Skim through Haggai and/or Zechariah. Note the problems in the Jewish community that these two prophets address. How would their prophetic message have helped in rebuilding Jerusalem and in helping reforms among the Jewish people? What aspects of their teachings might have helped the Jewish people survive even after the temple was destroyed and the Jews were removed from their land again?You may turn this into two "extra credit" blogs if you like: one entry on each book.
A Man With a Measuring Line
ReplyDelete1 [a]Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him 4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD.
7 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” 8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— 9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.[b] Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
-Zechariah is giving a mixed message. He says here that Israel and its people will become scattered, but at the same time he ensures the people that god will always be with them. He even goes as far as to say that God will show them the path to the holy land once again. This message gives the people hope and gives them more incentive to reform and become better people so that the promised land would be delivered to them once again.
In Haggai, the first thing he addresses is that the people don't want to build the temple anymore because they were beginning to put their own problems and priorities ahead of building the temple. This message implies that if Judah listened to God and rebuild his temple, he would take care of them. The very last part of the book would have helped the Jews survive after the temple was destroyed because it reminds Zerubbabel that he was specially chosen and God will overthrow the foreign powers. This would help to encourage Judah.
ReplyDelete-Brianna Hamil
The book of Haggai talks mainly of the urgency of rebuilding the temple. But also in the book Haggai talks about kingdoms that come to an end here on earth.
ReplyDeleteIt is fitting then that Zechariah talks of God reuniting with his people in a new kingdom that he will create. He will preserve his people to get them there and it will be amazing for them.- Zach Kuhlman
o In the book of Haggai, the people were too busy focusing on their own homes that they disregarded building the Lord’s house. Haggai tells them that if they go and build the Lord’s house, He will be glorified and take pleasure in it (1:8). Because they were being selfish and not putting God first, they were never satisfied. This prophetic message would’ve helped the Jewish people by letting them know to put God first.
ReplyDeleteThe Book of Haggai -
ReplyDeleteThe main problem which Haggai addresses is the completion of the common houses while the house of the Lord is not complete. This was a problem, and when pointed out, the people of Jerusalem realized it was indeed a problem. Haggai's prophatic message about being blessed from now on would be a very good contribution to the rebuilding of Jerusalm. He says [prophetically], "I smote you...yet you did not return to me.." and a phrase like this can help get people to realize where they have gone wrong.
The Book of Zechariah
In this book, the priesthood has kind of gone to heck, and so he encourages the people to reinstate it. Along with reinstating this, he also reminds the people of many of the laws forgotten during the 70-year exile. What would have helped the Jewish people survive even after the temple was destroyed was his prophatic message of the very famous second comming of Jesus Christ. Even with a destroyed temple, hope is not lost because this second comming will enevitably happen with or without a temple. This is very powerful motivation to keep the laws and commandments.
The Isearlites are focused on the rebuiding of the temple. They see the temple as the only way to be able to speak to God. In both books they want the people to know that God will always protect them and be with them. Partly because he had already written the law upon their hearts and minds. The temple is a physical reminder of the promises made and once the people start to forget and become consumed in other things they forget gods law.
ReplyDeleteThe Book of Haggai
ReplyDelete-After the captivity in the nation of Babylon, whats left of Israel back in the Promised Land can begin the rebuilding of the temple, but the Jewish people neglect finishing the project, for 16 years, putting their own personal business before God’s business, which is a sign of their indifference to God's agenda which was supposed to be lived through them. Haggai, a prophet of the Jewish people, was basically sent to them in order to wake these people up and realize that it is not their lives that come first, but God's wishes. Also, Haggai reminds them that they do need to rebuild the temple, but God is here for them regardless and always will be.
The Book of Zechariah
ReplyDelete-The book of Zechariah was probably written by the prophet himself. Zechariah emphasized that God has used his prophets to teach, warn, and even correct his people. Unfortunately, they refused to listen, and continued their lives full of sin. This book also tries to describe why God does not always answer the Jews prayers ect. for example.. Zechariah 7:13..'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty." Although this is kind of cryptic sounding, it also is an example of hope. If they respond more positively to God's messages and God's wishes, then God will assist them. This is basically just an attempt to get the Jewish people to wake up and live more holy lives.
Tyler Munson
ReplyDeleteIt appears that in both books the prohpets want to reassure the jews that god is always watching and protecting them. Babylon is controlling them during this time and these prophets are telling the people that ther are better days on the horizon.