“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say,
God tells Haggai exactly whom to speak to: the governor, the high priest, and everyone left in the land. The names, the order, and the day each carry weight.
The date of the message
The word came on the twenty-first day of the seventh month. One writer links that date to a scene in the Gospels.
Dr. Daniel W. PatersonIt is striking (Haggai means feast of Jehovah) that this prophetic word (2:1) came to the people of God on the 21st day of the 7th month. This seems to be the Old Testament equivalent of the last day of the feast when Jesus stood up in the temple (John 7:37). Disappointment and despair darkened what should have been a day of the greatest joy.
Why God spoke just then
Among the workers were men old enough to remember the first temple.
The Christian's FriendSome among the remnant had seen Solomon's temple in all its splendour. When they compared it with the building they were now working on, they were downcast, even disheartened. We read of them in the book of Ezra.
Nobody had reported those feelings to God. He acted on them anyway.
The Christian's FriendThe point we want to draw attention to is this: the Lord read these thoughts of His people, and sent a message of comfort and consolation. It is good for us to understand that even the feelings of His people — feelings that arise from His ways or His service — matter to Him. He treats them with tender concern.
Zerubbabel before Joshua
God names the governor first and the priest second. One writer sees meaning in that order.
George DavisonIt is important to notice that God speaks to the Governor first, and then to the High Priest. Zerubbabel stands for the kingdom side of things; Joshua stands for the House. None of us can act rightly in relation to the House of God if we are not moving in line with the principles of the Kingdom of God. If we are subject to the authority of God, we can be sure that we will enjoy the privileges of the House, and enjoy them in a condition that matches them.
The fathers' names say something too. (Josedech below is an older spelling of Jehozadak.)
George DavisonShealtiel means "Asked of the Lord", and Josedech means "The righteousness of God". So in a day of brokenness we have this before us: God will keep to His own standard of righteousness, and He will let His people ask of Him.
And to everyone else
The message does not stop with the two leaders. It also names the remnant, the rest of the people, whom older versions call the "residue".
George DavisonGod speaks first to the leaders of the people, Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. But leaders alone did not carry this work, for God speaks to "the residue of the people" as well. We must not think that leaders alone carry the work of the Lord. All of us are in this work today, even as they were in their day; we all have work to do according to the ability given to us.
He does not lump people together, and He does not erase the differences He Himself made.
The Christian's FriendNotice that the Lord speaks to all the people — the people as well as their leaders. All are before His mind. We too often deal in generalities. The Lord is not like that. The lowliest of His servants never escapes His notice. So when He sets out to encourage His people, He cares for the small as well as the great. He recognises the difference He Himself has made, and so He names the governor and the priest. But He cares just as much for the people under their charge and direction.
Leadership still given in a weak day
The verse names a governor and a priest. One writer counts that as a reason to thank God.
George DavisonWe might have thought that in Haggai's day there would be no Governor or Priest left, but they were still there. And today we can thank God that there are men who take the lead among His people. If we are among the "residue" who value such a lead, we can enter into the present joy of the things of God and respond to Him.
Summary
- Dated — the word came on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, a day of great joy that disappointment had clouded.
- Read — no one told God how the older men felt. He read their thoughts and sent comfort.
- Named — Zerubbabel comes first, then Joshua. Submit to God's authority, and you can enjoy the privileges of His house.
- Shared — God speaks to the remnant as well as the two leaders. The work belongs to everyone, each according to the ability given.
- Supplied — a governor and a priest were still standing, and God still spoke. He gives a lead in a day of weakness.