by Wells, Steve
(3.17) The Singing God: “God … will joy over thee with singing.”
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
HAGGAI
If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? —Haggai 2.12
The God of Haggai is an active God. He blows houses down, sends drought and hail, shakes heaven and earth, sea and dry land. Yet for some reason the Israelites still didn’t like him too much. Weird, eh?
Here are the highlights:
God huffs, and he puffs, and he blows the house down! 1.9
After God blew the houses down, the Israelites repaired their houses while ignoring the temple. So God sent a drought to punish them. 1.9-11
In “a little while” God “will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land.” 2.6, 2.21
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” 2.8
Be careful not to let any holy flesh touch any food or wine, because if you do your flesh won’t be holy any more. 2.12
God sent blasting, mildew, and hail upon the Israelites, yet they still didn’t return to him. 2.17
He will make the horses and their riders be killed by “the sword of his brother.” 2.22
HAGGAI 1
(1.1, 15; 2.1, 10, 18, 20) It sounds so much more prophet-like when we are told the year, month, and day of some prophetic nonsense.
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
(1.1a) “In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai.”
(1.1b) “Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel.”
264 Who was Zerubbabel’s father?
2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
(1.8) “Build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.” God wanted a nice, fancy house to take pleasure in and be glorified in.
(1.9-11) But the Israelites repaired their own houses while ignoring the temple. So God huffed, and he puffed, and he blew on the land, thereby bringing a drought to punish them.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
(1.9) “Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
(1.10) “The the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.”
11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
(1.11) “And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.”
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
13 Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
(1.15) “In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.”
HAGGAI 2
2 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
(2.1) “In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai.”
2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
(2.6-8) God will shake the heavens, the earth, sea, and dry land. He’ll shake until “the desire of the nations” comes and his house is filled with glory. But if any gold or silver is shaken lose, it’s all God’s.
6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
(2.6) “I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land.”
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
(2.7) “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory.”
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
(2.8) “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD.”
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
(2.9) “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former … and in this place will I give peace.” God will have more glory than ever when he is settled into his new house, and he might even give some peace.
10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
(2.10) “In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet.�
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11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
(2.12-14) God has a conversation with Haggai and the priests about holy flesh, skirts touching bread or wine, the cleanliness of dead bodies, and whatnot. The main thing to remember here is this: Don’t let your holy flesh touch any food or wine, because if you do your flesh won’t be holy any more.
12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
(2.12) “If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy?”
13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
(2.13) “If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?”
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
(2.17) “I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail … yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.” God sent blight and hail upon the Israelites, yet they still didn’t return to him. What is wrong with people?
18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, consider it.
(2.18) Consider this: “Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.”
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
(2.20) “Again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month.”
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
(2.21) “I will shake the heavens and the earth.”
22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
(2.22) “I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them … every one by the sword of his brother.”
23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
ZECHARIAH
I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. — Zechariah 11.9
Zechariah is as bizarre as it is cruel. Here are the highlights:
Zechariah has a long conversation with an angel, a man in a myrtle tree, some horses of different colors, and God. Chapters 1 - 6
God has seven eyes that “run to and fro through the whole earth.” 4.10
Zechariah sees a 30 foot flying scroll that burns down the houses of thieves and liars. 5.1-4
God will “set all men one against his neighbor.” 8.10
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts … ten men … shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew.” 8.23
Someday we’ll see God flying over us with his lightning-like arrows. He’ll be blowing his trumpet and sending whirlwinds down south. 9.14
God “will hiss for them.” 10.8
“He shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up.” 10.11
“I will no more pity … saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand … And I will feed the flock of slaughter.” 11.6-7
God will force everyone to eat “the flesh of another.” 11.9
He will open his eyes and smite “every rider with madness … and every horse … with blindness.” 12.4
A prophet must be killed by his own parents by “thrusting him through when he prophesieth.” 13.3
God will “go forth and fight” with “his feet” on the mount of Olives. 14.3
On the day of the Lord, the mount of Olives will be split in two and half the mountain will be removed. 14.4
God will smite the people with plagues that will cause their flesh, eyes, and tongues to rot away. 14.12
He will make everyone fight and kill his or her neighbor. 14.13
He sends his plagues on animals too. 14.15
Whoever survives all these plagues and slaughters must worship the God who caused them. 14.16
ZECHARIAH 1
(1.1, 7; 7.1) You need to know the year, month, and day that “the word of the LORD” repeatedly comes “unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet.”
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
(1.1) “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet.”
286 Was Zechariah Iddo’s son or grandson?
2 The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
(1.7) “Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet.”
(1.8-15) Zechariah sees a man riding on a red horse and carries on an extended, multi-way conversation with an angel, a man in a myrtle tree, some horses of different colors, and God.
8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
(1.8) “I saw by night … a man riding upon a red horse … and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.”
9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
(1.9) “Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.”
10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and
said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
(1.10) “The man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.”
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
(1.11) “They [the multi-colored horses] answered … We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.” According to the horses of different colors, “the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.”
12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
(1.13) “The LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.”
14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
(1.14) “So the angel … said … Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.”
15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
(1.15) “I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.”
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.