The next message comes on the same day as the last one. Quite a day! What will it contain? How will the Lord deal with his people? What is this fresh revelation about?
It is directed to Zerubbabel, the leader of the people. Again, the Lord declares that he is going to shake "the heavens and the earth". It a statement that he will act in the most decisive way. He will overthrow nations, bring down low those that are raised high in the eyes of the world. A new world order seems to be in view here. It a message akin to the vision Daniel saw in Dan. 2 (the image destroyed by the rock).
As a message to a leader, it is clearly very significant. Zerubbabel is the leader of this small group of despised people but the Lord says that he will overturn the established order. It was especially significant to Zerubbabel but also to the people he ruled over.
But when would this be? Is it a promise that Zerubbabel will become a great ruler? Are there glory days in store for the nation? It seems as though that might be the case: "I will take you, Zerubbabel". But there is more here than meets the eye!
Zerubbabel never became a great leader; the world order of his day was not overturned in favour of the Jews. This was a word for the people of that time but about another time.
We need to remember whose family Zerubbabel belongs to. He is of the line of David, the Messiah's line. And when you read Matthew 1 where the line is listed, you see that the Jesus is a direct descendant of Zerubbabel.
There are other indications here that it's the Messiah who is in view:
- The title used to describe Zerubbabel, "my servant". There were many servants but the servant par excellence was the Lord himself.
- The Lord also speaks of choosing his servant. Those 2 ideas come together in a passage in Isaiah that is all about the Messiah (42:1). Zerubbabel was chosen for a time, in the line of the Messiah, but Jesus as the Messiah is chosen for all time!
Zerubbabel has been chosen and will be like a signet ring. The signet is the seal of royalty; it is the royal guarantee. It verifies things, usually a document. The fact that Zerubbabel is there as a leader despite all the problems & opposition is an indication that the Lord is with his people and will continue to be with them.
But if we look further ahead again, the real guarantee is the Lord Jesus himself. It is in him that all the promises of God are summed up and realised (2 Cor 1:20).
The passage then is speaking of the coming of the Messiah, the one to whom Zerubbabel and all like him pointed. It speaks of victory, of the overturning of the established world order, of the enthroning of God's King and of the fulfilment of his promises.
When will these things take place? In the coming of Jesus as a babe into this world; in his death, resurrection and ascension; in his coming again (see Heb 12:26-28 where these verses are quoted regarding his second coming). They have been fulfilled; they are being fulfilled; they will be fulfilled!
What do they say to us? The LORD reigns! All the promises of God are secure. The current world order cannot last; the great kingdom of God will one day come in all its fulness and glory!
Therefore we are to take heart and work, just like these builders. It may not look promising; it didn't to them. But between them and us stands the greatest indication that it will all be fulfilled: the coming of the Messiah, his life & work.
Christmas thrills our hearts; it is also meant to encourage us and energise our labours as we work and wait for the return of the Lord, not in lowliness but in glory! Until that day, let us serve him with joy and zeal, as the Lord's servants whom he has chosen. Amen!
