Post-Exilic Prophets to Southern Kingdom

Prophets Overview

#6

Post-Exilic Prophets to Southern Kingdom

● Haggai – 520 BC

● Zechariah – 520 BC

● Malachi – 432 BC

Haggai – 520 BC

Haggai prophesied to the people regarding the temple that was left unfinished. 14 years prior, Persian King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their land to begin rebuilding the temple (Ezra 1). However, there was great discouragement since this new temple would not share the same glory as Solomon’s temple (Ezra 3:10-13). Adversaries also came against the Jews and the work was ceased until the second year of Darius’ reign (Ezra 4). Haggai and Zechariah were the prophets used by God to encourage the completion of the second temple (Ezra 5:1-2).

Main Idea: God Returns His Blessing to an Obedient People.

• Ch 1 – Haggai Calls for the Rebuilding to Continue

o 1:2; 1:7-9; 1:13-14

• 2:1-9 – Haggai Encourages the Builders

o 2:3; 2:7, 9

• 2:10-19 – God will Bless His People Again

o 2:17-19

• 2:20-23–Signet Ring Returned to God’s Right Hand (Jer. 22:24-25)

o 2:21-23

Zechariah – 520 BC

Zechariah ministered at the same time and both were motivating the completion of the construction of the temple and both occur during the historical timeline we see in Ezra (see Ezra 5). The first major section of the book is concurrent with Haggai (about 520 -518 BC). The second section of Zechariah takes place 40-50 years later (480-470 BC), during the same time frame as Xerxes, the Persian king who deposed Vashti and made Esther queen. Zechariah challenged the people with the concept that this was not just a building project. He stressed the importance of the temple, because the Messiah’s glory one day will inhabit temple, so the current task is crucial. This was the temple the Messiah would use; Jesus would come to this very structure … walk through these doorways … read and discuss the scriptures in these rooms … and one day the veil would be ripped at the very moment that Jesus laid down His life. “Get ready, the Messiah is coming!”

Main Idea: Preparation for the Messiah

● Ch 1-8 Encouragement While Building the Temple

o Ch 1-6 Eight Visions – 1:7-8, 11, 14-17

▪ Ch 7-8 Four Messages – 8:3

● Ch 9-14 Anticipation of the Coming Messiah

o First Coming

▪ Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver

● Prophecy – 11:12-13

● Fulfillment – Matthew 26:14-15; 27:5-7

▪ The Disciples would Forsake Him

● Prophecy – 13:7

● Fulfillment – Matthew 26:55-56

▪ His Side would be Pierced

● Prophecy – 12:10

● Fulfillment – John 19:34-37

o Second Coming

▪ 9:9-10 – 1st and 2nd Coming

▪ 14:3-4 – The Victorious Ruler

Malachi – 432 BC

Malachi prophesied nearly 100 years after Haggai and Zechariah began their ministries and during the time of Nehemiah. The prophecies of these men have not been fulfilled yet and Israel had become disillusioned and cynical, they slid into a perspective that it just wasn’t worth it to serve God. But God showed His unending love in spite of their spiritual apathy. The absence of blessing in their lives wasn’t caused by God’s lack of concern, but by their own compromise and disobedience. The book of Malachi is the prelude to 400 years of prophetic silence, broken by the next prophet, John the Baptist, “Behold! The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. The structure of Malachi is a recurring pattern of dialog: an accusation from God, Interrogation by the people, and a refutation by God. Malachi speaks against the priest and people trying to learn the “system” of a relationship with God, we don’t fill out a checklist, we are called to a relationship.

Main Idea: Appeal to Straying Israel

• Honor God - 1:6-7, 8

• Remain Faithful – 2:13-14, 16

• Obey God – 3:7-10

• Are you Ready? – 3:1-2