Christ Baptist Church

Spring 2015Chapter 4 & 5

Haggai Chapter 1

Ezra – Overview

Chapter 1

God stirs King Cyrus to act

Chapter 2

God stirs the Israelites to

return50,000 obeyed

Chapter 3

God is worshiped!

the Altar is built, foundation laid

Chapter 3

Old men remember the old temple and

weep …“Sound heard far

away.”

Chapter 4

Opposition begins

subversion, discouragement,

fear, bribery, frustration

24 ….the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a stand still until the

second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Chapter 4 -- Opposition to Building

PERSIAN KING DATES BIBLICAL CORRELATION TimeLine

CYRUS 539-530 Return of Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Ezra 1-3)Temple work begins

538536

CAMBYSES 530-522 Rebuilding at Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4) 530

DARIUS I 522-486 Haggai and Zechariah prophesy Temple Completed (Ezra 5-6)

520516

XERXES 486-464 Story of Esther (Esther 1-9)ARTAXERXES I 464-423 Return of Ezra

(Ezra 7-10)Return of Nehemiah

(Nehemiah (1-2)Prophecy of Malachi

458

445

443

Chapter 4 Opposition Arises

In two phases

Vs 7-16Vs 17-23

Vs 1-6Vs 24

City / Walls

Temple

24 ….the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a stand still until the

second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra Chapter 5:1,2; Haggai Chapter 11. Who spoke to the Jews in Jerusalem and why? What

was the result?

Who was Haggai?• Little is known – Outside the book, he is mentioned twice by

Ezra• No record of him in captivity, nor is his age, • He had knowledge of Solomon’s Temple leading some scholars to think he was older

• Prophet of God• Ministry was short – 4 months to 1½ years, 4 messages.• Theme – Stir up the people to:

• Rebuild the temple• Reorder their spiritual priorities

Ezra Chapter 5 - Conviction Returns

Haggai Chapter 1 – Call to Build God’s House

Haggai Chapter 1:1-42. When did this occur? During whose reign? How many years had

passed since the work on the temple stopped?

3. What came through Haggai? To whom?

4. According to Haggai, why had the work on the temple stopped? What do you think the people had been doing instead?

5. What would your answer be if Haggai asked you that question in V4 today?

Haggai Chapter 1 – Call to Build God’s House

Haggai Chapter 1:5-11

6. What warning does the Lord give in v5 and again in v7? Why? What does it mean?

7. What was the result of the Jews unfaithfulness (v6,9)?

8. Give the reason for the punishment (v9).

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.Rom 1:25 

Haggai Chapter 1 – Call to Build God’s House

Haggai Chapter 1:5-11

9. What resulted in the delaying the rebuilding of the temple (v10)?

10.What does the LORD tell the people to do (v7)? Who is then glorified?

11.Thought Question: What lessons should we learn from the people’s failure to work? How are people today similarly guilty?

Haggai Chapter 1 – Call to Build God’s House

Haggai Chapter 1:5-11

12.Who led the people to get back to work? Reread v1. Who specifically did Haggai speak to? What lessons should leaders in the church today learn?

13.What was the reaction of the people? How long did it take them to react? Hint compare v1 to v15.

14.What was the LORD’s second message through Haggai (v13)?

Reread Ezra 5:2

Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word

• What excuse are you using to keep from doing what God wants you to do? Are you more concerned about your own comfort than with the glory of God?

• “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD (1:8).

• What are your priorities, does God’s work come first?• Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this

house lies desolate? (1:4).

• Are you experiencing dissatisfaction in your life or do you know people who are?

• You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes (1:6).

CYRUS539-530

Ezra1-4:5,24

CAMBYSES

530-522ARTAXERXES

464-424

Ezra 4:7-23Ezra 7-10

DARIUS522-486

Ezra 5-6

XERXES486-464

Ezra 4:6False accusations files

530 520 510 500 490 480 470 460600 500

538Templeprojectbegun

536 Workon

Templestopped

605 NebuchadnezzarRansacksJeruselum

597 Nebuchad.attacks Jeruselum;

clears Temple,takes everything;1st Deportation

586 2ndDeportation,

Nebuchadnezzarrburns Temple

to ground

5823rd

Deportation516

TempleCompleted

458Returnof Ezra

433Prophecyof Malachi

445Return ofNehemiah

486-464Story ofEsther

520 Work on Temple resumed byZerubbabel & Joshua, encouraged by

Haggai & Zechariah; Haggai & ZechariahProphesy

539Return of

Zerubbabel& Jeshua

Chronology of the ProphetsTO ISRAEL TO JUDAH TO FOREIGN NATION

ASSYRIAN AGE Amos ca. 760Hosea ca. 760-730

Isaiah ca. 740-700Micah ca. 737-690

Jonah ca. 770

BABYLONIAN AGE Habakkuk ca. 630Zephaniah ca. 627

Jeremiah ca. 627-580Daniel ca. 605-530Ezekiel ca. 593-570

Nahum ca. 650

PERSIAN AGE Haggai ca. 520Zechariah ca. 520-

518Joel ca. 500

Malachi ca. 433

Obadiah ca. 500

Timeline

http://www.blueletterbible.org/images/rosepub/imageDisplay/#s=OT_timeline2_b