Minor prophet number 10!

The author of Haggai was writing into a different setting to all the other prophets so far, which makes his message different too. Although many prophets warned that there would be a distaster, an exile, they also wrote in hope that God would bring the people back home again. This is where Haggai speaks from.

Haggai wrote his prophecy when the Israelites returned to their homeland, to Jerusalem, after their exile, and were deciding what to do next. Many of them set to rebuilding their houses and making sure that their own dwellings were secure. But Haggai pointed out that this was wrong when the temple lay in ruins too.

Haggai suggested that their priorities were wrong, and that the rebuilding of their house of worship should have been the most important thing to them. The people should have been full of faithfulness and obedience and rebuild the temple. And Haggai leaves his prophecy with that choice; to be faithful to God or not.

My favourite verse: Haggain 1.13: Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord.

With thanks to Dimitrisvetikas1969 on Pixabay for the banner.