Thursday: The Lord’s Signet Ring
“‘“On that day,” declares the Lord Almighty,
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
“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.’” (Hag. 2:23, NIV).
The final message from the Lord to Haggai was given on the same day as the previous one in order to complement it (see Hag. 2:22-23). The Lord warned of a coming destruction of kingdoms and nations during the day of God’s judgment. But on that same day, the prophet said, the servant of the Lord will accomplish God’s appointed task of salvation. This we can best understand as being fulfilled, ultimately and fully, only at the Second Coming and during all that follows it.
The nation’s political leader is associated here with the glorious reign of Israel’s King David, from whom he was a descendant. Zerubbabel was a grandson of King Jehoiachin and the legitimate heir to David’s throne after the Babylonian exile. He served as governor of Judah under the Persian king Darius the Great, and was a leading force behind the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Joshua was the high priest who also helped to rebuild the temple.
The prophet said that Zerubbabel would be the Lord’s signet ring, an object that provides evidence of royal authority and ownership. Like a king sealing legal documents with a ring, the Lord would impress the entire world through the work of His servant. Although Zerubbabel’s key role in the rebuilding of the temple never should be underestimated, he did not fulfill all of the promises given to him by God through Haggai. The inspired Gospel writers point to the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, son of both David and Zerubbabel, as the final fulfillment of all the Messianic promises found in the Bible.
Read Luke 24:13-27, focusing especially on Christ’s words to the two men. What important message is He giving to them, and how do His words show us the importance of understanding Old Testament prophecy, and why is it so relevant for Christians even today?
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The words of Christ teach us that we should regard ourselves as insparably bound to our Father in heaven. Whatever our position, we are dependent upon God who truely holds all destinies in His hands. He has appointed us our work and has endowed us with faculties and means for work. As long as we surrender the will to God, and trust in His strength and wisdom we shall be guided in safe paths to fulfill our appointed part in His plan. The one who depends upon his own wisdom and power is separating himself from God. He is not working in unison with God but fulfilling the purpose of the enemy of God and man
Building the spiritual temple
In 2 Samuel 7 , King David after looking at his situation , dwelling in a nice house of cedar, and God, dwelling behind curtins said that he will build a house unto the Lord, because of that desire every other blessing was added to him forever. Not just for his days but forever.
Solomon did build the house and in time it was distroyed by the Babylonians. After the fall of the Babylonians, Cyrus of the Median and Persians decreed that the Jews can go back to rebuild the temple. The temple was finally finished after the third decree by Artaxerxes the king, only when the prophets Ezra, Haggai ,Zechhariah and Nehemiah took charge of the work then the temple was finished.
Rom_12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Eph 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1Pe_2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
In the day of Pentecost, Christians had the first spiritual temple, the foundation was layed by Christ and the Apostles. The temple was distroyed by pagan worship from 508, the papacy fell throught the rise of the reformation just as Babylon fell with the rise of Cyrus.
Since the passing of the Apostles this spiritual temple has been fustrated by the dragon's flood, when Zion's whatchmen fell asleep, and are still asleep (on the wall as it were),
1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
In 1844 was the first decree to rebuild the spiritual temple. The reestablishment of true worship. In the year of 1888 was the second decree, come out from among them and be ye separate. That work has completly stopped and we are building our own houses (characters )with rotten timber and unchip stones.
Let's see for ourselves if we are 1 Peter 2:5
The last decree is a death decree. Remember the foolish virgins awoke, went and got the oil, but it did them no good, we cannot build characters overnight, the truth must take root downward that we may grow upward.
Mat_15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
It is left with us to remedy the defects of our character. And we are in the period of the third (death) decree.
It is important to understand the old testament, where our God made all His promises and He also informed the disciples and also everyone that he will rise after three days but they didnt understand. He was able to say to them , have I not told you that in three days I will rise from the dead? So what the Almighty said He'll do , believe it God will do. Let us trust the Savior today.
The OT is also important for Christians today because the prophecies do not end w/Christ's ascension. It also sheds light on happenings afterward that may even be in our time, God willing. The Old Testament is also part of the sure foundation of faith that helps readers understand the New Testament.