Hope of Faith
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Introduction
Introduction
For such a small book Haggai has really caused us to need to “think carefully about our ways”. In the first message from Haggai challenged to examine our priorities. Next we were instructed on how to properly shape our expectations. Last week we were reminded about the principles and effects of spiritual contamination. This morning we come to the last message of Haggai as we finish the book. This morning our focus is to think carefully about our hope of faith. Our faith is based on the hope we have.
There is story of a man sentenced to death who obtained a reprieve by assuring the king he would teach his majesty’s horse to fly within the year — on the condition that if he didn’t succeed that he would be put to death at the end of the year. “Within a year,” the man explained later, “the king may die, or I may die, or the horse may die. Furthermore in a year who knows? Maybe the horse will learn to fly.”
Our hope that we have is not in a what it is in a whom. Apart from God there is no hope for tomorrow at best maybe a “hope-so.” For those whose hope of faith is God and they are right with God - our future has a hope and that hope is certain. God desires us to have faith in Him as our hope of faith. Haggai was given this final message because if their hope is in themselves, or in their circumstances then they will fail. Our future hope will affect our present living. The people have been struggling with discouragement.
For 70 years the people of Israel had been slaves to the people of Babylon. The Medo-Persian Empire had allowed them to return home so they could rebuild their country which lie in ruin. They had begun rebuilding God’s temple, but had quit due to opposition from their neighbors. Their homes and farms were in disarray, so they quit building the temple and began rebuilding their lives. Their lack of balance and misplaced priorities led them to forsake God’s work altogether, so much so that God punished them for it. He withheld rain from them, allowed them no satisfaction from their labors and kept His blessings from them as He tried to gain their attention.
Fourteen years or so went by before God got that attention back through the preaching of Haggai, after which time the people returned to the temple to begin building, but once again God withheld His blessings from them. Although they had gone to work, they were an unclean people. In other words, their lives were dirty with sin: sinful attitudes, sinful speech, and sinful actions. Even though they had gone to work, they were unfit. God had to once again send Haggai to tell them what was wrong: they were separated from Him because in their sinful, wicked state He would not bless them.
It must have seemed very bleak to Zerubbabel. He might have said, “The people are down, God is working against us, our crops won’t produce, our situation borders desperation. I’d like to just give up right now!”
You know how he feels, don’t you? Some of you feel that way today: wanting to give up. If not right now, we’ve all been in those shoes where we’ve wanted to give up and run away, and many do. This morning I will tell you that as children of God we have a special gift to deal with these times of severe discouragement where we feel like quitting or giving up. As we close the book of Haggai, we will see that God gave Haggai a final message of hope. This message still inspires hope among believers today. But our hope lies far beyond the message. You see, it is what we learn about the Messenger Himself that gives us great cause for hope and faith in the most disparaging of times. It is in our Hope of Faith we find the inspiration of endurance and perseverance to continue on. Let’s read Haggai 2:20-23 as we think carefully about the hope of faith.
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword.
23 On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
A Personal Hope
A Personal Hope
Haggai 2:20–21 (CSB)
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah
As with the other messages Haggai was given this one also came from the LORD specifically. God had an important word that was necessary for this time.
A peculiar timing for this message. The word of the LORD came a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month. This message is the same day as the previous message. Two messages on the same day - this wasnt God saying oh by the way I forgot. This was a specific message that was also needed at this specific time.
This message was also given specifically to Zerubabbel. Haggai was directed to speak this message to Zerubabbel. This message was just for Zerubabbel but it also isn’t just for him. Since this message is also recorded in scripture that means it is useful and necessary for all who would read it as the word of God.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
This message was given to Zerubabbel from God through Haggai and was pointed towards Zerubabbel’s position or office of governor. Zerubabbel was not a prophet like Haggai, he wasn’t a priest like Joshua - he was a leader, a politician and he was discouraged about what he was doing. Though the grandson of a king (Jehoiachin) he himself wasn’t a king. Israel remained under the control and authority of the Persians. Zerubabbel was however a leader over the people and if his faith was weak and lacking hope then that would lead to a lack of hope and faith among the people.
We live in a time where most are unwilling to assume responsibility. Most are happy and eager to accept the credit but unwilling to assume responsibility - especially in failure. It is easy to bark out orders and give directions and set expectations, but we draw the line at being held accountable.
Whether we want to admit it or not organizations rise and fall with leadership. Now I of course realize the church is not an organization; she is a living body, the body of Christ, but the principle remains the same. If the leadership within the church is lacking in faith and hope, the church as a whole will be lacking as well. Those of us in leadership roles will give account to God for how we have led and what we have done with what we were entrusted with. I cannot expect faith and commitment from the chairs, if it does not also come from the pulpit and from our lives as leaders and pastors. Teachers, don’t expect it of those who listen to you if it is lacking in you!
History is replete with men and women who have been greatly used by God in the public and political life. In the Bible we have the account of Joseph who was active and used in the political life of Egypt. He held the second highest position next to Pharaoh and was responsible for the agricultural policy that saved the land from a severe famine. Daniel held a high office in the political life of Babylon and served under the kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. Nehemiah like Zerubabbel was governor of Judah and responsible for rebuilding the walls of the city. Being active in political life is not incompatible with having a strong faith in God.
Truthfully we could use more people to take their faith and serve in an active role in political and civil life. Scriptures teach we should pray godly men and women who carry the burden of leadership not only in religious, but political and public life.
1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Not a hope in a specific government but in the one who appoints governments and kingdoms.
13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words. 14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
15 But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
The government has rightful demands of citizens and it is ordained by God. Paul also says
1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
Our personal hope of faith is not our position, our government officials or our government at all - our personal hope of faith is God.
A Powerful Hope
A Powerful Hope
Haggai 2:21–22 (CSB)
21 I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword.
The message God spoke to Zerubabbel was to reveal and remind of His great strength and unmatched power.
Listen to the sheer power of God. He makes three promises that showcase His power and sovereignty. I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. Speaking of judgment that will take place of the heavens and the earth. Reminiscent of previous verses 6 and 7
6 For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies.
Then the LORD says I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. This speaks to the prophecy of the times of the Gentiles and the period where Israel would have no king and not have a kingdom. The times of the Gentiles began when Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel during this time was given the interpretation of the king’s dream.
1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him, and sleep deserted him. 2 So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream and am anxious to understand it.”
4 The Chaldeans spoke to the king (Aramaic begins here): “May the king live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.” 5 The king replied to the Chaldeans, “My word is final: If you don’t tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be made a garbage dump.
31 “Your Majesty, as you were watching, suddenly a colossal statue appeared. That statue, tall and dazzling, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was terrifying. 32 The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its stomach and thighs were bronze,
33 its legs were iron, and its feet were partly iron and partly fired clay. 34 As you were watching, a stone broke off without a hand touching it, struck the statue on its feet of iron and fired clay, and crushed them.
35 Then the iron, the fired clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were shattered and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.
37 Your Majesty, you are king of kings. The God of the heavens has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. 38 Wherever people live—or wild animals, or birds of the sky—he has handed them over to you and made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.
39 “After you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours, and then another, a third kingdom, of bronze, which will rule the whole earth. 40 A fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron; for iron crushes and shatters everything, and like iron that smashes, it will crush and smash all the others.
41 You saw the feet and toes, partly of a potter’s fired clay and partly of iron—it will be a divided kingdom, though some of the strength of iron will be in it. You saw the iron mixed with clay, 42 and that the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly fired clay—part of the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle.
43 You saw the iron mixed with clay—the peoples will mix with one another but will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with fired clay. 44 “In the days of those kings, the God of the heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever.
The LORD then says I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall each by his brother’s sword. This is spoken and is indicative the change in world government will be military and political. The Battle of Armageddon is the final stand before the kingdom of God is setup.
16 So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 17 Then the seventh poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since people have been on the earth, so great was the quake.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Not a change in dynasty but a destruction of their strength of the kingdoms of the Gentiles. Its easy to return from exile and feel insignificant as nothing more than spectators now. God desired for them to know their hope of faith is a powerful hope. God is all powerful and they are on the winning side.
There can be no doubt that we have experienced in recent years and will continue to experience in future years great decline among the church in America. We face struggles and opposition that were not present just a few years ago. Perhaps like many others you are wondering if the church will survive, how bad things will get in the future for us, and how will society respond to the church and people of faith? I am convinced that more difficulty and opposition is in our future. In fact, we will likely face persecution for our faith even in America, but we can rest knowing that the church will prevail. Trials and adversity will come, but our powerful hope is the Lord Jesus Christ. He did not die for the church to allow her to perish in the world. Struggles will abound, but the Lord remains on His throne and in control.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
if the people would not live to see this fulfilled, why did God see the need to share this with them? What benefit is there in this prophecy? It shows that God is sovereign and in control of the kingdoms of the earth. They faced great adversity and bondage by a foreign king, but the kings of Babylon did not surpass the authority and power of God. They simply needed to trust the Lord and depend on Him! Things are rapidly changing in our world as well. The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court continue to pass legislation that hinders and restricts our religious liberties. However, we must not lose heart. Our powerful hope of faith - God - remains seated upon His throne! Jesus Christ our Lord is seated at the Father’s right hand, interceding on our behalf. Although the world may reject Jesus as the sovereign Savior, He remains in complete control.
A Preserving Hope
A Preserving Hope
23 On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
On that day I will take you Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel — my servant. On the day of the Gentile judgment I will make you my servant like my signet ring. No longer referred to as governor, Zerubbabel is reminded that he serves the LORD and is used in any capacity because he is the servant of the LORD. A signet ring is used to confer authority or ownership. Was used to make impressions for a seal to secure and close documents. The prophet Jeremiah used this imagery
24 “As I live”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“though you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would tear you from it. 25 In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who intend to take your life, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans.
Zerubbabel’s grandfather was Coniah or Jehoiachin. Whereas Jehoiachin was a signet ring stripped off Zerubbabel is a signet ring put on. Possibly reversing the curse pronounced. Zerubbabel is in the lineage of the Messiah. The promise of the Messiah is preserved though Jehoiachin was cursed. Zerubbabel was the last person to stand in both the line of Joseph and Mary - to be of the legal line of David yet not of Jehoiachin’s seed.
I have chosen you a messianic description. A great promise, for sure, but wait. Did the things Haggai predicted in his fourth message occur in his lifetime? Nope. He preached this message in 520 B.C. The Jews finished the temple about four years later, in 516 B.C. The nations of the earth did not collapse. Zerubbabel did not rule. In fact, history verifies that though the temple rebuilt in Zerubbabel’s day was later modified by King Herod, it was totally destroyed in 70 A.D. and hasn’t been rebuilt since. Furthermore, Governor Zerubbabel passed from the scene just a few years after Haggai preached this message, not in notoriety but in relative obscurity. Was Haggai wrong? Did he misunderstand God? The answer is absolutely not. No, Zerubbabel was not the Messiah, that’s clear. But this prophecy pertained to Zerubabbel’s position, not his person. He was in the messianic line. And that’s the point.
He did lead his people out of bondage. And he did build a temple. He did give his people hope. And in so doing he exemplified the Messiah.
Robert Alden is right in his observation, "Zerubbabel was no more the Messiah than Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, or Isaiah. But Zerubbabel as in the genealogy of Christ (cf. Matt 1:12-13)."
That’s the significance. When Israel rebelled against the Lord, He sent the Jews into captivity, and the messianic line was interrupted—there was no son of David reigning in Israel. But with this promise to Zerubbabel God is saying, "My promise still holds. The hope of the coming Messiah is still in tact." And five hundred years later the Messiah—a descendant of Zerubabbel—did come. His name is Jesus Christ. And He will come again, as promised. When He does He’ll finish the work predicted in Haggai’s prophecy.
Perhaps the governor thought his work was unimportant because the temple was so ordinary, or because the nation was so small and weak; but he was part of the plan that would lead one day to the coming of the Messiah.
Your part in God’s kingdom today is not insignificant or unimportant, no matter how it appears to you and no matter if you come from a cursed family line. Be encouraged and keep working!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Our hope of faith is not in ourselves our hope of faith is in God.
That God is in control - of who you are and where you are. He is in control of the things going on and what will be happening next. He rules over all and is sovereign in all.
God keeps His word and promises. Prophecy is given in order that we might see that God keeps His word and brings to pass what He has declared. Our Hope of Faith is the promise of Jesus return - God has already kept His other promises - to send a flood, to destroy the kingdoms (Babylonians, Medes-Persians, Greeks, Romans) - destruction of the temple. He will keep His promise to send Jesus again and His promise of salvation and forgiveness through His death.
6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is for His people - He is not against us How do I know God is for His people in the book of Haggai? Because He bothered to send a prophet to get their attention. Because He didn’t just kill them to begin with. When they put down their tools and went home and forgot about Him He didn’t kill them: He punished them. He disciplined them. That’s what the Bible says God does when He loves us. If God didn’t discipline them its because He didn’t love them and they didn’t belong to Him. But God did punish them because He did love them because they were His people. I know that God loved them because He said that He wanted to bless Israel; and now because He has made some really wonderful promises to them.
Sometimes I think we really do begin to look around us and wonder whether God is on our side or not. We force God to prove His love for us by demanding good circumstances or lots of stuff. We make Him prove His love when we require an easy, trouble free life. When we look and wonder like that we are questioning the goodness of God. God is good to you beyond measure, and while we like to have an abundance of stuff and good circumstances God doesn’t have to give you those things to prove His love for you. He might do it, but then again He might not.
If God had to give you those things to demonstrate that He’s on your side, then Paul’s writings reveal that God must have hated him. God must have hated John the Baptist and Peter and the others. Every one of those men lived lives of great trial and hardship and want, but every one of them was sold out on the fact of God’s love for them. In fact, the apostle Paul said that one of the greatest things we could do with our time is to think on these things. “Set your mind on things above!”
The book of Haggai has demonstrated that the question you need to ask this morning is not whether God is on your side, but whether you have made up your mind to be on God’s side. God must be the Hope of Our Faith
I may not know what your circumstances might be today, but I want you to know that God is still in control of them. You can work and work and try to take those reigns from God, but there’s nothing you can do to drive this thing called life except to trust the One who sits on His throne and is in control. He knows where He’s going with your life and He’s promised that its going to be glorious – will you trust Him with it?
God’s Kingdom is our future hope of faith - He is coming back to set it up - will you be ready for it?