HAGGAI: CALLING GOD’S PEOPLE BACK TO HIS WORK

IV: God’s Encouragement Of Great Eternal Reward For Obedience

(Haggai 2:20-23)

I. Introduction

A. Haggai, the first prophet after the Babylonian Captivity, was assigned by God to direct Israel to get back to the work of rebuilding the temple after it had been delayed for 15 years. (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, p. 1306, “Introduction to the Book of Haggai”)

B. When Haggai directed Zerubbabel to lead the returned Hebrew exiles back to the temple reconstruction work, his calling likely seemed like a futile effort, for he led a “seemingly insignificant group of Jews who resided in a corner of the vast Persian Empire” that was comprised of “more than 2 million square miles of territory.” (Ibid., ftn. to Haggai 2:21-22; Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 1543)

C. However, in God’s view, Zerubbabel’s work was very significant, and in the future Millennial Kingdom, God would richly reward him according to Haggai 2:20-23. We view this passage for our insight and edification:

II. God’s Encouragement Of Great Eternal Reward For Obedience, Haggai 2:20-23.

A. After Haggai had given an encouraging word to the people of Israel for finally obeying God in returning to the reconstruction work of the temple in Haggai 2:10-19, that same day (Haggai 2:20), the word of the Lord came to God’s prophet with a special message for Zerubbabel, Israel’s civil governor who had led the people to return to the work, Haggai 2:21a.

B. God told Zerubbabel that, as in the second message in Haggai 2:6-7, He would shake the heavens and the earth, and “the earthquake motif highlights divine judgment and introduces the subject of God’s judgment on Gentile world powers,” Haggai 2:21b; Ibid.

C. The Lord added that He would overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms, what recalled “the destruction of Gentile world powers . . . in the great image of Daniel 2” when the “worldwide messianic kingdom will replace the Gentile kingdoms (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45),” Haggai 2:22a; Ibid., p. 1544.

D. The overthrowing of chariots and their riders, the horses and their riders with the soldiers slaying their comrades in battle (Haggai 2:22b) indicate that “this change in world government will be military as well as political,” Ibid. Such a description fits the “great Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16-18) at the Lord’s second coming (Rev. 19:11-21),” Ibid.

E. The introductory phrase, “On that day,” to Haggai 2:23 NIV typically refers to a prophetic declaration, and in this context of the judgment of the nations in the Battle of Armageddon, it predicts what God will do for Zerubbabel after the Battle of Armageddon in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom (as follows):

1. God said that He would take Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, His servant who had obeyed Him in leading Israel to return to rebuild the temple, and make him as a signet ring, for God had chosen or favored him.

2. A signet ring was a “seal of royal authority or personal ownership” (Ibid.), and applied to Zerubbabel, it was highly significant and very encouraging (as follows):

a. Zerubbabel was the grandson of Judah’s wicked king Jehoiachin, alias Jeconiah or Coniah (Ibid.; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Jeremiah 22:24-30) and his name appears in Matthew 1:12 in the lineage of Joseph, the husband of Mary who became the mother of Jesus.

b. Coniah had been cursed by the Lord in Jeremiah 22:24-30 never to have a descendant sit on the throne of David, that were Coniah the signet ring on God’s right hand, He would still pull him off, Jeremiah 22:24.

c. So, by God’s saying that He would make the cursed Coniah’s grandson Zerubbabel as His signet ring would be a big personal triumph and heartening reward for Zerubbabel in view of his grandfather’s failure!

d. Old Testament saints will be raised at the start of the Millennial Kingdom (cf. Daniel 12:13), so in the Millennial Kingdom, God will reward a resurrected Zerubbabel with the honor of having royal authority and personal ownership under Messiah Jesus since he had obeyed God in his earthly ministry by leading a seemingly insignificant group of Hebrews in a small part of the Persian Empire to rebuild God’s temple!

Lesson: Since Zerubbabel had obeyed God in leading Israel under humanly discouraging circumstances to return to the work of rebuilding the temple, the Lord would highly exalt him in personal spiritual triumph in the Millennial Kingdom with the honor his grandfather King Coniah had lost due to God’s judgment for sin.

Application: (1) May we faithfully perform the assignments God gives us for His great personal eternal reward. (2) May we perform that assignment even if it seems insignificant to us, for it is eternally significant to the Lord.