Hag 2:18-23 “Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still yield nothing? From this day on I will bless you." 20 The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders; and the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his fellow. 23 On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts."(RSV)
Every now and then, God will place a time limit on the accomplishment of His blessing. He told Hannah and Sarah “by this time next year you will have a son.” God told Elisha by this time tomorrow the economy will be restored. God told Joshua, in seven days Jericho will fall. In our text today, the fifth and final message of Haggai, “From this day on I will bless you." They were in the grip of an economy downturn. The seed was still in the barn, the grapevines were bare, the fig tree and the pomegranate, and the olive tree were unfruitful and still yield nothing. Yet, God says, From this day on I will rebuild you and you will experience a turnaround!
These few verses are important and necessary from Haggai’s final sermon. They were designed for the leadership. Zerubbabel must take courage from this message. The first sermon called the people to consider their ways. It is time to reboot and change their course. The people had become deceived, lost, selfish and needed to be stirred up again! Haggai’s second message called the people and the leadership to remember God’s covenant and his promises. It is time to renew their minds and their heart. How you see is important; what you believe is vital, and what you will experience is manifested the glory of God. Next, God used Haggai to remind the people of the value of living holy and obedient lives. How we live makes a difference. As soon as they forward in holy obedience, God began turning things around. Now the temple had begun again, the former rains and the latter rains would come. Crops would be restored. The land would bring forth plenty and peace would fill the land. Haggai’s third and fourth messages were preached on the same day. He preached to the people in the morning, but in the evening, the 25th day of the ninth month, was reserved for a private message to Zerubbabel, the Governor.
Haggai’s final message was restricted to Zerubbabel, the leader of this remnant people of God. Four times in the span of three months, God had sent a prophetic word. The people had been stirred to complete the temple work. Now God call Zerubbabel to faith for the future. The people were satisfied to know that the harvest would come, prosperity would return, and they would have daily provisions. Zerubbabel’s mind was occupied by more pressing matters. Leaders must not only lead on the moment of crisis, but they must also lead us into the future. Before Zerubbabel can lead into the future, God must rebuild his faith and confidence. Zerubbabel is leading in a hostile environment with rumors of his enemies plaguing his mind. How could a governor so limited and weak protect God’s people? He understands that he is leading one of the weakest and ill prepared people in the region. He has no army, no official authority, and only Joshua the priest standing with him. He has no reason to believe that he can pull it off! If you understand the impact of discouragement on lay people, it is multiplied in the life on a leader. One of the Olympic Medalist recently talked about the pressure of the Olympic games. She said, You work so hard, push yourself to the limit, but if you fail, the discouragement and disappointment is unbearable. It is wonderful to know that God understands the pressure of Leadership, so He sends a word. If you are going to rebuild, expect to go through shaky times.
1. Rebuilding Requires You to Expect Shaky Times. 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders; and the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his fellow.”
God prepared Zerubbabel for some shaky times. Many leaders tend to lose their faith because they fail to expect shaky times. In this world you shall have persecutions. A man born of a woman has but a few days and they will be filled with trouble. God send this word to help Zerubbabel stay grounded. The reality is, some kingdom must be thrown down, they will just fall or melt away. Chariots and their riders must be overthrown. God is with you, but weapon will be formed. Expect it and prepare yourself mentally for it. Pandemic brought shaky times, membership scattering brought shaky times, low finances brought shaky times, etc. Expect it to come.
2. Rebuilding Requires You Lend on the Strength of God. 23 “On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and make you like a signet ring;”
God is not expecting Zerubbabel or us to go it alone. God promises I will overthrow, I will cast down, I will take you and I will make you! This assurance of God was designed to encourage the governor to proceed with the work regardless of the opposition the project generates against him. Attempting great things for God will created opposition. Friends will become jealous. Critics will criticize. Enemies will become enraged. But the battle is not yours, it’s the Lords. Zec 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. 7 What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'"
This same promise should encourage every Christian in all time. You can shout Grace to the situation. We have the favor of God. WE must lend on the strength of God. WE might not have political power, strength in numbers, human strategies to do the work of God. We have God’s Power to do God’s work. God can do by His Spirit, what we cannot do for ourselves.
3. Rebuilding Requires You to Use Your God-given Authority. God says,….and make you like a signet ring;” What a signet ring was and is was clear the historic past. Traditionally used as a 'seal of authority,' signet rings played a very important role in business and politics within early civilizations. During the 10th century, signet rings were often used to authenticate documents. Royals and nobility would have their family crest, or other design, solely unique to them, engraved on their ring which could act as a 'signature' on important documents. This was done by pressing the engraved side of the band into melted wax. Due to these royal beginnings, signet rings were seen as a mark of wealth and class. What a signet ring was didn't change much. As they used them in much the same way, using them to sign official papers. This piece of jewelry was a mark of authentication.
Zerubbabel must learn to move forward with the authority of God. Zerubbabel knew that he had the blessing of King Darius of Persia, but Darius was thousands of miles away. His neighbors had no regard for Zerubbabel, and neither did his enemies. God sent word, You have my authority and I will back you up. Although others may overlook you, look down on you, criticize you, remember, I have chosen you! You may look and feel limited in strength and personal ability, I will make you as a signet ring. A signet ring was used to guarantee treaties, the authority and authenticity of a document. It served as signature in the absence of the person. God was reaffirming and guaranteeing his promises to Zerubbabel. Years before Zerubbabel had been stripped of his authority and carried to Babylon as a common slave. But now God restored him. God himself chose him and gave him His authority to act. Power is the ability, authority give you privilege to act.
We too can rejoice in the fact that God has chosen us, adopted us, redeemed us and accepted us in the beloved. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. This truth should make us see our real value and motivate us to keep on keeping on. When you feel down, undervalued, and unappreciated reminds yourself that God has chosen you!
Hearing God’s Message through the Prophet Haggai should help us get out priorities straight and quit worrying about what we do not have. It should motivate us keep on building with what we have. God is concerned about our holy obedience, not lip service. There is a bright hope for the future beyond the pandemic, in spite of the opposition and the troubles we face. God can handle the pandemic, the pitfalls and the problems. Remember, we did not call ourselves. God called us and sent us out. The work is his work. The plan is His plan. If God has a plan, he will work it out! I must continue to put Him first, stand on His promises, walk in obedience, keep the faith and live and work for Him. Our God cannot lie and he will not disappoint us. He will do what he said!
