Bible study course
An advanced, collegiate, two-lesson academic study of the Book of Haggai, examining the post-exilic prophetic ministry in 520 BC under Darius the Great, the psychological and theological roots of spiritual procrastination, the prophetic confrontation of paneled private houses versus the ruined sanctuary, the economic futility of putting wages into a bag with holes, the comforting divine promise of divine presence, the weeping of elderly witnesses comparing the Second Temple with Solomon splendor, the cosmic shaking of the heavens and earth, the arrival of the treasures of all nations, the priestly inquiry regarding the contagion of defilement versus the non-transferability of holiness, the sovereign reversal from drought to blessing, the overthrow of imperial chariots and thrones, and the Messianic reinstatement of the Davidic signet ring in Zerubbabel.
An academic exegesis of Haggai 1:1 to 15, analyzing the precise post-exilic historical dating to the second year of Darius the Great (520 BC), the spiritual paralysis and procrastination of the returned Jewish exiles, the prophetic confrontation between private paneled houses (batim sefunim) and the ruined house of God, the repeated divine mandate to "Consider your ways" (simu levavchem al-darkheikhem), the futility of self-centered economics (earning wages to put into a bag with holes), and the Spirit-stirred obedience of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant under the comforting promise: "I am with you, declares Yahweh."
An advanced collegiate capstone study of Haggai 2:1 to 23, examining the discouragement of older returnees comparing the Second Temple to Solomon temple, the promise that the latter glory of this house shall surpass the former, the shaking of all nations, the priestly inquiry regarding the contagion of defilement versus holiness, the turning point of blessing from the day the foundation was laid, and the climactic Messianic transformation of Zerubbabel into Yahweh signet ring (khotam), reversing the curse of Jehoiachin.