A call to join in God’s victories!
Introduction
In Haggai 2: 20 – 23: God, who had previously promised to bless the produce of the land as recorded in verses 18- 19, also confirms what actions he will take to complete the history of humanity.
In this section we find Zerubbabel, Judah’s governor and a descendant of David having to make some tough decisions. When we find ourselves in similar situations there are two areas of advice that are being offered here.
- Concerning the things that are perishable in life hold them lightly.
- In considering the future of God’s unshakable Kingdom it is vital that we hold on to them tightly.
These two words of wisdom compare to the casual advice that the world may offer to us.
- Make and enjoy, as best as you can, your present earthly life.
- We cannot guarantee any future life for ourselves, our loved ones and the planet we live on. All is vanity and all will pass away!
Bible base – Haggai: 2 – 20 – 23
Things do not last 2: 20 – 21
God spoke to Haggai for a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 520 B.C. In verse 21 God warned Zerubbabel that he would shake the heavens and the earth and his words did not relate to any recent or local revolutions or kingdoms that had risen or fallen. The shakeup that is referred to here is an eschatological one that will reveal the coming of the Lord’s kingdom in heaven and on earth.
The words from the Lord states very clearly that those things that seem important and meaningful in life are not permanent and they will pass away in the course of time. Depending on peoples world view and how they see history it will determine what type of lifestyle they have while living on earth for themselves and their nation.
In understanding what Haggai is saying it will help people to make wiser choices concerning their aims and ambitions which will affect how they shall live. Haggai wants the people to understanding that there is no value in selling one’s soul for earthly pleasures when they are only going to perish and pass away.
God’s kingdom remains forever 2: 22 – 23
In these verses we have an outline of how God’s future victory over all human governments will take place. No one can interpret the future because they have not been there and do not have a specific knowledge of it. In trying to understand the future we may go back to three past examples of God’s intervention.
- The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as found in Deuteronomy 29: 23 and Isaiah 13:19 represented people’s rebellion against God and then how God overcame them with judgment and fierce anger.
- In Exodus 15 we have a record of how the Great Pharaoh and all his armies went down into the sea with the horse and rider, which is a further example of how God can deal with world and local leaders and all their armies.
- In Judges 7: 22 we read about Gideon defeating the Midianites who had a large army opposed to God, yet they were defeated by fighting amongst themselves.
The wisdom we can glean from here is that any leaders and nations that try to oppose God in the present and in the future will only succeed in destroying themselves. They will become self-destructive just as the Five Cities of the Plain, Pharaoh’s Army and the Midianites experienced.
Haggai says in verse 23 ‘On that day‘. ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel’. ‘I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you’. In this section names for the coming Christ include ‘My Servant’ as well as ‘Messiah’ or ‘Servant of the Lord’ as found in Isaiah chapters 41 – 66 and Ezekiel chapters 34, 37.
Jesus Christ as a single servant represented a corporate solidarity for the nation of Israel. The One to Come is for a Whole Nation and the hope of the nation is embodied in the life of the Messiah himself.
The reference to ‘Signet Ring’ is also a Messianic allusion as represented in the kingship of David and his off spring such as Solomon, Jehoiachin, Nathan, Zerubbabel and finally our Lord.
Jesus is a ‘Signet Seal’ of Father God and his authority as a man, not as God, in the family of David, who as chosen and elect is to fulfil an unshakable kingdom of God. Jesus as Messiah will restore the fallen tent of David (Amos 9: 11-12) and receive the King’s Seal/Signet and his status will be confirmed in line with his person and character.
Conclusion
In the course of time every nation on earth will be reduced to the reality of what they are not, rather than what they like to think they are! At the right time the Lord will emerge for the whole world to recognise him as an unshakable Messiah.
The life of Zerubbabel was a sign of the Messiah to come as promised to Abraham and David. The challenge for all believers is to live daily a holy life just as the Lord our God is holy (1 Peter 1: 15-16). All the sinful passions and desires that affect us all in one form or another need to be resisted as we live in the light of Christ’s return and reign as Messiah and King.
The enemy Satan is very subtle and is always at work trying to distract us and take us away from fulfilling God’s perfect plans for: ‘the one that is in you is greater than the one that is in the world.’ (1 John 4: 4).
Haggai in the words from the Lord wants our hearts always to be focused on him and to complete his will and purpose for us and not to get side-tracked by any cheap rituals or external works.
Thank you to freebibleimages.org for the images shared.
Questions to consider
- Think about a time when God has spoken to you directly. In reviewing how that happened was is slow and did you have to exercise patience or was it quick and instant? How important is it to know what God is saying to us?
- How hard or easy is it to hold on lightly to the material and perishable things in life?
- In thinking about the future of God’s unshakable Kingdom how easy or hard is it to hold on tightly to such values and lifestyle?
- Think about how the terms Servant and Signet ring are importance in reference to Zerubbabel and Jesus. In what ways can we be a ‘servant and Signet Seal’ for today and tomorrow?
Take a moment to review our study of Haggai in the recent Insights shared.
Study one. Consider the importance of renewing and restoring our homes and
places of worship.
Study two. Consider the importance of rejecting a dispirited and negative
spirit.
Study three. Consider the importance of reflecting a life of Holiness in the
midst of Evil.
Explore to Inspire 