“God’s Promises for a Troubling Time”

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Haggai 2:20–23 ESV

The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

The prophecy in Haggai 2:20-23 comes at a time of discouragement for God’s people. After returning from exile, they had begun rebuilding the temple, but their work seemed small and insignificant compared to the former glory of Solomon’s temple. Doubt crept in, and they wondered if their efforts really mattered.

In the midst of their uncertainty, God spoke through the prophet Haggai, assuring them that the Lord was at work in ways they could not yet see. God declared that he would shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow kingdoms, and ultimately fulfill his divine plan. At the heart of this promise was Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, whom God would make like a signet ring. A signet ring is a symbol of God-given authority and the certainty of that what God had promised would come to be. Remember, our God is a promise maker and he is a promise keeper.

And what’s so awesome about this promise is that it wasn’t just for some guy with the name Zerubbabel who lived thousands of years ago. In the Bible, when we read anything that comes before Jesus and his cross and his resurrection, we need to keep in mind that God has revealing himself little bits at a time and what we have in these verses at the end of Haggai is God continuing to point to the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. In this passage, God is declaring that he will shake heavens and earth and that all the kingdoms of earth would be destroyed. And if God is also pointing to the promised Messiah, God’s also telling us that when that Messiah comes, he will establish a kingdom that could never be shaken.

Jesus: The Fulfillment of God’s Promise

Zerubbabel was a descendant of David, and in Matthew 1:12-16, you’ll find that his lineage would ultimately lead to Christ. While Zerubbabel played a role in rebuilding the earthly temple, Jesus came to establish a far greater temple—his own body (John 2:19-21) and, through Jesus’ sacrifice, the Church itself.

The language of Haggai 2 echoes the words of Hebrews 12:26-28

Hebrews 12:26–28 ESV

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

What does that have to do with us? Well, isn’t the world around us is constantly shifting? Nations still rise and fall. Economies fluctuate. In what feels like the blink of an eye, our personal circumstances change with a decision that is made or a medical diagnosis that is received or something that happens beyond our control. Yet, as Christ-followers, we are anchored in a kingdom that is unshakable. God promised he would make Zerubbabel his signet ring, that is a symbol of God-given authority and the assurance that what God has said, will be. But make no mistake my brothers and sisters, Jesus is the true "signet ring" of God. Jesus has been given all authority, and through him, we are secure.

Lord’s Supper: A Reminder of Christ’s Kingdom

This is a different Sunday of sorts. It’s different in the sense that we have adjusted our schedule for a fairly new custom, something that we call a 5th Sunday Jubilee. That aside, it’s different because we saw the video that was produced for the Pressing Onward campaign. And, it’s different because I’m nearly through…

And while I’ve just pointed to those things this morning that maybe have shaken us from what is routine, I hope that we each recognize that when we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded that our faith is rooted in Christ’s eternal kingdom. The bread and the cup symbolize Christ’s body and blood, given for us so that we might be part of God’s unshakable plan.

Consider the elements - the bread and the cup.

The Bread reminds us that Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35) who was broken for our sins. Just as Zerubbabel oversaw the rebuilding of a temporary temple, Christ's body was broken so that we, as his followers, could become the living temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19).

The Cup represents the new covenant in his blood (Luke 22:20). It is a covenant that cannot be broken, a promise that our sins are forgiven and that we are heirs of Jesus’ everlasting kingdom.

Every time we take Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26). And, by the way, the Lord’s Supper isn’t just a ritualistic thing we do as Christians. The Lord’s Supper is a declaration of faith. It’s a reminder that no matter what happens in the world around us, Christ’s victory is secure, and our future as God’s children is secure in Christ.

Living as Citizens of an Unshakable Kingdom

Haggai’s message was meant to encourage God’s people to keep building, keep trusting, and keep believing in God’s promises. Today, we are called to do the same. The Lord’s Supper calls us to reflect in these ways:

Are we living for temporary things or for the eternal kingdom of Christ?

Do we trust that God is working even when our circumstances seem uncertain?

Are we allowing the truth of Christ’s unshakable reign to bring us peace in times of instability?

Jesus invites us to build our lives on him. Jesus is the solid rock (Matthew 7:24-25). While the world may shake, his kingdom remains.

Has your life been built on Jesus? If not, in a moment, we’ll have a time of invitation. A person who has their life built on Jesus means they recognize that they’ve been going their own way and that the way they’re headed is the broad road that leads to destruction. Jesus’ invitation is to come, follow him. Following Jesus means walking with him down the path that Jesus described as narrow, but when you follow Jesus down that path, he promises that it’s the only path that leads to life. It’s life that is the truest human life and it’s also eternal life.

And for every Christ-follower here, when we come to the Lord’s table, let’s do so with gratitude, remembering that through Christ, we are chosen, secure, and part of something eternal.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the promise of your unshakable kingdom. In times of uncertainty, help us to trust in your eternal plan. May we be ever reminded that our hope is in Christ alone. Strengthen our faith and use us to build your kingdom in my daily lives. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.