Haggai

Haggai is one of the post-exilic prophets, meaning he ministered after the first group of Jews had returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. His prophecy is highly specific and focuses on a single task: motivating the returned exiles to finish rebuilding the Temple. The people had started the work but stopped for sixteen years, prioritizing their own homes and livelihoods while the Temple lay in ruins. Haggai challenges their priorities, pointing out that their current poverty and bad harvests were a direct result of their misplaced focus. His short, direct message successfully spurred the leaders and the people to resume and complete the Temple construction, reminding them that God’s blessing follows obedience.