It is Building Time, Pt 5 – Shaking Kings and the Signet Ring
Haggai 2:20-23
We come now to the fourth and final message delivered by Haggai. It came on the same day as the third message to the priests, December 24, 520 B.C. This one was delivered to only one person, Zerubbabel, the governor. It is clearly much shorter than the others and quite different in content. There is nothing mentioned about the building project nor the workers, although there is some reflection from the second message.
In addressing only Zerubbabel, we might wonder whether God had perceived something within him that needed attention. Having gathered the people in Babylon and leading them back to Judah, getting them settled, restoring some sense of order, and keeping up their morale – all this must have left him drained, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Perhaps the Lord saw that his countenance was fallen and had compassion on him.
As we noted earlier, there were still nations throughout the region whose rulers hungered for more power and prestige. Alliances were being formed and armies were being constantly enlarged. How long would it be before the small nation of Judah would, once again, be invaded and overrun by the horses and chariots of those adversaries? Would this temple and their community be destroyed and left desolate as before? Such questions must surely have weighed heavily on the governor’s mind and the answers were not encouraging.
If this, or something else, was troubling this faithful man, perhaps we can suppose that the God we know would not leave him in despair. So, God spoke again to Haggai – a word of hope and reassurance – to speak to His chosen one, Zerubbabel.
“I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them; the horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword of his brother” (Haggai 2:21, 22).
Although Zerubbabel was concerned about imminent danger to his people, Haggai spoke of the long term. The words above are prophetic and messianic – referring to the coming Messiah and the end of the age. This message contains quotes from the prophets Daniel, Joel, and Micah; all of whom speak of a future time.
The latter portion of this message, “I will overthrow the chariots …. The horses and their riders shall come down …” appears in Micah 5:10. In the opening of that chapter, Micah prophetically reveals the birthplace of Jesus, “Bethlehem Ephrathah” (Micah 5:2).
Considering the phrase, “I will shake heaven and earth …” (vs. 21), St. Gregory (329-391 A. D.) wrote of three earthquakes: first, referring to the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai; then to the incarnation of Christ with the Gospel; and the third earthquake is that of the end of the world (from “Lives of the Holy Prophets” – Haggai).
St. Paul also refers to this verse (Haggai 2:6) in the New Testament, “Now this, “Yet once more” indicates the removal of those things which are being shaken …. that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:26-28).
Upon hearing this word, Zerubbabel’s confidence would then be restored, knowing that all things are in God’s hands and that no power in heaven or on earth can surpass His own. No, he would not need to fear for this temple.
Furthermore, this temple (which would be completed in five years) would stand for almost 600 years (it was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans along with the entire city). This temple would be refurbished and enlarged under King Herod (beginning about 20 B.C.) just prior to the birth of Jesus. This temple would be filled with the glory of God every time Christ visited Jerusalem and entered it.
In addition to informing Zerubbabel of God’s protection of the temple and defense of the people, Haggai then makes a remarkable statement to the governor. “In that day”, says the Lord of hosts “I will take you, Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel”, says the Lord, “and will make you a signet ring; for I have chosen you” says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:23).
“That day” would certainly come long after Zerubbabel’s death. And yet, the Lord says, “I will take you, My servant …. and will make you a signet ring …. “. The Lord is here designating Zerubbabel as the type of Christ who is to come.
May we note some comparisons: The name, Zerubbabel, means “born in Babylon”, as he was in the midst of those in captivity. Our Lord Jesus was born into a world where “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2).
Zerubbabel gathered the captives and led them out of Babylon. Jesus said, “He has sent Me … to preach deliverance to the captives … and to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).
But what is the significance of the signet ring? In the ancient world, members of a family were given a ring embossed with the sign (signet) of that family. It served as their identity as well as their honor and reference. Each king also had a signet ring by which he sealed his decrees and bestowed his authority. You will recall that, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father directed that a ring be placed on the finger of his son who had returned home. He was then accepted and restored to his place in the family.
Here with Zerubbabel, it becomes a little more complex but quite important. It is worth giving some attention, so I ask your patience.
In 604 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated the armies of Egypt and turned his attention to a siege on Judah and Jerusalem. The king of Judah, Jehoiakim, was fearful and immediately submitted to Nebuchadnezzar. He then became a vassal (puppet) ruler to Nebuchadnezzar for three years (II Kings 24:1). When he tried to rebel, he was removed and taken into captivity in Babylon. Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiakin, then took the throne and ruled only three months before he and his family were also taken into captivity in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar placed Jehoiakin’s uncle, Zedekiah, on the throne of Judah (II Kings 24:8-20). When Zedekiah tried to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king moved on Judah and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. In effect, given the godless behavior of Jehoiakim, Jehoiakin and Zedekiah, the era of ruling kings in Judah had come to an end. God was clearly displeased and angry that those kings had continually done evil in His sight.
This was the line of kings who descended from King David through Solomon. It is worthy of note that St. Matthew, in his record of the genealogy of Jesus, writes that, “Josiah begot Jechoniah …. who begot Shealtiel who begot Zerubbabel” (Matthew 1:11,12). In fact, Josiah was not the father of Jechoniah; he was the father of Jehoiakim and the grandfather of Jechoniah (also known as Jehoiakin). St. Matthew was not mistaken in this; no, the Lord had rejected Jehoiakim and his descendants, so St. Matthew rightly omits his name from the ancestry of Jesus. The next to appear, Shealtiel, was not a king; he was the father of Zerubbabel and the line continued.
The prophet, Jeremiah, who lived in that time period, explained this in his writing: “For thus says the Lord concerning (Jehoiakim) the son of Josiah …. he shall not return here anymore, but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive” (Jeremiah 22:11,12). Jeremiah continues, “They shall not lament for him …. he shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged, and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 22:18,19). The following text in that chapter lists many of the evils of Jehoiakim, for which the Lord was displeased with him. Further, Jeremiah exclaims, “As I live, says the Lord, though Jehoiakin, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off and give you into the hand …. of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon …” (Jeremiah 22:24,25). Finally, and most significant, Jeremiah speaks the word of the Lord concerning Jehoiakin, “Thus says the Lord; “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not prosper in his days; for none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David and ruling anymore in Judah”” (Jeremiah 22:30).
Turning again to the New Testament, St Luke’s record of the genealogy of Jesus tells that, “Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel” (Luke 3:27) appears also as a descendant of King David through his son, Nathan (I Chronicles 3:5). This genealogy is generally thought to be that of Mary, while Matthew’s is considered to be that of Joseph.
Thanking you for your patience in all of this; the point is that Zerubbabel intersects and unites both ancestral lines of Jesus – the royal line in Matthew and the priestly line in Luke. He was neither a king nor a priest, but he was a faithful servant of God and was made the signet ring of the family.
Here we see in Zerubbabel, prophetically, the person of Jesus Christ who will reign as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) and “High Priest” (Hebrews 8:1ff). So, it is that 520 years before that holy night in Bethlehem, this faithful governor was so honored by God, “I will make you as a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:23). Zerubbabel, with the signet ring, would be given the honor of being a member of God’s family, a type of the Messiah who was to come.
This brings to mind St. Paul’s beautiful reference to us who are followers of Christ, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son …. that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father”” (Galatians 4:4-6).
This has become a much longer study than I had intended … or envisioned. It took far more time to search the Scriptures, consult the reference books, and type the text than I ever imagined – and only two chapters!
But now, as I think back, perhaps that is one of the lessons to be learned here. From the beginning of Haggai’s messages (over a four-month period), it took five years for the completion of the temple (515 B.C.).
Building the temples of our lives doesn’t happen suddenly, or even quickly; it takes time. But we have a loving God who is merciful and patient; a Shepherd who will be with us every day and fills us with His glory. May we keep at it. May we “run and not grow weary; walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:11).
“It is building time, My people; it is building time.”
Fr. Andrew
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