Haggai 2: God Restored The Covenant Blessings

Haggai 2: God Restored The Covenant Blessings

Collin Leong. January 5th, 2025 

(v1-9) The Coming Glory of God's House

(v1-5) On the 21st day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai, saying: "Speak to Zerubbabel and Joshua and the remnant of the people. Ask them 'who is left among you who saw this house in the former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet be strong, O Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people in the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear Not.

Exp: God acknowledge the discouragement of the people who are building the temple. Many of them think the previous temple, that was built by Solomon, was much bigger and richer than the one they are building. He encourage them to "be strong" and that His Spirit is with them. Even if the work looks small or unimpressive, God values faithfulness and promises His presence in it.

(v6-9) For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory. The silver is mine, the gold is mine. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of host. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'"

Exp: This passage is a prophecy that in the future, God will shake the cosmic and the nations from this temple. This refers to the collapse of Persia under Greece, and the conquer of Greece from Rome. 

God also said that this temple will have greater glory than Solomon's temple, and peace will come through it. The reason is that this is the temple that His Son, Jesus Christ, visited during His life on Earth. He was at the temple at the age of 12, He visited it in his ministry and He thought the people at the temple. (Luke 2:46–47; Matthew 21:12–13; John 7:14). Jesus' brought the kingdom of God from the heaven to earth, and the gospel shook the whole world, and the peace of God came into those who believe in His Son. Though it lacked Solomon’s grandeur, its true glory was fulfilled when the Messiah Himself came into it.

(v10-19) Blessings for A Defiled People

(v10-12) On the 24th day of month nine, in the second year of Darius, God told Haggai to ask the priests for a ruling:  "If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item becomes holy? The priests said "no."

(v13-14) Then Haggai asked: "If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?" The priests said yes, it becomes defiled. Then Haggai replied, "So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.

Exp: Those questions brings about an understanding that impurity spreads easily, holiness does not. This reverses the people’s assumption that rebuilding the temple automatically sanctifies their offerings. Their disobedience to delay the building of the temple meant their state of impurity contaminate everything, including the temple they are building and the sacrifices they are going to make. Until they realign with God (by rebuilding His house and obeying His word), their worship is invalid.

(v15-17) Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, when one expect one heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty. I struck you and the work of your hands - with blight, mildew, and hail. but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD. 

Exp: God reminds them of their disobedience in the past, even when he prevented their works from achieving their expectations. Blight refers to crop disease or scorching that ruined harvests. Mildew refers to fungal crop disease that ruined harvests. It symbolizes covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:22), showing how disobedience led to agricultural failure.

(v18-19) From this day forward - from 24th day of month nine - the day the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid - consider carefully: is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig,  the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day one, I will bless you.

Exp: Why did the LORD say that the foundation is laid on that day (520 BC), when historically speaking, it was already laid 16 years ago (536 BC) during the administration of Ezra (Ezra 3:10-13)?  Though the foundation was completed, it was abandoned when apposition and self-interest stalled the project (Ezra 4). God treats the renewed effort in 520 BC as a fresh beginning — a symbolic “new laying” of the foundation. In other words, the foundation was technically there, but covenantally it was as if nothing had been done until they recommitted. God’s language emphasizes obedience and turning point, not construction chronology. The “foundation day” marks the moment when the people’s hearts realigned with God’s command, making the work spiritually valid. Thus, the day of recommitment is counted as the true foundation day. This is why God will bring prosperity and fruitfulness back to Israel from that day onwards. 

(v20-23) The LORD came to Haggai again on the same day, asking him to tell Zerubbabel that He is about to shake the heavens and the earth - "I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the Lord of Hosts, I will take you, My servant Zerubbabel, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts."

Exp:  The LORD's declaration of "overturning" the "kingdom of the nations" refers to Persian Empire being taken over by Alexander the Great from Greek Empire in 330 BC. The phrase “each by the sword of his brother” reflects civil wars and factional conflicts that plagued empires, including Persia’s succession struggles and later Greek fragmentation. By the 1st century BC, Rome had absorbed Greece and much of the Near East, another dramatic shift in world powers. While this will take hundreds of years, to God, it is as good as instantaneous. Zerubbabel is reassured that God controls empires — Judah’s survival doesn’t depend on Persia’s goodwill but on God’s sovereignty. 

The "signet ring" in v23, signify authority and identity and legitimacy of the person who received it. (Gen 41:42; Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17). Zerubbabel was in the bloodline of King David. He was the grandson of King Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah), one of David’s descendants, and thus carried the Davidic lineage through the Babylonian exile. Both Matthew and Luke trace Jesus’ genealogy through Zerubbabel, underscoring his importance in messianic prophecy. God re-instate his promise of a Messiah in David descendants through Zerubbabel, giving a sure hope to everyone. (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Isaiah 9:6–7; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Ezekiel 34:23–24)

Key Messages

Haggai 2 builds on the renewed zeal of the people by reframing their discouragement and reminding them of God’s covenant presence. The chapter contrasts the unimpressive appearance of the rebuilt temple with the promise of greater glory, showing that divine presence—not human grandeur—defines true worth. Through priestly rulings, Haggai underscores that impurity spreads more easily than holiness, explaining why past offerings were defiled. Yet the laying of the temple’s foundation marks a turning point: covenant curses are reversed, and blessing begins. The chapter culminates with Zerubbabel’s exaltation as God’s “signet ring,” reinstating Davidic legitimacy and foreshadowing messianic hope. Haggai 2 thus transforms discouragement into assurance, showing that obedience and God’s presence secure future glory and peace.

1. Encouragement Amid Discouragement (vv. 1–5)

The people compare the new temple unfavorably to Solomon’s, but God repeats three times: “Be strong…Work, for I am with you.” His Spirit remains among them.

Application: When our efforts feel small or unimpressive, God’s presence—not outward results—defines success. Courage and perseverance flow from His nearness.

2. Promise of Greater Glory (vv. 6–9)

God declares He will “shake the heavens and the earth” and funnel the nations’ treasures into His house. The latter glory will surpass the former, and peace will dwell there.

Application: Future hope outweighs present limitations. We must trust that God’s plans bring greater glory than what we can see now, even when beginnings seem modest.

3. Defilement Exposed (vv. 10–14)

Through priestly rulings, Haggai shows that impurity spreads, but holiness does not. The people’s disobedience had tainted every offering, making their worship defiled.

Application: Rituals or outward acts cannot substitute for obedience. We must guard against hidden disobedience that contaminates our work, ensuring purity of heart and devotion.

4. Reminder of Past Disobedience (vv. 15–17)

God recalls how their harvests failed—grain and wine yields were halved, struck by blight, mildew, and hail—yet they did not turn to Him.

Application: Reflecting on past consequences helps us recognize the cost of neglecting God. Honest remembrance of failure can sharpen our resolve to walk faithfully today.

5. Covenant Blessing Restored (vv. 18–19)

From the day the temple foundation was laid, God promises: “From this day on I will bless you.” Obedience marks the turning point from curse to blessing.

Application: God honors decisive obedience. When we realign our priorities with His will, blessing follows—even if fruit is not yet visible.

6. Zerubbabel as God’s Signet Ring (vv. 20–23)

God promises to overturn kingdoms and declares Zerubbabel His chosen “signet ring,” reinstating Davidic authority and foreshadowing messianic fulfillment.

Application: God’s choice secures legitimacy. Leadership and identity rest not on human power but on divine election. We too are called to embody faithfulness as part of God’s covenant story.

Haggai 2 transforms discouragement into hope, impurity into blessing, and uncertainty into assurance. The chapter’s heartbeat is this: God’s presence guarantees future glory, and obedience unlocks blessing.