Haggai 2 · Grade 5

My Spirit Lives Among You

Name Date

Read and Think

Haggai's second message came about a month after the work began. Haggai 2:1 dates it to the twenty-first day of the seventh month. Older people who had seen Solomon's temple compared it with the modest new building. God named their feelings directly: isn't it in your eyes as nothing? Then he spoke courage to the governor, the high priest, and all the people: be strong, all you people of the land, says Yahweh, and work, for I am with you.

God rooted this courage in his covenant: this is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. Don't be afraid. He promised to shake the heavens and the earth and all nations, and to fill this house with glory. God says, the silver is mine, and the gold is mine. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says Yahweh of Armies; and in this place I will give peace. The people's worth was not in the size of the building but in God's presence. Christians believe this promise finds its fullness in Jesus, and in the New Testament, Hebrews 12:26 quotes God's promise to shake the heavens and the earth.

Two months later, Haggai used questions about clean and unclean things to show that holiness is not passed on by contact, but uncleanness spreads. Their earlier neglect had tainted all their work. Yet God made a turning-point promise: from today I will bless you. The book closes with a word to Zerubbabel: I will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says Yahweh, and will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you. A signet ring carried a king's authority, a sign that God had not forgotten his promises to David's family.

Show What You Know

What were the older people comparing?
On what does God base his command not to be afraid?
What New Testament book quotes God's promise to shake heaven and earth?
What does the signet ring show about Zerubbabel?

Crossword

Across

And my ____ lived among you.
And the ____ is mine.
And so is every ____ of their hands.

Down

The ____ is mine.
Yet now be ____.

Think About It

God told discouraged workers, be strong and work. What job for God do you need courage to keep doing?
God said the silver and gold are his. How does that change the way you think about what you own?

Memory Verse

“This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Don’t be afraid.’”

Haggai 2:5 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being with me while I work. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you serve God in the place he has put you?
Who is someone you can thank for working hard at church?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?