Transcript Lesson 10 for June 8, 2013 Some of the Jews came back to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel in Spring 536 BC to.

Lesson 10 for June 8, 2013
Some of the Jews came back to Jerusalem with
Zerubbabel in Spring 536 BC to rebuild the nation and
the temple thanks to the decree of Cyrus.
They rebuilt the brazen altar in that year. The next
year they laid the foundations for the temple.
The older men like Haggai remembered the glory of
Solomon’s Temple which was destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar about 50 years before. Those elders
remembered that glory and were crying while they
laid the foundations for the new temple.
They became discouraged by the opposition from the
Samaritans so the reconstruction slowed down until
King Smerdis finally stopped the work.
Fifteen years after laying the foundations (520 BC),
God called the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. King
Darius approved the reconstruction again and God’s
temple was finally rebuilt.
First message: August 29, 520 BC
“Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has
not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’”
(Haggai 1:2)
Why did they think that it wasn’t still the time
to rebuild the temple?
According the prophecy of Jeremiah (2 Chronicles
36:20), the captivity of Israel would last for 70
years.
That prophecy was fulfilled the first year of Cyrus
(2 Chronicles 36:22) with the return of Zerubbabel,
just 70 years after the first Jews were taken captive
to Babylon.
Nevertheless, after dealing with
many difficulties when rebuilding
the temple, they mistakenly deduced
that those 70 years were not fulfilled
yet because the destruction of the
previous temple took place in less
than 70 years before then.
First message: August 29, 520 BC
“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your
paneled houses, and this temple to lie in
ruins?” (Haggai 1:4)
The people had silenced their conscience with excuses.
They worked in building their own houses and totally
forgot about the House of God.
Now God used the prophet Haggai to make them
consider the consequences of their acts.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!…
You looked for much, but indeed it came to little;
and when you brought it home, I blew it away.
Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My
house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs
to his own house”” (Haggai 1:7, 9)
If the people of God wants to be successful, the first
things must be first: God’s things first, then ours.
Second message:
September 21, 520 BC
Zerubbabel (governor),
Joshua (high priest) and all
the people listened to
Haggai and obeyed the
divine order.
They got everything
ready to begin with
the work in less than
one month. In that
moment, they
received a second
message from God.
“Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to
the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”” (Haggai 1:13)
“It was after Haggai’s second message that the people
felt that the Lord was in earnest with them. They dared
not disregard the repeated warning that their prosperity
and the blessing of God were dependent upon their
entire obedience to the instructions given them. As soon
as they decided that they would do the words of the
Lord, His messages of reproof changed to words of
encouragement. O how merciful a God we have! He
says, “I am with you.” The Lord God omnipotent
reigneth. He assured the people that if they were
obedient, they would place themselves in a position
where He could bless them for His own name’s glory. If
God’s people will only rely upon Him, and believe in
Him, He will bless them.”
E.G.W. (SDA Bible Commentary, on Haggai 1:13)
Third message: October 17, 520 BC
“Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former
glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is
this not in your eyes as nothing?” (Haggai 2:3)
Some people were discouraged because of
the cry of the elders when they laid the
fundaments of the temple some years
before (Ezra 3:12-13)
God used Haggai to promise to the people
that the second temple would be much
more glorious than the Solomon’s one,
despite being half the size and without its
gold, silver and jewelry ornament.
That temple would be blessed and
glorified by the physical presence of God
Himself in the person of Jesus: “and they
shall come to the Desire of All Nations,
and I will fill this temple with glory”
(Haggai 2:7)
Fourth message: December 18, 520 BC
“Consider now from this day forward, from the
twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the
day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple
was laid—consider it: Is the seed still in the
barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the
pomegranate, and the olive tree have not
yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you”
(Haggai 2:18-19)
Sin contaminates everything in contact
with it and quickly expands (Haggai 2:1314), but holiness must be carefully and
personally cultivated (Haggai 2:11-12)
When the people of God comes together
to seek holiness like the people of Judah
did in Haggai’s time, they are blessed.
Fifth message: December 18, 520 BC
The last message of Haggai is a personal message
for Zerubbabel who was responsible for the work.
When Zerubbabel heard and obeyed the divine
order, he became a “signet ring” (Haggai 2:23).
That means that:
He was a living example, a model of how God is.
He was an instrument on God’s hands.
His work was guaranteed and signed by God.
He must not fear anything, since he was on God’s hands.
“God will not suffer one of His truehearted workers to be left alone to struggle
against great odds and be overcome. He preserves as a precious jewel everyone
whose life is hid with Christ in God. Of every such an one He says: “I ... will make
thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee.” Haggai 2:23”
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, pg. 67)