Haggai is a short book in the Bible with a powerful punch. He was one of the few prophets that the Israelites actually listened to.
If you’ve read any of the Old Testament, you know that God’s people often ignored (or worse, mistreated) God’s prophets. The Israelites wanted to hear what they wanted to hear and not what God was telling them.
Haggai was one of the few prophets that the people actually listened to! Perhaps that’s why his name means “festive!” He had something to celebrate! We don’t know for sure why Haggai’s parents named him Haggai but we do know he was one of the few prophets who shared a message with the Israelites that they took to heart. And that was worth celebrating.
A Little Background on Haggai
Haggai may have been born in Babylon and later returned with the exiles to Jerusalem. The people had started working on God’s temple and then stopped, leaving it in shambles. They spent their time building their own houses and ignored God’s house. God said their efforts would come to nothing because they were ignoring His house. The people heard Haggai’s message and rebuilt God’s temple.
The new temple paled in comparison to Solomon’s temple and some of the people that had seen the previous temple wailed with broken hearts at its sight.
However, Haggai tells the people that God will send a greater glory to this temple. “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:9
What does this mean?
When Jesus came, he fulfilled this prophecy. Read John 2:19: “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
And we, too, fulfill this prophecy because we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
If you download this Haggai lapbook, you can share this encouraging message with your kids too!
Read these tips for doing lapbooks.
Looking for some print and go Sunday School Lessons?
Hannah and Samuel Sunday School Lesson