Haggai 2:23 (NIV) “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
The last Word of God through His prophet Haggai for the purpose of encouraging God’s people to continue in their work on the temple is a Word of honour for their leader Zerubbabel.
God lifts their leader up, He honours this man for the purpose of encouraging the people to work.
Is the last Word the most important Word?
We know from our experiences at work how having the right leader is so important to people continuing in their work. How we work, and whether we stay at work is directly connected to who our leader is. Now we know next to nothing about this man Zerubbabel, about his history, or his family, or his age, or his education, or his personality, or his weaknesses, or his strengths. We aren’t given any examples of his leadership, like the specific examples given of Nehemiah, that we can emulate in order to become a godly leader. All that is given to them is the truth that while the world around them is being shaken apart, God calls Zerubbabel His signet ring. A signet ring is a ring that represents the person, it bears His seal or initials, and is the most important piece of jewelry a leader could wear. God is honouring this man by elevating him in status with amazing language. It is God’s choice of Zerubbabel that is stressed in this verse, making Zerubbabel’s character and leadership traits secondary.
How would a person who was working on the temple in that age react to the language of God about their leader? Well how would we react?
I think we would be convinced of the importance of this project to God Himself, for God has decided that the man in charge of the work represents God.
We would also be convinced of the security and safety of following this leader, for while the world is being shaken apart, he is attached to God’s hand.
The last Word of God through His prophet Haggai for the purpose of encouraging God’s people to continue in their work on the temple is a Word of honour for their leader Zerubbabel.
The last Word the most important Word!
Zerubbabel is the man in charge of building God’s house in this Old Testament age, and our Lord Jesus is the Man in charge of building God’s house in our New Testament age. Our Lord Himself told Peter that He would build His church, and Hebrews 3 tells us that Jesus has more honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself.
Dwelling on, thinking about, singing about or in whatever other way we can focus our attention on the honour and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ is the key to us being strong in the work God has created us for, prepared us for and led us into.
Christ Jesus was raised to the highest place, seated at the right hand of God, given all authority in heaven and in earth, King of kings and Lord of lords. As we meditate on the honour and glory given to our leader, we will continue in our work on God’s house- His church at Parkdale and our own lives.
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