A Word Through Haggai
2 1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of our Father came through Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the rest of the people, saying: 3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?
4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, declares the Sovereign Father; be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Sovereign Father, and work, for I am with you, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 5 Just as I promised when you came out of Egypt, my Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid. 6 For this is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all the nations, and what all nations most desire will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Father of heaven's armies. a a v7 For centuries the church has heard in "the desire of all nations" a promise of Jesus himself — the longing of every people answered when he came to fill our Father's house with glory. 8 The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Father of heaven's armies. 9 The final glory of this house will surpass the first, says the Father of heaven's armies; and in this place I will give peace, declares the Father of heaven's armies. b b v9 The Father's promise that the second temple's glory would exceed Solomon's was fulfilled when Jesus walked in this very temple — the glory that filled the house was the Son himself, the radiance of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3).
Defilement and a New Day
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of our Father came to Haggai the prophet, saying:
11 This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: Ask the priests for a ruling: 12 If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and with that fold touches bread or stew or wine or oil or any other food, does it become holy? The priests answered, No.
13 Then Haggai said, If one who is defiled by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean? The priests answered, Yes, it becomes unclean.
14 Then Haggai replied, So it is with this people, and so with this nation before me, declares the Sovereign Father; so it is with every work of their hands, and whatever they offer there is unclean.
15 Now then, think carefully from this day on: before one stone was laid on another in the temple of our Father 16 —how did you fare? When someone came to a heap expecting twenty measures, there were only ten; when someone came to the wine vat to draw fifty, there were only twenty.
17 I struck you and all the work of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Sovereign Father. 18 Think carefully from this day on—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of our Father's temple was laid—think carefully: 19 Is there still seed left in the barn? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet borne fruit. But from this day on I will bless you.
A Second Word to Zerubbabel
20 The word of our Father came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying:
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the Father of heaven's armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, declares the Sovereign Father, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Father of heaven's armies. c c v23 Zerubbabel's grandfather Jehoiachin was cast off as a signet ring (Jeremiah 22:24); here the Father restores the signet to Zerubbabel, preserving the Davidic line that runs through him all the way to Jesus, the true Son of David (Matthew 1:12-13).