The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

the leaders began to lead and the people followed, just like church people do when they are gripped with prophetic vision. The prophets knew about the correspondence that their enemies had waged through letters of complaint to the king. Daniel undoubtedly knew, and these men knew, that the original edict of the king was still in effect! While the opposition and doubters said it was not legal--it could not be done!--the prophets forged ahead, their burning words propelling everyone with them! They started before receiving the final letter of confirmation! What had stalemated for fourteen years was now finished in four! ´ So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia, Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King 'DULXVµ (Ezra 6:14-15). Now, about Haggai and His Book Although the authorship and date of the book are virtually uncontested, Haggai is only known from this book and two references in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14. The book (with two chapters) is one of the shortest in WKH 2OG 7HVWDPHQW VHFRQG RQO\ WR 2EDGLDK·V RQH FKDSWHU Haggai means ´IHVWLYDOµ RU ´IHVWLYH µ SRVVLEO\ EHFDXVH KH ZDV ERUQ RQ WKH GD\ RI D PDMRU IHDVW OLNH 7DEHUQDFOHV The two chapters of the Book of Haggai contain five terse, pungent messages that zero in like guided missiles on one target: WKH PLVSODFHG SULRULWLHV RI WKH SHRSOH KDYH UREEHG WKHP RI *RG·V blessing. The people must complete their task; LW LV *RG·V DVVLJQPHQW The Five-fold Message 1. Purpose: To reprove their neglect and arouse them to action (1:1-12). This was a word addressed to Zerubbabel (governor) and Joshua (high priest), but the people certainly must have heard it as well. Although we may have painted these men and people as backsliders, they are better described as people discouraged, needing leadership. Remember, after all, the dedication that had been required to get them to this place. They now QHHGHG *RG·V ILUH RI LQVSLUDWLRQ WR PRWLYDWH WKHP 7KHVH PHVVDJHV DUH QRW long, although they may actually have been longer in presentation, but the response indicates that the people were like tinder, just waiting to be ignited. ‡ 7KH 7LPH KDV FRPH %XLOG WKH KRXVH Y ‡&RQVLGHU \RXU ZD\V this is not the time to live well while *RG·V KRXVH LV XQILQLVKHG (v.5) ‡

responsive hearts and willingness, the LORD stirred the spirit of the people. Response: They came to work on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.

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