Old Testament Prophets
Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi

Old Testament Prophets from the Post-Exilic Era

Haggai - Prophet of Temple Restoration

- Prophesied during the time Darius, King of Persia and during the time of Zerubbablel, governor of Judah.

- 520 B.C.

Situation

- Between the initial return to the land in 538 B.C. and Haggai's ministry in 520 B.C. Israel has struggled.

- They have built their homes but the temple has not been completed.

- They have also experienced famine and economic depression.

Message

Haggai challenges and encourages the people with four messages.

1. Renew your covenant and build the temple to demonstrate a desire to serve God.

2. A promise of hope and restoration.

3. A call to holiness.

4. The line of David would yield a Messiah and Zerubbable, in that line, would lead.

- The Jews who had returned to Judah from exile

The people responded positively to Haggai's exhortation.

Zechariah - Prophet of Jerusalem's Restoration

- A contemporary of Haggai

- 520-516 B.C.

Situation

- Same as Haggai

Message

- Zechariah's ministry concerned the new nation's spiritual condition.

- He rebuked the people for losing sight of their God and called for repentance.

- He called for covenant living and encouraged them through a series of visions which indicated that God still cared for them.

- He exhorted them to follow Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest as divinely appointed leaders in the line of the Messiah.

- He called them to restore Jerusalem, the city of God.

Audience

- The Jews who had returned to Judah from exile.

Malachi - Prophet of Restoration of Israel's People

Somewhat difficult to date but Malachi likely prophesied during the ministry of Nehemiah.

- about 430 B.C.

Situation in Judah

- The temple had been restored and so had the walls of the city of Jerusalem.

- During Nehemiah's second trip to Jerusalem, temple worship had grown corrupt. The priests had lost their respect for God and the people had fallen into sin and apathy.

- Marriage problems and divorce had become too common.

Message

Malachi tells the people what God expects - Honest worship, faithfulness and sincere honesty.

He calls for repentance and practical renewal through:

a) purification of the priesthood

b) change worship practices

c) correct abuses with the tithe and temple sacrifices

d) restore broken family life

e) practice social justice

Audience

- Same as Haggai and Zechariah - fellow Old Testament Prophets

Return to Old Testament from Old Testament Prophets