Viewing Haggai Through the Lens of the Hebrew Calendar: Part 2

Note: This is a continuation of my previous study on Haggai 1 which you can read on my page titled: Viewing Haggai Through the Lens of the Hebrew Calendar: Part 1.

Imagine that you are the prophet Haggai whose name means feast or festival (as in the Feast of Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles). It is the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (also known as Sukkot) which God commanded you to observe in Leviticus 23. You have been living in a makeshift shelter the last 7 days celebrating as was the custom. Not only does living in temporary shelters remind you of when your people lived in tents in the wilderness before entering the promised land, but it was also the time of year when Solomon dedicated the first temple and the presence of God came to live in the midst of your people. You look around and see the temple in ruins with only its foundation laid. Sukkot is supposed to be a time of joy and hospitality celebrating the fall harvest, but as you look around you feel discouraged. There is a lack of food (hardly anything to be thankful for) and the temple is progressing soooo slowly. About three and half weeks ago, on the 24^th of Elul, the people started gathering materials, but construction had not yet started. (Note: We know from history that construction will start on Kislev 24.)

And today is Hoshana Rabba (which means “God save us”): the 7^th day of the festival. You along with the other faithful Israelites were up all night reading the book of Deuteronomy and the Psalms. You are tired and discouraged knowing how your people failed to meet God’s standards written in the law. You also know that it is this very day when God finalizes the judgment that God sealed on the Day of Atonement two weeks earlier (Tishri 10). You wonder will God really live among you once again? You remember the old temple in its former glory and wonder how your people in their poverty can ever achieve such a feat again. You long to have God of Angel Armies live once more in your city, but how?

Suddenly, you have another message from God. It’s been about seven weeks since you last heard from the Lord in such a direct way. The message is once again for Zerubbabel the governor of Judah and Joshua the high priest, but this time the message is also for the people. (See the blog post Viewing Haggai Through the Lens of the Hebrew Calendar: Part 1.to learn more about Zerubbabel and Joshua).

Note: We don’t know for sure if Haggai celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles but Ezra 3: 4 seems to indicate that a subset of the people celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles since they build an altar in 537 BC.

Blog vs Bible Study

As an educator I prefer Bible studies to blog posts because a Bible study forces people to think for themselves and make connections. However, a blog post has its purpose. It relays information quickly as it tends to “tell” than to “question”. If you prefer blog posts, keep reading! However, if you prefer learning through a Bible study method check out my free printables on my Haggai Bible Study Page.

Now let’s dive into Haggai! This post is the second of three installments, so if you like this post and want to be sure to get the next one when it is published, but sure to subscribe.

Haggai 2: 1-3, NIV

^“On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,  “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?…’” 

Background

This vision takes place during the time of Ezra. Two years after the Jewish exiles came back to their homeland in 538 B.C, they started rebuilding the temple (536 BC). However, due to opposition and discouragement, the work came to halt, and the people started focusing on their own houses. Haggai’s vision takes place in 520 B.C. Earlier this same year, in the Jewish month of Elul (approximately August), Haggai received a vision reprimanding Zerubbabel and Joshua for allowing the people to neglect to build the temple. The people responded to the rebuke and started making arrangements to start the work. At the time of his second vision, they had begun gathering supplies. Now 7 weeks later, in the month of Tishri, Haggai received his second vision. This time the vision was not only for the Zerubbabel and Joshua but also for the people.

Haggai 2: 4-5, NIV

^“‘But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’”

Be Strong

In our digital society today we often italicize or underline things for emphasis. However, Biblical Hebrew does not work like that. One of the ways Biblical authors emphasized something was by using repetition. Additionally numbers also had meaning. For example, the number 3 represents divine completeness or wholeness.

Therefore, the fact that God repeats the phrase “Be strong” three times is significant. It hearkens back to the time of Joshua (son of Nun not Jozadak) when God told Joshua to be strong and courageous when entering the Promised Land in the face of opposition (Joshua 1: 6, 7, 9, 18, Joshua 10: 25). God doesn’t ask his people just to be strong on their own, but He tells them, “I am with you.” Then He reminds them that this was the purpose of his covenant. He wants to dwell with them and be there God. Notice how God emphasizes his relationship with them and calls them to remember the covenantal promise He has with them. They don’t have to do the work on their own. He will send His presence to protect them!

Application Question

In what area(s) of life is God calling you to be strong?

Haggai 2: 5-8, NIV

“’This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.  I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.  ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Using Egypt’s Riches to Furnish the Tabernacle

The first time the Israelites were called to make a house of worship for the Lord is when they were told by God to construct a tabernacle in the wilderness. At that time, they were in the middle of nowhere. They were slaves. They had nothing, and they left Egypt in haste. However, right before they left Egypt, God told the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for gifts. And the Egyptians were so afraid of them, they gave them lavish gifts (Exodus 11:2-3, Exodus 12: 35-36). This plunder that they took from the Egyptians is what the Israelites then gave back to God as a freewill offering. This allowed the tabernacle to be built in the wilderness (Exodus 25: 1-8 and Exodus 35: 21-29). Now once again in Haggai’s time the people were poor (or at least lacked food), and they had no idea how they were going to furnish the new temple, but God told them not to worry. The silver and gold were His. He shook it out of Egypt once before, and He can shake out what He needs again! They were called to just be faithful and do the work.

For more information/resources on the Tabernacle visit my web page.

The Desire of Nations

Oftentimes prophecies have dual meanings. Whereas some commentators think that the desire of nations is gold and silver. Other think the desire of nations is the Messiah based on Isaiah 60: 5-11, 1 Samuel 9: 20, and Malachi 3: 1.  But because it’s prophecy, it could very well mean both!

Shaking the Heavens and Earth

Shaking in the Feast of Tabernacles

Remember Haggai is celebrating the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (aka Sukkot). Each day of the festival the Jewish people shake the lulav and etrog and recite the Hallel (Psalms 113-118). This is known as the four species (Leviticus 23:40). It includes one palm branch, two will branches, and three myrtle branches in addition to the etrog (a bumpy citrus fruit that looks like a lemon). The four species are waved or shaken in six directions to represent that God is everywhere.

Then on the last day called Hoshanna Rabbah (the day when Haggai receive his vision), they are to beat the willows five times on the ground. This custom was apparently instituted by the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. According to some commentators, the beating of the willow branches symbolizes casting away any remaining sins. (Note: Start the video at 2:40 to see them beat the willows.)

Fun fact: These willow branches are saved and are used to burn the yeast (sin) when preparing for Passover.

New Testament Understanding of Shaking

As we know scripture interprets scripture, and Hebrews 12 can give us insight into the meaning of these verses.

““At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” Hebrews

Hebrews 12: 26-29, NIV

When God met with Israel at Mount Sinai, the earth shook or quaked (Psalm 68: 7-8 and Exodus 19: 18). But now according to Haggai, God is promising to shake both the heavens and the earth. The author of Hebrews comments on this concept in verses 26-29 as seen above. He is interpreting Haggai’s prophesy to mean that God is going to shake all the created things out of heaven, so that only what is firm (i.e., God’s kingdom) can remain.

Haggai 2: 9, NIV

^“’The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

God’s Glory

Notice the three-fold theme of God’s glory in this vision.

• “‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?’” (Haggai 2: 3a, NIV)
• “’I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2: 7, NIV)
• “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2: 9a, NIV)

Remember Haggai is receiving this vision on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. It was during this feast that God filled Solomon’s temple with His glory. Solomon’s temple was magnificent! It was beautiful and filled with gold. There were older people in the congregation who still remembered the former temple and wept when thinking about its destruction (Ezra 3: 12). They felt that what they were building now could not compare to what they had before. This caused the people to be discouraged. Yet they forgot that it wasn’t the gold and silver which made it great, but it was the glory of God which filled it (1 Kings 8: 10-13 and 2 Chronicles 5: 11- 6: 1)! For God owns the whole world, so having enough precious metals isn’t a problem for Him. He can easily obtain what He needs just as he did when He had His people plunder the Egyptians. Instead, God is promising not only to fill it with his glory, but to bring something even greater than before. However, history shows us that the second temple was never as great as the first. But we as New Testament Christians know that the most important thing about the second temple is that Jesus walked there. He was God incarnate who filled the temple (John 1: 14, John 2: 19-21). In fact, it was Jesus’s body that was the true temple. When He died the temple curtain separating the Holy of Holies was torn in two giving all access to God’s glory and intimacy with Him. However, God is also sharing his glory with his people. He is the cornerstone, but we are stones in his new temple. What is truly amazing is that God’s sharing His glory with us His people!!!!

 “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual houseto be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
‘See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.’
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.’” 1 Peter 2: 4, NIV

God’s Peace

The word for peace in Hebrew is shalom. It’s a word that can’t fully be described in English. Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. When the future glory that God promises comes, then those of us who share in his glory will experience true shalom!

Application Question

Where do you see God’s glory in your life? How does His glory bring you peace?

Conclusion: The Greatest Glory is Jesus

Did you know that Jesus celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7: 1-39)? It was at this feast that Jesus claimed that he was the “Christ” or the messiah. But he took it one step further than their understanding of the Messiah for He claimed that He was God: ““You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him, but I know Him, because I am from Him and He sent Me.’” (John 7:28b-29, NIV). Then on the last day Hoshana Rabba (which means “God save us”) during the water libation ceremony he stated, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” (John 7: 37b-38). He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

The greatest glory is Jesus, God incarnate, would humble himself to live among us and die for us, but that he will also be raised to the seat of glory where we can live with him forever! Solomon’s temple might have been beautiful and God dwelling there among His people was awesome. But the glory of us dwelling with Jesus in heaven is even more awesome!

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