Haggai 2:20-23

THE FOURTH MESSAGE. Haggai 2:20-23

RV. And the word of Jehovah came the second time unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.

LXX. And the word of the Lord came the second time to Aggaeus the prophet, on the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, of the tribe of Juda, saying, I shake the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will overthrow the thrones of kings, and I will destroy the power of the kings of the nations; and I will overthrow chariots and riders; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword striving against his brother. In that day, saith the Lord Almighty, I will take thee, O Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, my servant, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a seal: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord Almighty.

COMMENTS

Twice on the twenty-fourth day of the month the word of Jehovah came to Haggai. How it came we do not know. That the prophet considers his message as the Lord's rather than his own is unmistakable. The second time the word of Jehovah came it resulted in Haggai's fourth message.

Again the prophet addresses Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. This fourth message is concerned with the time of fulfillment of the promises recorded in Haggai 2:6-9. (See comment above on Haggai's second message.)

The shaking-' of the heavens and earth here (Haggai 2:21) and in Haggai 2:6 cannot mean the chaos which threatened the Persian empire during and just prior to the accession of Darius in 521 B.C. Haggai's message was delivered in 520 B.C. when this threat had been largely abated by the decisive action of Darius.

God's promise to Zerubbabel has to do with the reversal of human values rather than political agitation. It occurred, according to the understanding of the Hebrew writer, with the establishment of the church. (cp. Hebrews 12:25-29) Haggai 2:22 finds a parallel in Ezekiel 38:19-21. We shall find Zechariah confirming this idea in Zechariah 4:13.

As Richard Wolfe says, Self destructive and mutually destructive wars shall rage on the earth and the power of the heathen shall be overthrown. by God. The Prince of Peace shall rule at last. (cf. Psalms 20:7)

The ultimate fulfillment of this oft repeated predictive prophecy is to be seen in the final great struggle. (Revelation 20:7-10) ushering in the new heaven and new earth.

There is no reason to assume that Haggai mistakenly identifies Zerubbabel as the Messiah. His crowning, albeit secretly according to tradition lest it bring down the wrath of Persia upon Judah, could easily be seen as prophetic of Messiah's coming. In his time the nations did not flock to the temple for instruction, the world's kingdoms were not overthrown, the age of Messiah did not begin, and Zerubbabel himself did not live to participate in it.
Nevertheless, with the restoration of the remnant and the rebuilding of the symbolic temple, Zerubbabel can easily be seen as a type of Christ, just as David himself is frequently referred to in the same light. (e.g. Psalms 16:8-11; Psalms 110:1)

This typology of Christ in Zerubbabel is seen in that he led the people out of the Babylonian bondage as Christ would lead His people from the bondage of sin. Zerubbabel built a temple to God, as Jesus is building the church. (cp. Ephesians 2:19-22)

May we, as Haggai's readers, be encouraged in our faithfulness to God to the building of the real temple by our hope of the coming great Day of Jehovah.

Chapter XXIVQuestions

Exposition of Haggai

1.

Write an outline of Haggai.

2.

Haggai's first message is concerned with?

3.

What were the results of the first message?

4.

Discuss the ancestry of Zerubbabel in light of Haggai 1:1, 1 Chronicles 3:17-19, and Luke 3:27,

5.

The message Haggai was _____________ message.

6.

Haggai's first message attacks _____________.

7.

How does the message apply to us who would build the church?

8.

How does Haggai account for the drought and austere conditions which had beset the people?

9.

Discuss Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel.

10.

What is the gist of Haggai's second message? To whom is it addressed?

11.

What was missing from the second temple?

12.

What is meant by the latter glory of the house?

13.

Discuss Haggai 2:7 in light of Hebrews 8:1 -ff and Galatians 3:29.

14.

What is meant by desire of all nations?

15.

What is the gist of Haggai's third message?

16.

What false motives might have been involved in rebuilding the temple?

17.

What malady confronting Haggai was also addressed by Jesus?

18.

Show evidence that Haggai considered his message to be God's rather than his own.

19.

Discuss the shaking of the heavens and earth (Haggai 2:21 cp. Haggai 2:6)

20.

Why could not this shaking have referred to the chaotic conditions of Darius-' early reign?

21.

Where in the Bible do we find the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy?

22.

Discuss Zerubbabel as a type of Christ. Show parallels between them.