Haggai: Intro and Chapter 1

Introduction
His name means “Festive” — the only figure in Scripture so named. In 538 BC, Cyrus released the Exiles to return to their various kingdoms whence Babylon had taken them. The decree for those of Judah was generous, but only a few were willing to leave the now prosperous life they had in Mesopotamia. So a mere 50,000 arrived to the ruins of Jerusalem after a long journey.
The task appeared impossible, but they began early clearing the Temple foundation. The Samaritans who had been living to the north welcomed the Judeans home, they thought, until the former Babylonian captives made it clear the Samaritans had no part in their worship of Jehovah. This was the start of a very ugly rivalry, which included all sorts of political intrigue and outright threats from the client rulers of Persia who had been in the land during the absence of the Judeans. This tension stopped the Temple building very early. So the Returnees went about building their homes and reclaiming the agricultural land which had lain fallow so many years. Eventually, the political tensions became a permanent excuse for not seeking the Lord’s face and getting back to building His Temple. Haggai worked with the prophet Zechariah to stir up their zeal and get the people back on task.
Chapter 1
The prophet offers clear and precise dates. He is by far the most literal of Hebrew prophets. Even then, it’s easy to mistake his pragmatism and direct language as saying something he did not. This is not a simple matter of earning God’s blessings, but a blunt accounting presented to people who had already forgotten too much of their ancient Hebrew culture. This is still Hebrew prophecy with all the otherworldly symbolism, but the prophet must catch the attention of some folks who are somewhat less Hebrew during his time.
The edict of Cyrus to return was 538 BC, and the Returnees left a year or so later. They have been back at least 15 years, having stopped working on the Temple after only clearing and repairing the foundation. Haggai is moved by the Lord to address them on the New Moon festival in what would be for us mid-August 520 BC. A new Emperor Darius was now on the throne, and had communicated his favor for the Judeans, willing to silence the local opposition to their temple. There was no longer any excuse.
Haggai first pokes at the leading residents of the city for repeating the worn excuse it just wasn’t yet the right time to start building on the Temple again. So while they were enjoying sumptuous quarters, God had to meet with them in the open. Could they not spare at least a covered shed for Him? The issue was not politics nor time nor resources. If they were short of resources, it was only because they had neglected the source. That is, they had not obeyed the Lord’s command. He had told them to rebuild; they resisted. If in every way they obeyed the Law of Moses, but didn’t obey simple and obvious commands, then the blessings of the Law would be withheld. They were doing without, because they made God do without. Creation would fight them because their moral motives were wrong.
Get to work, Judah! Haggai addressed his message directly to the regent, whom we know by the name Zerubabbel (“Born in Babylon”), and the High Priest Joshua. Because they obeyed, it was hard for the people to argue, and the work began. They realized their God was alive and paying attention. They organized and got their plans together, beginning the work in earnest about three weeks later.