Future Forward

Haggai 2:20-23 The Present in light of the Future

The Eternal Kingdom

22 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, everyone by the sword of his brother 23 On that day,

Ultimately God reveal what he was about to do to encourage Zerubbabel. There are three reasons why God reveal this to Zerubbabel through Haggai.

The Existing Kingdoms Zerubbabel was a small fish in a pond full of big fish. He was governor over a broken little kingdom among mega kingdoms like the Medo-Persians and the Egyptians. He did not have a standing army, he barely had resources, there are no walls protecting the city and the future looked bleak. At any moment he could be over powered by the next great kingdom. Here God announces what he is going to do. God is going to shake all kingdoms of the world. These powerful forces that now rule the earth are frail and fragile and will one day no longer exist. God will destroy their strength. For all the earthly might they possess, Who can stop the Lord almighty? Their might will do little to dispel the mighty one. God promises that “on that day” – the Day of his shaking, he will intervene in history to defeat the strongest power. In the same way that he over threw the powers of Egypt to deliver his people from bondage in the Exodus, he will do that same to dethrone all the kings and demolish their kingdom. On that day no one is exempt. Here God encourages his servant by telling him that he is in control of all world powers and all the kingdoms of the earth will fail and fall under his mighty hand.

We too can be discouraged as we see the evil kingdoms of our world that oppose God. The kingdoms that persecute believers and publicly dishonor the Lord. But like Zerubbabel we must understand God’s promise and power during the greatest opposition. It is true of Satan’s kingdom as well. He is taunting and tempting Christians to go back to the very kingdom we have left when we came to Christ. He attempts to entice us to again place ourselves in the very bondage we escaped from in Christ. He too will fail and faltered. His kingdom is defeated in Christ and will be destroyed with the coming of Christ. (Rev 20:1-10). Those who put their hope in an earthly kingdom will be disappointed, and those who pursue what Satan offers will too be sorely disappointed. No kingdom formed against God’s Kingdom will prosper. So holding on to something that is holding you back is Stupid (Johnathan Pokluda).

The Eternal Kingdom

On that day God will set up an eternal kingdom of which God’s people will be a part. Jesus spoke of it often when he said the kingdom is at hand and my kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom was established through God’s shaking at the cross and was sealed at his shaking at the resurrection. In both the death of Jesus and the resurrection there were earthquakes (Matt 27:54, 28:2). Here was the great “shaking” here was “that day”. Here was the hope of Zerubbabel whereby he could encourage the people. God will shake every other kingdom, but we will not be shaken. They could trust in the promise of God and hold on in the light of his word. We must not look at the future in light of the present but look to the present in light of the future. (Ferguson). These present difficulties, trials, failures and sufferings are nothing in light of the eternal kingdom that is prepared for us and awaits us (Rom 8:18). We look to the future to live faithfully in the present, looking to God’s reigning and coming kingdom which will not be shaken (Heb 12:26-29) and offer to the Lord acceptable worship, reverence and awe.

The Exhaled King

23 I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts."

Although the message is address to Zerubbabel shortly after this he fades out of history. Promises are often made in Scripture to individuals which are accomplished only in their descendants. The Promises made to David, that his kingdom would be eternal, that someone would always be on his throne, are passed down through the line of Zerubbabel and to his line (Matt 1:12, Luke 3:27). From him would spring the Messiah in whom alone they find their fulfilment. (Smith) Zerubbabel would be God’s pledge that all the promises made to David ((2 Sam 7:12-16) would be fulfilled

Three characteristics describe Zerubbabel and also describe the Messiah: My Servant, a signet ring and chosen.

These were all true of Zerubbabel but were ultimately and finally true of Jesus.

Selected King I have chosen you Jesus is the Father’s chosen one (Is 42:1, 43:10, Matt 12:18, Luke 9:35) As with Zerubbabel, who was not chosen by an earthly king, but by God, so it is with Jesus. He is chosen before the foundation of the world to be the lamb slain (Rev 13:8) . He is the one who is beloved of the Father and in whom the Father is well pleased (Matt 3:17)

Signet King make you like a signet ring The signet ring was a sign of authority. It was a stone which was engraved with the name or some identifying symbol of the owner. It was used in transactions to identify the authenticity of the matter. It was imprinted on a wax seal on documents and letters to verify the document’s authority. It was carefully guarded against possible loss by placing on a finger or on a cord fastened around one’s neck. (Laetsch). The Father made Jesus his signet giving him all authority (Matt 28:20). The symbol of his ruling authority, He himself was the signet, the “stone” that authenticated and verified the father. Princes sign their edicts, grants, and commissions, with their signet-rings, Esth. 3:10 . Our Lord Jesus is the signet on God’s right hand, for all power is given to him and derived from him. By him the great charter of the gospel is signed and ratified, and it is in him that all the promises of God are yes and amen. (Henry).

Servant King my servant The figure of a servant presupposes the favorite confidant of the king, one who remains in the vicinity if the king, who knows the mind and the wishes of the king and who executes the confidential assignments of the his master. This is the title given to Jesus, he is the suffering servant (Is 42:1, 52:13, Ezek 34:23). He did not come to be served, but to serve. His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday exemplified his role as a servant. The washing of the feet of the disciples demonstrated his servant role. The cross solidified his role as the one who came serve us by giving his life for us.

The Encouraged Kingdom People

20 The word of the LORD came . . . 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel . . . declares the Lord of Host. We all need encouragement. Here the Lord brings encouragement by pulling back the veil of history to say there are promises ahead of you. Five times he says “I will”. This was not something that Zerubbabel was to do, but something God was going to do for the sake of Zerubbabel. This is the only time in the book God speaks to Zerubbabel in which he doesn’t give him a command or admonition, he simply encourages him by saying don’t look at the present, but look to my promises. This brought great hope to him and the people. Sometimes in our despair and spiritual despondence we just need to know it is going to all work out. Sometimes we need the soothing voice of God in his word saying, I still am on the throne, I still love you, I haven’t forsaken you and somehow this will work for your good and my Glory.

The last words of the prophecy are perhaps the most significant point of encouragement, declares the Lord of Host, The term means the Lord Almighty, or the mighty one. So here is our confidence and assurance. This is not the promises of some earthly ruler or some great leader, but these are the very declarations of the Lord Almighty. His proclamations are trustworthy and his promises sure. We have confidence because the Lord of Host declared it.