Text: Haggai 2:20-23, Title: An Encouraging Word, Date/Place: NRBC, 3/25/07, AM
A. Opening illustration: Watson pondered for a minute. “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is omnipotent and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Give a biblical definition of omnipotence and explain the difference between and the affirmations of both omnipotence and sovereignty
B. Background to passage: This message came on the same day, Dec 18th, as the last message. The previous one was addressed to the people, and this one to Zerubbabel. The previous message ended with a promise of blessing from this day forth. Remember this day was supposed to be a watershed moment for them where they turned from simple obedience to heart-felt, longing for obedience. And therefore God promised a blessing in v. 19. Now God gives two more encouraging promises that will take place from this day forward in the life of Israel and their leader.
C. Main thought: Just like in v. 1-9 we saw a plan and a promise, in these verses we will see a promise and a plan from the Great Sovereign God of the Universe.
A. The Sovereign Warrior (v. 21-22)
1. God speaks to Zerubbabel who was the governor of Judah at that time about what He is about to do to the surrounding nations. Note the first person pronoun repetition. God says, “I will shake the heavens and the earth…I will overthrow the thrones…I will destroy their strength…I will overturn their armies and kill them.” Note: “riders coming down” was a euphemism of death. The language used is focused on the power of God to do all He intends. God is clarifying and reminding the leadership of a restored, yet still broken, Israel that he is large an in charge. And He will do great and mighty things even among the pagan nations that surround them. God is the initiator of good and of calamity. Nothing is beyond His power, and everything that happens passes across His desk and gets His approval.
2. Ps 2:1-12, 46:6, 97:1, 115:3, 135:6, Isa 46:10, Dan 4:35, 1 Kings 9:9, 2 Kings 21:12, Isa 45:7, Amos 3:6, Job 2:10, 42:2, 11,
3. Illustration: "I began to understand God’s omnipotent power," Struecker said. "He was orchestrating every single bullet that was fired that night. ... The peace that I had was not only for my own life, but for the lives of my soldiers. If any of them were to get shot, then that was part of God’s sovereign plan." And God chose to preserve Struecker that night. “Therefore Lord God, you are more truly omnipotent, because you have no power through impotence and nothing can be against you.” – Anselm of Canterbury, “To make our religious life deep and strong we need to recover that lost sense of awe. We need to be taught afresh the fear of the Lord. And to recover that lost sense of awe, to create a feeling of reverence, we need a fresh vision of God as the Holy Sovereign. The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble. Why (should the nations tremble)? He is holy. We have only to realize that God is the Holy Sovereign, and the awe is bound to come back. The will that rules is a holy will. The power that governs is a holy power. All who sin bring themselves into collision with the sovereign will and power of the universe…The destinies of the world are not, for instance, at the mercy of fleets and armies. The Lord reigns. To know that God rules – to realize His sovereignty – is to be delivered from fear and despair.” “There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne...for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust.” – Spurgeon, C. S. Lewis wrote, “Our leisure, even our play, is a matter of serious concern. There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God.”
4. To this suffering discouraged people, this was a great comfort, as it is to us who are suffering wrongfully. To know that God is in absolute control even using hardship to accomplish His ends in our lives is immensely comforting. To know that no Muslim nation, no serial killer, no lost spouse, no wayward child, no natural disaster can thwart the plans and power of our God can bring peace to us because we know His character. To rest secure in the truth that this good and wise and loving Father is also the supreme ruler over every circumstance, every situation, every trial, every hurt, every wrong, every death, every loss, every pain, and every injustice is calming to us during tribulation. When you question it; simply affirm what the scriptures say, not what experience screams, nor what logic reasons. Submit to it, and love this quality about Him. Savor the sweet truth about your God. Don’t be bitter about past situations. There is only good in God’s actions in your life.
B. The Strategy for Blessing (v. 23)
1. After this marvelous truth about God’s sovereign omnipotence is presented, He lays out His strategy for the next step of the rebuilding process. Zerubbabel is to be restored to the throne as the fulfillment of the Davidic line. The terminology that is used is Davidic language; like “my servant.” Again note the first-person pronoun repetition. God does not place conditions on this strategy; he just says that I will do it. God says that he will “take” and “has chosen” Zerubbabel. These two terms imply special divine selection for a special purpose. God also said that that he would make him a signet ring. Explain what a signet ring does. Explain how God took off the signet ring in Jer. God is saying that Zerubbabel would carry with him the authority of God and become a treasured possession. And of course the most important fulfillment in this is that the Messianic line is still intact!
2. Ezek 34:23, Jer 22:24, Heb 11:35-40, Matt 1:12, Luke 3:27,
3. Illustration: Max Lucado says, “The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over, the grave has been dug and the dirge has begun, but somehow the Bible never stays in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has thrived. It’s the single most popular book in all of history. It has been the best-selling book in the world for years.” There was a frog that absolutely knew his destiny was to turn in to a handsome young prince. But for confirmation, he decided to visit a fortuneteller. The fortuneteller brought the frog in and gazed into her crystal ball. She said, “Oh, I see something. You are going to meet a beautiful young woman.”
The frog gets very antsy, “Yes, I knew it. I’m going to become a prince.” The fortuneteller continues, “From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you--you’ll fascinate her." The frog is very excited. He asks, “Where am I? At a singles club?” The fortuneteller answers, “No, Biology class.” A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."
4. God always keeps His promises; not of word of them will fail, not a jot or tittle will pass away from the law until all is fulfilled. You can rely on God’s word, even if you can’t see or are not experiencing its reality in your current situation. Haggai prophesied this, and we never really see, nor does history record any immediate results, but we see the greatest fulfillment in Jesus Christ of the lineage of David. God wanted Zerubbabel to be faithful so that generations of people, billions of people would come to know Him much later. This was part of God’s plan from before the foundation of the world. This was part of His master plan for the cosmos. God has a plan for every life. God wants you to realize His call upon you. And each life works in the master plan for the world. First of all, God desired that you would give your life to Him through Christ. When we are born again, we become his possession. We are all the treasured possession of God and we all carry His name and authority to a watching world. God is not only concerned about those of great influence in our world. He is concerned about every individual fulfilling His purposes in their generation. He wants the moms and dads, husbands and wives, grandparents, managers, laborers, high-schoolers, and especially you, to achieve what He has for them. And He will do it through you. He will choose, he will make, and he will take you to you divine purpose. And you will never know the full reaches of your life. Zerubbabel didn’t either. 2nd Century Inscription. We are to trust that God has a will for our lives and get busy discerning what it is. Remember that God will not reveal his will for the future, if you are not doing his will in the present.
A. Closing illustration: I read an article in the Atlantic Journal the other day; it said, “The world is too big for us. Too much going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will you get behind in the race…It’s an incessant strain, to keep pace… and you still lose ground. Science empties its discoveries in you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news seen so rapidly you’re out of breath trying to keep pace with who’s in and who’s out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can’t endure much more!” It was dated June 16, 1833.
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
