HaggaiChapter 2

Haggai Chapter 2: Meaning

God encourages the builders that the new temple will be greater than Solomon's, and promises blessing.

Summary

Some of the older people looked at the new temple being built and felt sad. It was much smaller and less impressive than Solomon's famous temple that had been destroyed. Haggai brings a message of encouragement from God: Do not be discouraged! God says He is still with them, and His Spirit is right there among the workers. He tells them to be strong and keep going.

God makes a big promise. He says He is going to shake everything, the sky, the earth, the sea, and the nations. He will fill this new temple with His glory, and the glory of this house will be greater than the glory of the first one. God also says He will bring peace.

Later, God uses a lesson about clean and unclean things to explain why the people's crops had not done well. Being near something holy does not automatically make you holy, but being near something unclean does affect you. God then says that starting from that very day, He will begin to bless them. Finally, God gives a special promise to the leader Zerubbabel, He calls him His chosen servant, like a signet ring on God's hand.

Historical Context

The people building the second temple were comparing it to Solomon's first temple, which had been incredibly beautiful and large. The second temple looked plain by comparison. It must have been discouraging to work hard on something that seemed so much less impressive than what had been before.

Christians later understood God's promise about greater glory to point to Jesus. Jesus visited and taught at the temple, and His presence brought glory that was even greater than all the gold and silver Solomon had used. The promise made sense in a way the people back then may not have fully understood.