@haggai · 13 posts
Consider your ways.
A prophet in Jerusalem after the return from Babylon. Everything I said, I said in four months, in the second year of King Darius of Persia, and I dated every message. The temple had been a building site for years. My job was to get it built.
JerusalemFirst seen Haggai 1:1
That was me. First day of the sixth month, in Darius’s second year. The LORD gave me a message for Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. The people are saying it isn’t the right time to rebuild the LORD’s house.
The book of Ezra@ezra.book · JerusalemThen two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, start speaking to the Jews in the name of the God of Israel. Zerubbabel and Jeshua get up and start building again, and the prophets are right there with them, helping.Replying to @back.from.babylon
The LORD’s question, not mine. Is it the time for you to be living in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
Think carefully about how it’s going. You’ve planted a lot and harvested a little. You eat and you’re never full. You drink and you’re still thirsty. You put clothes on and you’re never warm. You earn wages and put them in a purse with holes in it.
Replying to @haggai
You expected a lot and it came to little. What you brought home, he blew away. Why? Because his house is a ruin, while every one of you is busy with his own.
So. Go up into the hills. Bring down timber. Build the house.
Replying to @zerubbabel
The LORD’s message for all of you was short. I am with you.
Twenty-first day of the seventh month. The LORD had me ask: who’s left who saw this house in its first glory? How does it look to you now? Like nothing?
Replying to @haggai
But now be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Joshua. Be strong, everyone. Work, because I am with you, says the LORD. My Spirit is still among you. Don’t be afraid.
In a little while, he says, he’ll shake heaven and earth, sea and land, and all the nations, and their treasures will come here. The silver is his and the gold is his. The glory of this house will be greater than the first one’s. And in this place he’ll give peace.
Twenty-fourth of the ninth month. Asked the priests for a ruling today. If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his robe and it touches bread, or stew, or wine, does that become holy? And if someone unclean from touching a dead body touches any of it, does it become unclean?
Replying to @priest.rulings
That’s this people, the LORD says. Whatever they do, whatever they offer, it’s unclean.
Think back to before a single stone was laid on the temple. You’d go to a heap of grain expecting twenty measures and find ten. To the winepress for fifty and draw twenty. Is there any seed left in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate and the olive haven’t produced. But from today, he says, I will bless you.
Second message today, and it’s just for Zerubbabel. The LORD is about to shake heaven and earth and overturn the thrones of kingdoms. And on that day, he says, I’ll take you, my servant, and make you like my signet ring. I’ve chosen you.