This Sunday, I’ll start preaching through the book of Haggai. And I’m really eager for it.
Why Haggai? We have just finished Romans (the whole series can be found on our website here). Which took us 2 years (can you believe I’ve been here that long). I enjoy moving between the Testaments. So now we turn to the Old. To a prophet. To a book you can read in ten minutes (which is a great idea to do this week).
Also, I want to preach several shorter series this year. Many visitors are among us. I want everyone to feel like they’re at the beginning of something. Haggai is four sermons. In four weeks, you will have the whole book. In June, we’ll look at the book of Ruth. Also, as a four-week series.
And there’s a pastoral reason I’ve chosen the book. Haggai calls God’s people to work in the strength of the Lord. We are planning to plant a church (you can find out how we’re doing here). That will require labour. Faith. Dependence. Haggai’s message is timely to us as Benoni Baptist Church.
Now, what is Haggai about? The year is 520 BC. The exiles have returned from Babylon. They began rebuilding the temple. Then the work stalled. Sixteen years passed. The people built their own houses. Panelled them. Made them comfortable. God’s house remained in ruins. So God sent Haggai. His message is sharp. Think carefully about your ways. You have planted much but harvested little. Why? Because my house lies in ruins while each of you is busy with his own house.
But the book is not just confrontation. God promises His presence to His people. I am with you. He stirs the spirits of the leaders and the people. They obey. Then God points them forward. The future glory of this house will be greater than the former. And in the final oracle, He takes Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, and declares, I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you. A King is coming. And that is where the book lands. At the feet of Jesus. The true and greater Zerubbabel. The King who secures our future.
Over four weeks, we will walk through these four oracles. We will see why projects stall. How do they restart? Where do they find power? We will see how defilement is cleansed. How the Divine Warrior will one day shatter every enemy and seal every believer.
I encourage you to read Haggai before Sunday. To your family if you’re the head of a household. It will take a few minutes. It will repay you richly. Pray that the Lord would stir our spirits as He stirred theirs. That we would build with courage. That we would trust His presence.
I look forward to opening this book with you.