Haggai 2:20

His prophecy is carefully dated, and when we notice this we see it divides into four sections, though he spoke them all in the second year of Darius. The first word came on the first day of the sixth month (Hag. 1:1), the second on the twenty-first day of the seventh month (Hag. 2:1), the third on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (Hag. 2:10), and the fourth, though distinct from the third, came on that very same day (Hag. 2:20). Our first point must be that God always treats His own acts of government as valid. He had set Israel aside as a nation, and the times of the Gentiles had begun. So the dates follow the ruling Gentile power and not the Jews.

This closing prophecy... came on the same day — the twenty-fourth day of the month — as the one just before it. The link between the two is as clear as it is beautiful. The message before it ended with the words, "From this day on I will bless you." The blessing of the remnant in the land at once became a prophecy of the restoration and blessing of Israel in the kingdom. But that involves two things, as the prophetic scriptures show everywhere: the appearing of the Messiah, and the judgment of the nations. These are the two things found in this short prophecy.

This last message is for Zerubbabel. So, while it brings the greatest encouragement to the remnant, it has in view above all the man who led the people to obey the word of the LORD.

The people of God in that day were surrounded by nations that had been handed the government of the world. They used their power without mercy, then as now, to crush anyone who crossed their will. Faced with all this power of evil, the remnant had only to obey the word of the LORD and, in simple faith, get on with the work of the LORD. It was no part of their business to oppose the world, overthrow its power, or try to right its wrongs. The LORD tells them that He will deal with all the evil of the world in His own time.

In our day it is not for the people of God to try to put the world right... Our part is simple obedience to the word. We are to "contend for the faith," "building" ourselves up in our most holy faith, "praying" in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in the love of God, and "waiting" for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 14, 15, 20, 21).

The gracious power of Jehovah will set up the throne of David on the judgment of the Gentile kingdoms. The picture of His special closeness and choice looks on to "that day." Zerubbabel, though only a governor, is clearly a picture of Christ as King. As David's son and heir in his own day, this was all the more fitting for him. The Messiah alone will fully set up the kingdom of Jehovah here below and keep it for ever, as long as the earth lasts.

Among those nations the signet ring was a mark of honor. Kings gave it to their prime ministers, handing them full authority. So this pictures the Lord Jesus Christ receiving rule and authority from God.

Coniah, or Jeconiah, king of Judah, was unfaithful — a signet ring pulled off God's right hand (compare Jer. 22:24). Christ is the opposite. He is the signet on God's right hand, sealing all God's purposes for the nations and for His chosen people Israel.

Three times in one short verse we find "says the LORD," or "says the LORD of hosts." Stooping to the weakness of His people, Jehovah lays a foundation for their faith that cannot be moved... So, though the promise still waits, the day is not far off when the One who made it will carry it out, to the joy and blessing of His longing chosen remnant of Israel.