“The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:
‘Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Haggai 2:20-23
Well, it’s the same day as last time. But now God through Haggai has a word specifically for Zerubbabel.
I am the God of the nations. In charge of kingdoms and powers. And I choose you to represent my authority on earth.
It’s all very confusing. The people of Judah were never politically free again after the exile. Ruled over by others, they must have wondered when this Word from God would come to pass. It is no wonder God’s people were waiting for a warrior king to come and set them free by the time they were ruled by the Romans. Certainly, that was the plan, right?
But God rarely chooses who we think He will. Zerubbabel, the civil leader of the exiles, is in Christ’s lineage. The way he would be like God’s signet ring, a sign of His authority, is by doing the work of governing the people God gave him and rebuilding God’s house. Then by trusting that “on that day” of God’s choosing, He would come to show His authority over all earthly powers.
And He did. In a dirty feeding trough.
This sovereign, all-powerful God – the Most High Who could shake the heavens and earth, overturn thrones, and overthrow militaries – came to relate.
He came like one of us. Made Himself obey the laws of nine months’ gestation and milk before solid foods. He subjected Himself to the authority of imperfect parents and endured puberty. He was truly tempted in every way we are. Not as in, oh I see how that could be tempting. But, I really do want to do that. I genuinely want to take the easy, fleshly way out in this situation.
But He didn’t.
And since He didn’t, He could be the perfect Lamb without blemish or defect. The One Sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
And because of that, He defeats earthly kingdoms with a Kingdom that can never be shaken. And we who trust in Him live in this Kingdom. One that is meek instead of haughty. Courageous rather than callous. Generous over greedy.
A Kingdom we can only live in in His power.
But that’s how it defeats the world. It is other-worldly. When this Kingdom advances, it’s clear it is by His strength and not ours. Oh, we do work. If Haggai is about anything, it’s about doing the thang.
But the glory and beauty and wonder come from this Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father.
And a broken world celebrates His very Name is Prince of Peace.