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:
- 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)?
- 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)
- 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?