The prophet Haggai encourages the Israelites who have returned from Babylonian captivity as they build the temple (“house”) to replace Solomon’s temple that was destroyed.  They are not to worry over its glory not being equal to the glory of Solomon’s temple for it shall have a greater glory in the future.

What Does It Say?

1. The governor of Judah to whom Haggai spoke was a man named _______________.
2. Haggai also spoke to Joshua who was the __________ ____________.
3. The Lord tells of a time when He will _________ the heavens, the earth, the sea, the dry land, and all nations.
4. The Lord obviously refers to Jesus Christ when He speaks of the coming of the ___________ of all nations.
5. God encourages the Jews by telling them that the _________ of this latter house (the temple they are building) shall be greater than of the former (the temple built by Solomon).

What Does It Mean?

1. The word glory is mentioned three times in our passage.  Haggai speaks of “this house in her first glory” (v.3).  God declares, “I will fill this house with glory” (v.7).  And states, “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former” (v.9).  Using these verses as a guide, describe what you think the Bible means when it uses the word glory.
2. The returning Israelites have been comparing the glory of Solomon’s temple with the dullness of Zerubbabel’s temple.  In verses seven and eight, God promises to fill the new house with glory.  In the middle of these two verses, God proclaims, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine” (v.8).  What point do you think He is making.
3. The prophecy about the rebuilt temple and its future glory comes to Haggai on the 21st day of the 7th month (v.1).  Leviticus, chapter 23, refers to seven annual feasts originally given to Israel.  The seventh feast of the year is the feast of the tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44 [33] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [34] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. [35] On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. [36] Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. [37] These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: [38] Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. [39] Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. [40] And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. [41] And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. [42] Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: [43] That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. [44] And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
   See All...).  It begins on the 15th day of the 7th month and goes for eight days.  The eighth and last day of the feast is a holy sabbath unto God (It is the day that Jesus announced the coming indwelling of the Spirit – John 7:2Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.
   See All..., John 7:37-39 [37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
   See All...).  The feast of tabernacles was a picture of God dwelling or making His tabernacle with man.  Haggai’s prophecy came in the seventh month, on the seventh day of the seventh feast, immediately before the last day of the feast—a holy sabbath.  What is the significance of this timing?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1.  Of the new temple, Haggai says, “is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” (v.3).  But, the “glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former” (v.9).  They could not see what God was going to do with the new temple and only looked at the plainness of its exterior.  In what ways, do we make the same kinds of mistakes in our judgments?
2. God had promised (covenanted) to dwell among the children of Israel (v.5).  Exodus 29:45And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
   See All... states, “And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.”  At this late time, He was still keeping this promise.  Study verses four and five of our passage, and tell what their reaction to this presence should be.