Haggai Chapter Two

 (Now) Weekly From the Prophets      

1 - In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month (2nd quarter moon, seventh and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles) the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house as it was in its former glory? How do you see it now? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Build, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant I made with you when I led you out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

     6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. (A little while to Him?) 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’” (They were discouraged this new temple would be less magnificent than the first? But God is showing them a glimmer of the final temple.. the full destiny of a temple in Jerusalem?)

     10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. 15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 Struck were all the products of your toil with blight and mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.18 Consider from this day onward, from this twenty-fourth day of this ninth month. Since the day the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

      20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will 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. 23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel [his name means “begotten in Babylon” he led the people home, so used as a type of Christ, like some kings are used as types of the adversary called Satan, and like David of Christ] my servant, the son of Shealtiel [this name means “I have asked of God” - ask, seek, knock] declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring [chotham - a seal] for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” (Jesus, our seal?)