02 Dec You are working in one of the GTA Hospital in the Foundation Department Your manager is asking to draft a letter asking community to donate fund to your hospital

******MUST READ ALL BEFORE ACCEPTING****

6-10 pages

Due December 7, 2022, By 10:00 pm USA time/date

** Absolutely NO Plagiarism

***All writing must be original

****NO using writing or COPYING FROM COURSE HERO

***** My Instructor checks for plagiarism on Turn It In and on Safe assign

Watching all CA walkthrough videos is required! It is very important that you take heed of the following info, watch the walkthrough videos, and start on the Critical Assignment as soon as you can.

· Second, attached to this agenda Item is the .docx template you are to use for this assignment. It is hyperlinked just below. Please make note of the 2 following crucial issues: 1) You must submit this assignment as a WORD file, either .doc or .docx. No other format is allowed; 2) You must use this template. If you do not use this template, your CA will NOT be graded.

*****NOTE See attachment labeled Final Template – THIS TEMPLATE MUST BE USED

· Third, here is Dr. Joe Slunaker’s Haggai paper which serves as an example in the walkthrough videos. (Note that you can choose any of the other 65 books of the Bible, but not Haggai for this paper). Dr. Joe's paper is the ONLY PAPER for this assignment that you are allowed to consult for ideas and questions. His paper is attached below in the hyperlink.

****NOTE See the attachment labeled Dr Joe's Haggai paper for the example

NOTE *** Watch Videos On directions on how to successfully complete this assignment**********************

1. CA walkthrough 1: orientation to the assignment and getting started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAOB48kJrN0&feature=youtu.be

2. CA walkthrough 2: choosing a Biblical book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goC4olhSsuo

3. CA walkthrough 3: finding resources and setting up your paper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjDt4ICdyBs

4. CA walkthrough 4: paper section 1 – introductory issues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyJGhrzKN8

5. CA walkthrough 5: paper section 2 – literary structure and outline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUGwY4r1rl4

6. CA walkthrough 6: paper section 3 – place in the storyline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLxe7eLSjmA

7. CA walkthrough 7: paper section 4 – major theological themes and message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3h3cff6fok

8. CA walkthrough 8: paper section 5 – personal reflection and application

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33fChW2CHCA

9. CA walkthrough 9: bibliography issues

https://youtu.be/KP-XK_4aNEE

10. CA walkthrough 10: Editing

https://youtu.be/WW-rNddJni8

11. CA walkthrough 11: submitting your paper

https://youtu.be/XfOoq6KW2g8

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CST100 Critical Assignment

An Introduction to Haggai

By Student McStudentFace

Submitted to Dr. Joe

Due by Day 2 of Week 8 – No Exceptions

Introductory Issues

The book of Haggai is one of the Minor Prophets and even though a short book, is very powerful in its message. The book was presumably written by Haggai, one of the leaders responsible for encouraging the returned exiles to complete the construction on the temple that had begun once the captives were returned under Cyrus’ edict (Hill, 45-46). Haggai is one of the last prophets, and since his worldview was shaped by the exile, it stands to reason that he would speak about specific exilic topics. Bloomhardt states, “Haggai was probably born during the captivity in Babylon, and came to Jerusalem in one of the smaller groups of returning exiles that followed the first expedition in 537 B.C.” (Bloomhardt, 153). These exiles needed to be taught the laws of God and needed strong leadership to motivate them to not fall back into the sins of their forefathers, and Haggai proved to be one of the people who could rise to the task. It is hard to say exactly when the book was written, but Hill insightfully comments, “It seems likely that the book was written sometime between Haggai’s challenge to rebuild the temple (520BC) and its completion (515 5BC), since the prophet does not mention the latter event” (Hill, 47). This makes good sense given that Haggai speaks about the completed temple as still in the future. While it does not look like there is much lengthy source-citing in Haggai, it seems as if the book quotes Joshua 1:9 where Moses commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” Haggai 2:4 likewise calls for courage, “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts.” (Taylor, Clendenen, 86). The major idea represented in the book is Haggai’s call for the people to rebuild the temple. This concept frames the entire book and showcases the post-exilic experience of Israel as the main historical context of the book.

Literary Structure

· Haggai’s first message: he speaks to Zerubbabel and Joshua and commands them to rebuild the temple (1:1-11)

· Rebuilding the temple takes precedence (1:4)

· There are problems because of the people’s disobedience (1:5-6)

· Think about the awesome God who the temple is for (1:7-11)

· Zerubbabel and Joshua respond in obedience (1:12-15)

· The people join their leaders to rebuild the temple (1:12)

· The group makes great progress (1:14-15)

· Haggai’s second message: the glory of the rebuilt temple will surpass the first one (2:1-9)

· Who saw the former house before it was destroyed? (2:1-3)

· YHWH will fill the temple with treasure (2:4-9)

· Haggai’s third message: YHWH will bless the people if they are obedient (2:10-19)

· A word to the priests about holiness (2:10-13)

· The days ahead will be much better because of the rebuilt temple (2:14-19)

· Haggai’s fourth message: he speaks to Zerubbabel a final time to talk about the future (2:20-23)

· YHWH is about the “shake the heavens” (2:20-22)

· Zerubbabel is chosen by YHWH (2:23)

The main message of Haggai revolves around the prophet’s call for the people to rebuild the temple that was destroyed generations earlier when the Southern Kingdom was taken captive by the Babylonians. It is important to recognize that the commands Haggai gives are directed to the leadership, Zerubbabel and Joshua, who are Davidic and Levitical, respectively. Incredibly, even though the exiles have been put through the wringer, the fact that there is a Judahite in the line of David and a Levitical High Priest at the helm of leadership shows that God is in control and he is still caring for his people while fulfilling his plan. Haggai’s encouragement to rebuild the temple is couched with a rebuke to the people for living in nice houses while the temple lay in ruins and a warning about the uselessness of religious rites until the temple was neglected. Haggai also speaks about a good future and about how the people’s obedience had the potential to be significant for the nations. Finally, Zerubbabel is singled out as a chosen one, which makes sense since he is of the kingly line of David, and further makes the case that God is still working to bring his plan to fruition.

Place in the Storyline

Haggai falls squarely within the Prophesied Kingdom section of Roberts’ metanarrative breakdown. Haggai is a prophet who is looking back over the tragic history of the Israel but is also looking forward to the hope in the future. Robert’s states that the one of the features of the prophets that fits them into the storyline of the Bible is that they not only look backwards, but they look forward and give hope that in spite of the people’s disobedience, God is still in control and is working out his plan for the future (Roberts, 99). Haggai is no exception when he says that the future temple will be even greater than the original one (Hag 2:9). Haggai’s main preoccupation is the rebuilt temple, which is a place for God to dwell with his people (Roberts, 104). After the Fall in Genesis 3, God does not give up on his people and one of the covenantal blessings he gives to Abraham is a special place. Part of God’s Redemption plan is to maintain a place for his people to be with him and part of the way that is fulfilled is through the temple. The temple gets destroyed in 586 BC but Haggai commands the people to rebuild it a generation later, because it is looking forward to a greater reality. Petterson comments, “The prophets of the exile promise that the kingdom which was lost when Israel and Judah were exiled will be restored.” (Petterson, 34). The rebuilt temple in Haggai’s post-exilic day is preparing the people of God for Jesus’ teaching about the real temple, which is the transition into the Present Kingdom.

Major Theological Themes

The importance of the temple. The major theme that dominates the entire book of Haggai is the importance of the temple. Haggai chastises the people for having fine houses of their own while the temple lays in ruin (Hag 1:9). Haggai does not just want to rebuild the building for the sake of some religious ceremony, like O’Brien comments, he is concerned with God’s honor (O’Brien, np.). This is a serious problem because the people are not putting their relationship with God first, but are instead so focused on their own lives that they are not walking obediently. Luckily, the people respond and obey God (Hag 1:12) and the tides start to shift. The temple is of extreme importance because it is the OT place where God dwells with his people. It is also a major part of God’s plan to fix what was broken in the fall. The people made a huge mistake in former times by neglecting the temple, so now Haggai focuses on helping the people not make that mistake again. Haggai maintains that the temple glorifies God (Hag 1:8) and that the temple is meant to be a place for the nations (Hag 2:7). Very importantly, the temple is described as a place where God will give peace (Hag 2:9) which makes sense since a special Place is part of God’s promise to Abraham.

Obedience to God. The reason why the temple was destroyed in the first place was because of the people’s disobedience. God had made a covenant with them and had given them incredible blessings through that covenant, but the people were unfaithful. According to Haggai, God gives them another chance. Haggai commands the people to be obedient and build the temple, assuring them that disobedience is a dead-end street with consequences (Hag 1:7-11). It’s amazing to see how much God blesses the people when they are obedient; one of the first results is that God declares, “I am with you!” (Hag 1:13). According to Haggai, obedience is met with blessing because the covenant depends of faithfulness.

God’s relentless fulfillment of his plans. Throughout Haggai it is apparent that God will go to whatever lengths necessary to fulfill his plans. The temple has been destroyed, but since it is crucial to showcasing the big picture of redemption, God orchestrates history to send the exiles back to their land and rebuild it. In doing so, he appoints three leaders: a Prophet – Haggai, a High Priest – Joshua, and a Davidic King – Zerubbabel. In the context of the book, these three are part of the successful situation of Haggai’s time, as Couey states, “Resumption of work on the temple is attributed simultaneously to multiple causes: the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, the initiative of the community, the prophetic encouragement of Haggai, and the empowerment of YHWH’s spirit” (Yee, Page, Coomber, 910). In addition, these three people are the required components to God’s redemptive story since the they all play a part in God’s plan to reverse the effects of the Fall. The Prophet speaks the message of truth, the Priest offers sacrifices for atonement, and the King embodies the covenant. It is amazing that these three offices (presented in Haggai’s post-exilic day) are all fulfilled by Jesus in the transition to the Present Kingdom. In spite of the faithlessness of his people, God is going to bring his plans to fruition. Haggai’s conclusion (Hag 2:20-23) highlights Zerubbabel and according to Goswell, Haggai’s reference to Zerubbabel focuses on the hugely important role he played in building the Second Temple (Goswell, 90). But it is more than that, we are anticipating the Davidic king to come, who will fulfill God’s plan of redemption, and his name is Jesus.

Summary. The theological message of the book of Haggai could be summed up in the following phrase: God continues to work on his plan for redemption in the ways he has promised he would do. Basically, there is nothing new in Haggai. Instead there is a rehashing and reintroduction of elements that should be familiar to a reader of the OT by the time of the post-exilic period. The temple occupies center stage in this book, with Haggai commanding the people to rebuild it because of its important. Furthermore, the book presents the importance of the threefold leadership structure: Prophet, Priest, King. In doing so Haggai serves as kind of a middle ground between the earlier OT content and what is coming in the NT. By reestablishing things that had been corrupted, he sets up the people of God to see what is coming next. God will fulfill his redemptive plan in the given ways that he set up in the past, in such a way as to prepare that generation for what he will do in the future.

Personal Reflection

Though I have read Haggai a bunch of times in my life, reading and researching it deeply has proved to be particularly fruitful endeavor and I can see several says in which the text is applicable. First, I stand I awe at how consistent God is even when his people are inconsistent. By the time of the post-exilic period the people have been unfaithful so many times, but God continues to give them grace upon grace. This serves as an extreme encouragement to me because I know that I do not always obey God in faithfulness. Time and time again I relate to the Israelites in my stubborn heart. It is mind-blowing that God shows me mercy and like Haggai calls the people to the historic vehicles of redemption (like the temple), God calls us today to look back to the Cross of Christ and what Jesus accomplished.

I think it is also amazing how Haggai encourages the people to look forward in hope at what God is going to accomplish in the future. The post-exilic period must have been a tough context indeed. The people were able to go back to their land, but they were still living under foreign domination and they were only one generation removed from the cataclysmic trauma of the Fall of Judah. In the midst of their hard circumstance God does not only tell them to look back on things like the temple, but tells them to look forward to the incredible things he will do in the future. This gives me hope in the same way. Though in a different context than these Israelites, I too am encouraged to look forward to the return of Jesus because it is promised and assured.

The last thing that really affected me was reflecting on how the OT and the NT should be read together. This small obscure prophet talks about rebuilding the temple under the leadership of a Prophet, High Priest, and Davidic King. That is incredible! It’s like we get a snapshot of the Gospel right here in Haggai. It just goes to show how important it is to read the Bible as one big story and to take note of the metanarrative that runs throughout.

Bibliography

Bloomhardt, P. F. (1928). "The Poem of Haggai.”  Hebrew Union College Annual, 5, 153–195.

Coomber, M. J. M., Page, H. R., & Yee, G. A. (2016).  The Prophets. Fortress Press.

Goswell, G. (2010). “The Fate and Future of Zerubbabel in the Prophecy of Haggai.” Biblica, 91(1), 77-90.

Hill, A. E. (2012).  Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: an Introduction and Commentary. IVP Academic. 

O’Brien, J. M. (2004).  Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Abingdon Press. 

Petterson, A. R. (2015).  Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi. Apollos. 

Taylor, R. A., & Clendenen, E. R. (2004).  Haggai, Malachi. Broadman & Holman. 

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CST100 Critical Assignment

An Introduction to ______________

By _______________________

Submitted to ___________

Due by Day 3 of Week 8 – No Exceptions

Introductory Issues

Literary Structure

Place in the Storyline

Major Theological Themes

Personal Reflection

Bibliography