Prophet: Haggai

After spending 70 years as captives in Babylon, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. The Persian emperor Cyrus issued a decree:  the Jews were to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Zerubbabel, who was of the royal line of David, led the Jews back home.

They made progress setting up a new altar (Ezra 3:3), and laying the foundations of the new building (Ezra 3:11). However, when the surrounding nations interfered, the temple construction stopped (Ezra 4:24). The Jews built their own houses, worked their fields, and let the Temple lie in shambles.

There was little food, wine, clothing and little rain or money (Haggai 1:6). At that time, a new prophet named Haggai spoke up, saying,“Consider your ways!” He instructed them that ignoring God’s temple had caused the Lord to withhold rain, food, and prosperity. When Zerubbabel and the people resumed work on the Temple, Haggai responded with four more brief messages from God:

“I am with you” (Haggai 1:13).
“I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory” (Haggai 2:7).
“From this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:19).
“I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant ... and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you” (Haggai 2:23).

Haggai pointed the Jews in an obedient direction, particularly their governor, Zerubbabel and Joshua (their high priest). The book of Ezra specifically mentions Haggai and Zechariah as the agents God used to have temple work resume (Ezra 5:1–2). The governor Zerubbabel hears the prophets and obeys in reverence (Haggai 1:12).

Haggai is very literal, directly addressing the economic decline and the tangible solution, which is building the temple.
Haggai blends history and prophecy like no other Minor Prophet, as most of these books are collections of discourses and visions, while Haggai mixes short messages from God with the way people respond to them.