The Book of Haggai - Analysed and Explained in Summary - Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of "The Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, taken from Volumes 1, 2, & 3 of the "Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.
HAGGAI - THE DUTY OF COURAGE
PART A: FIRST PROPHECY - Haggai 1:1-1:15
- Introductory - 1:1
A1. The Reason - Hag. 1:2
- Neglect of the Lord's House
- The Time not come
A2. The Message - Hag. 1:3-1:11
- Their own Houses - 1:3-1:4
- Consider your Ways - 1:5-1:7
- The Reason of Failure - 1:8-1:11
A3. Historic Interlude - Hag. 1:12-1:15
- Obedience - 1:12
- Encouragement - 1:13
- Enthusiasm - 1:14-1:15
PART B: SECOND PROPHECY - Haggai 2:1-2:9
- Introductory - 2:1-2:2
B1. The Reason - Hag. 2:3
- The Old Men
- Disappointment
B2. The Message - Hag. 2:4-2:9
- The Call - 2:4a
- The Immediate Promise - 2:4b-2:5
- The Larger Promise (see Zechariah 1:1-1:6) - 2:6-2:9
PART C: THIRD PROPHECY - Haggai 2:10-2:19
- Introductory - 2:10
C1. The Message - Hag. 2:11-2:18
- Appeal to Priests and Principles Deduced - 2:11-2:13
- Application of Principles - 2:14-2:18
C2. The Reason - Hag. 2:19a
- The Delay of Blessing
- Disappointment
C3. The Promise - Hag. 2:19b
PART D: FOURTH PROPHECY - Haggai 2:20-2:23
- Introductory - 2:20
D1. The Reason
- Ratification of Promise "I will bless"
D2. The Message - Hag. 2:21-2:23
- The Shaking of Authority - 2:21-2:22
- The Establishment of True Authority - 2:23
Introduction
Of Haggai's personal history nothing is known, but the dating of his prophecy is very exact. It is noticeable that for the first time a Gentile date is given. Darius reigned during the years B.C. 521-486, so that Haggai's four messages fell within four months in the years B.C. 520-519. For the understanding of the conditions in which he exercised his prophetic ministry the book of Ezra must be studied; a tabulation of the leading events in connection with the return from Babylon will help us thus to place his prophecy.
- B.C. 536. Return from Babylon under Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:1-4). Altar built. Sacrifices offered. Feast of Tabernacles.
- B.C. 535. Foundations of the Temple laid. Opposition of Samaritans and cessation of building.
- B.C. 520-519. Prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. The people recommenced building.
- B.C. 515. The Temple completed.
Thus it will be seen that the work of rebuilding the Temple had ceased, and in order to stir up the leaders and people to their duty in this matter these messages were uttered.
The book is naturally divided by the four messages the prophet delivered: The First Prophecy (1:1-1:11); the Second Prophecy (2:1-2:9); the Third Prophecy (2:10-2:19); the Fourth Prophecy (2:20-2:23).
A. The First Prophecy - Haggai 1:1-1:15
The prophet Haggai delivered his first message on the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of Darius, and it was especially addressed to those in authority. The people were excusing themselves from building by declaring that the time had not come. To this the prophet replied by reminding them that they were dwelling in their own cieled houses, while the house of God was lying waste. He called them to consider their ways, reminding them of the long-continued material failure in the midst of which they had lived. He then urged them to build the house of God, declaring that all the failure to which he had already referred was of the nature of Divine punishment for their neglect of His house. There was an immediate response to the appeal of Haggai, first on the part of the governor and priest, and then by the people. This response was followed, first, by a word of encouragement, in which the prophet declared that Jehovah was with them; and secondly, by new enthusiasm on the part of the people.
B. Second Prophecy - Haggai 2:1-2:9
About seven weeks later, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month of the same year of the reign of Darius, Haggai delivered his second message. This was addressed to Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the priest, and all the people. A comparison of Ezra 3:13 with this message will show how certain of the old men who remembered the former house lamented the comparative inferiority of this. Such memory tended to dishearten the people, and the prophet appealed to them to be strong and to work, promising in the name of Jehovah His immediate presence and help. Upon the basis of this promise he then rose to the height of a more gracious one. The central phrase of this larger promise is difficult of interpretation, "The desire (singular) ... shall come" (plural). Perhaps the simplest explanation is to be found in the use made of the connected words in the letter to the Hebrews (12:25-29). It is evident that in this promise there is a revelation of an order of Divine procedure which is manifested in the method of both the first and second advents of the Messiah. That order may thus be briefly summarized: "I will shake;" "the desire shall come;" "peace." Thus the disheartened on account of lesser material glory were called to look for the spiritual glory which would be the crowning splendour of the new. After this prophecy Zechariah delivered a message (Zech. 1:1-6).
C. Third Prophecy - Haggai 2:10-2:19
About two months later, on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the same year in the reign of Darius, Haggai delivered his third message. In this the people are addressed through a colloquy with the priests. The content of this prophecy shows that after three months of hard building there were still no signs of material rewards, and the people were again disheartened in consequence thereof. As a result of his questioning of the priests and their answers Haggai taught the people that their present obedience could not immediately result in material prosperity because of their past sin. Yet the final word of this third message is a promise of blessing: "From this day will I bless you."
D. Fourth Prophecy - Haggai 2:20-2:23
The last message of Haggai was delivered on the same day as the third, and was an enforcement and explanation of the final promise, "I will bless you." It consisted first of a repetition of the declaration of Jehovah's determination to shake, carried out in greater detail, in order to reveal the fact that He would destroy all false authority and power; and finally in the promise of the establishment of true authority.