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Minor Prophets, Part 3: Persian Period and Restoration

  1. Lesson One
    Obadiah
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Haggai
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Zechariah
    20 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Malachi
    18 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    OT Wrap-Up (Psalm 119)
    15 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 
Haggai 2:4-5 ESV

Rebuilding the temple was a dangerous construction project. It was a form of resistance against an edict by Artaxerxes. Haggai is telling the people to build anyway—reminding them that YHWH is greater than the king of Persia. He reminds them that a greater ruler is on their side: “Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you.” 

As we know from the book of Ezra, only after the people resume construction is an older edict uncovered, one from the time of Cyrus which overrules the prohibition against rebuilding. This was the legitimate basis for the rebuilding in the first place.

Ironically, if Israel’s enemies hadn’t encouraged a review of Persian law, the older edict from Cyrus might not have been found. Not only was Israel given permission to build, the Persian king was legally obligated to pay for the project. The attempt to stop construction completely backfired. 

By following the commands of YHWH in faith, in what seemed like a dead-end project, the people had stumbled into an ideal situation where God led them to a victory they could not have imagined.