Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi all right to the post-exilic people of Israel/Judah after the return of the Babylonian captivity and rebuild of Jerusalem. Haggai and Zechariah are contemporaries, and then Malachi receives his message from God much later in the piece - the last direct recorded revelation of God until the angel's message to (a different) Zechariah recorded in Luke.
The overall message in Haggai is quite simple. The people returning to the land had set a high priority on getting their houses and fields in order, but neglected to have any priority for the things of God - evidenced by them not rebuilding the temple of the Lord. As is often the case with Israel, God has this link of obedience to Him with the prosperity of the people and land in terms of crop growth, and this is no different. God prevented good crops while the people focused on themselves, and then blessed them with good harvest once they began firm steps to rebuild the temple. In this age of grace, physical blessing is not always linked to obedience (even back then, only the Israelites were under this arrangement with God); but spiritual blessing is certainly linked with putting God first before our own desires and comforts. It is challenging to think of how much we do truly put God first as we live, or whether we ensure 'our panelled houses' are in order first.
The message in Zechariah is more complicated, partly from being a longer book, and partly because of the obscurity of the message given via the visions, which require more in depth analysis for understanding the full meaning. There are certainly some themes that come through strongly though.
We see the continued gathering of the people of Israel from the lands into which they have been scattered, both as a prediction and encouragement of those remaining in the foreign countries. They are told strongly to withdraw from the wickedness that surrounds them, now that the exile is over - possibly indicating that some of the people were reluctant to leave, as we will see a bit in the narrative books also.
We see prophecy concerning the temple being rebuilt - evidently written a little later than Haggai. Zerubbabel, the governor, will be able to see it through to completion.
There are certainly a lot of messages about reminding the people of the reasons they went to Babylon, and exhortations to now work justice, mercy and kindness, unlike before. The current high priest (his position representative of the people before God) is seen in a vision re-clothed in unstained garments.
There are again predictions concerning consequences for Israel's enemies, also - the Lord used some of these as tools to punish Israel, but their own wickedness will not be unpunished.
As we progress through the book, there seems to be more and more focus on the coming Messiah. Initially described as a Branch - familiar language to us now from the other prophecies, we also see Zechariah acting out the role of Messiah as a shepherd of Israel who is rejected by the people, and is paid his 'wages' of 30 pieces of silver - about the price of a bondservant, and later identified by the gospel writers as the prophecy fulfilled in the price of Judas' betrayal. The two comings of the Lord Jesus as Saviour and conqueror are mixed and undistinguished in Zechariah, as many of the old testament prophets - the age inn between was not made known to them, but we can look both backwards to see what has been fulfilled, and forwards in the light of the New Testament to what will be fulfilled at His return. How great will that day be when He comes again for His own, and the revelation of His Majesty when He comes with His saints again in judgement against the people who continually rejected Him!
One other theme I noticed in Zechariah was the idea of the responsibility of leadership. We see it with the messages about the Shepherd, and the false shepherds, and the condemnation of the leaders of Israel. Leaders who by malicious deed, apathy, or laziness do not shepherd the sheep under them in obedience to God will be punished - we will be held to account for those whom He has given us responsibility over, whether in formal position or not!
Malachi, being the last book in the Old Testament, and fittingly the last recorded, is a warning against Israel for again turning against the Lord. Sure, they do things on the surface, but not only is their heart not in it, they are acting disrespectfully to God in the offerings that they bring - obviously diseased, lame, poor stock. They have not learned their lesson about false teachers, and the leaders who should be teaching righteousness are teaching wickedness. What is amazin reading through the book is the apparent lack of understanding they have that they are displeasing God - {sarcastic} after all they are 'going through the motions' {/sarcastic}!
There is still distinction between righteous and wicked. Today, there are many who try to blur the lines, but God knows, and He has given us His Word that we also may discern true teaching and practice from false. We also need to be careful that we do not despise God, selfishly keeping our money for ourselves/our own purposes under various excuses, instead of stewarding all our resources for His purposes.
Lord, help us for we are weak. Help us to put You and Your purposes first in all things, and give us wisdom and discernment to know false leaders and teachers from true - thank you for the guidance of Your Word and Your Spirit in this matter, for we are ever grateful for all You in Your mercy and Grace have granted to us.
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