Jews to obey Him and also revealed to them His eternal reign.  When does looking forward to God's future once-and-for-all victory produce an apathetic response, taking it for granted?  When does looking forward to God's future promises instead produce a fervency to love and obey Him?  What must be true of our hearts to be motivated toward worship?

Today's passage: Haggai 2:1-9

Helpful thoughts:

• Those who had seen Solomon's temple needed some encouraging after realizing the new temple would not compare (Ezra 3:11-13).  God reminded them the temple was not their glory.  He was their glory and He would be with them.
• Even though the new temple after the exile was not as spectacular, there will come a day when the Lord's glory would fill the temple again in Jerusalem.
  • This passage refers to the second coming of Christ and the Millennial Kingdom!
• In a time of economic struggle, and the realization that Israel was not what it once was, the people here are reminded; God owns everything.  God rules over everything.  His sovereign will must come to pass.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way will Christ become the treasure or the “Desire of All Nations” when He comes again? When we see Christ as our greatest treasure, how does it help us to see the “treasures” of this world more clearly?
2. How can these truths about God's power and promises give us comfort when it “looks” like things are not going in the right direction?  Whose side are we on?  Who is our champion?  Who can defeat the Lord of Hosts?
3. What kind of temple is being built today (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18)?  How then should we apply the call to, “Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord” (Verse 4)? (Matthew 28:19-20, Notice the promise of God's presence in both commands.)

Today's passage: Haggai 1

Helpful thoughts:

• Haggai prophesied after the return from the Babylonian exile.  He is mentioned in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14.
• The Jews had come to prioritize other things in life over the worship of the Lord.  The need to build the temple first (Or not) characterized their heart of worship (Or the lack thereof).
• God sent His word and the promise of His presence to His people with this command.  With His words, He stirred up their hearts to obey (Verse 14).

Questions to consider:

1. What does this passage teach us about our priorities (Matthew 6:33)?  When we get booged down with the cares of this life and think we do not have time for God, what are we forgetting?  Is there anything we could do that isn't part of our worship to God (1 Corinthians 10:31)?
2. How did God stir the hearts of these leaders and the people to obey?  When they weren't obeying what did He do (Hebrews 12:11)?  When they needed correction, what did He give them (And now to us)? (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
3. What did repentance look like for the people in this situation (Verse 14)?  Do we simply stop sinning, or do we replace our wrong-doing or inaction with something different and good (Ephesians 4:22-32)?  How could this biblical principle help you to change and grow?