“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month the prophet received a second word, and it was for one man only: Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. It says nothing about his building work, and everything about the day God will shake heaven and earth and overturn its thrones.
Spoken on the day of blessing
One writer starts from the promise that closed the message before this one.
Edward DennettThis final prophecy came through Haggai to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. It came on the same day as the message just before it — the twenty-fourth day of the month. The last words of the earlier message were, "From this day on I will bless you." Now the blessing of the remnant in the land became at once prophetic of the restoration and blessing of Israel in the kingdom. But this involves two things, which the prophetic scriptures reveal everywhere: the appearing of the Messiah, and the judgment of the nations.
A shaking still to come
No event since has matched what this verse announces. One writer makes that the key.
T. B. BainesZerubbabel has been dead more than twenty-three centuries, and yet this shaking of the nations has not come. What could be clearer? The great event foretold here is the overthrow of all earthly thrones. It comes when the Messiah, Zerubbabel's descendant, establishes His rule in righteousness over the nations of the world.
Another writer turns to Hebrews, and then to what people build without God.
The Christian's FriendThis does not refer to the first coming of our blessed Lord. Writing to the Hebrews, the apostle applies the passage to the future (Heb. 12:26-27). That future time is the one just before the appearing of Christ, when He comes with His saints to set up His kingdom on the earth. What a contrast to the thoughts of man! He works to make things last and stay steady, and dreams as he works of a time of peace and plenty — but without God.
Thrones overturned, a signet given
The shaking is not the end of the story. It clears the ground for someone else to rule.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThis final message from the LORD's messenger is entirely about the future. It is addressed only to Zerubbabel, the governor, a son of David. He tells this leader that the heavens and the earth will be shaken, as in verse 6. When that day comes, the throne of the kingdoms will be overthrown. The power of the kingdoms of the nations will be destroyed. For in that day the falling stone, which pictures the second coming of Christ, will put an end to Gentile rule… He will be made a signet. Among those nations the signet ring was a mark of honour. Monarchs gave it to their chief ministers, handing over all authority to them. So this pictures the Lord Jesus Christ receiving rule and authority from God.
The governor and the greater Son of David
The man named in the verse is not the whole of what is meant.
J. N. DarbyThe second prophecy returns to the shaking of all things… It encouraged the people at the time it was given, a time when they greatly needed it. Yet in naming Zerubbabel, this prophecy looks to One who will be the true seed of David and the heir of his crown according to God, when God shakes the heavens and the earth.
Another writer asks how far the promise touched the governor himself.
F. B. HoleThe last verse of the chapter surely had some application to the man himself. Kingdoms would be overthrown, as predicted in Daniel 11, but he would be like a signet ring, by which God would establish His decrees. How this worked out for Zerubbabel we do not know. But we believe the Spirit of God had in view not so much a temporary exaltation of this man, as the permanent exaltation of the One he pictured — our Lord Jesus Christ.
What weak builders were to do with it
God will overturn the thrones Himself. That freed the builders from trying to do it for Him.
Hamilton SmithIn the face of all this power of evil, the remnant had only to obey the word of the LORD and in simple faith occupy themselves with the work of the LORD. It was no part of their business to oppose the world, or overthrow its power, or try to set right its wrongs. They are taught that the LORD, in His own time, will deal with all the evil of the world.
One writer counts how often God signs this promise.
Edward DennettThree times in one short verse we find "declares the LORD," or "declares the LORD of hosts." He stoops to the weakness of His people, and so lays an unshakable foundation for their faith.
Summary
- Shaken timing. The word came on the day God promised blessing. That blessing at once reached further — Israel restored, the Messiah shown, the nations judged.
- Shaken future. Zerubbabel died long ago and no such shaking followed. So the event is still ahead. Hebrews 12:26-27 treats it as future too.
- Shaken thrones. The shaking clears away Gentile rule. A king gave his signet ring to the man he put in charge. So the ring pictures Christ receiving all authority.
- Unshaken King. Naming the governor points past him to the true seed of David. How far the honour touched Zerubbabel himself, we are not told.
- Unshaken builders. God Himself will deal with the world's evil. So the weak were free to get on with His work, steadied by a promise He signed three times.