Sermon Notes

Haggai2:20-21 God’s Message came a second time to Haggai on that most memorable day, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month: “Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: 21-23 ‘I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom—overthrow governments, destroy foreign powers, dismantle the world of weapons and armaments, throw armies into confusion, so that they end up killing one another. And on that day’”—this is God’s Message—“‘I will take you, O Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, as my personal servant and I will set you as a signet ring, the sign of My sovereign presence and authority. I’ve looked over the field and chosen you for this work.’” The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
Zechariah 4:1 The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep. 2-3 He said, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl.” 4 Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, “What does this mean, sir?” 5-7 The Messenger-Angel said, “Can’t you tell?” “No, sir,” I said. Then he said, “This is God’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. ‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’”
8-10 After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!” Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.” 11-12 “And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?” I asked. “What’s the meaning of them? And while you’re at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?” 13 He said, “You haven’t figured that out?” I said, “No, sir.” 14 He said, “These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide.”

Historically, the lesson speaks to the ongoing task of rebuilding the temple by the remnant that returned from Persian exile. Prophetically, God speaks through Prophets to encourage God’s leader in the face of mounting difficulty and waning motivation. Practically, the lesson reminds us of the importance of achieving small, daily victories in the process of achieving major goals. Big goals must be tackled in small increments. When we win the little battles, eventually we will win the war.

Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judah, was the grandson of Jehoiachin, the last ruler of Judah before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and conquered the land. Most of the population had been carried off to Babylon. Only a small remnant of about 50,000 had returned under Cyrus’ edict. They were still under Persian rule and surrounded by hostile neighbors who opposed Jewish resettlement. The Jews who returned were more concerned with their own comfort and prosperity than with the things of God. Though there was a good response to Haggai’s call to rebuild the temple, many of the Jews were only outwardly religious; their hearts were not right before God (Haggai 2:14). The walls of Jerusalem were still torn down, leaving the city vulnerable.
That was the picture on December 18, 520 BCE. God gave two messages through Haggai that day. The first (Haggai 2:10-19) was a call for them to not only continue the work on the temple, but to do it from hearts that were holy before God. God promised to bless them from that day on.
The second was specifically for Zerubbabel. This is the message that comprises the first portion of our lesson (We included the whole vision as opposed to just the final verse).

Haggai2:20-21 God’s Message came a second time to Haggai on that most memorable day, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month: “Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah: 21-23 “‘I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom—overthrow governments, destroy foreign powers, dismantle the world of weapons and armaments, throw armies into confusion, so that they end up killing one another. And on that day’”—this is God’s Message—“‘I will take you, O Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, as my personal servant and I will set you as a signet ring, the sign of my sovereign presence and authority. I’ve looked over the field and chosen you for this work.’” The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
God’s specific word to Zerubbabel was, “Because the Sovereign Lord will prevail in God’s eternal plan, God’s servants should be encouraged to trust God and do God’s will.” Four truths drive home this overall message that God will prevail:
1. God has a definite plan for history. The Sovereign God con-trols all the events of history for God’s purpose.
Many Christians today deny God’s sovereignty over man’s will. But scripture affirms that, while people make choices for which they are responsible, over and above the choices that we make is the sovereign purpose of God. God’s ultimate purpose is that God will be glorified (Habakkuk 2:14). We have the choice of either cooperating with that purpose, in which case we will be blessed; or of fighting against it, in which case we will not in any way thwart it, and God will be glorified in our disobedience and chastisement.
2. God can accomplish God’s plan. God is absolute in declaring what God will do in the future to accomplish God’s plan. God’s ability to accomplish God’s sovereign purpose does not depend on our puny resources, but on God’s power and might. (Jere-miah 32:17, 27; Zechariah 8:6; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37).
3. God’s plan is carried out by God’s sovereignty. The reason God will make Zerubbabel like God’s seal-bearing ring is that, “‘I have chosen you.’” The signet ring was the instrument that the king used to seal all official documents. It was a symbol of honor and authority. Since it carried such authority, the king’s signet ring was a precious object of great care, which he usually wore on his person so that no one could steal it. God’s choosing of us is not conditional on anything that God sees or foresees in us, but only on God’s grace and good pleasure.
4. Zerubbabel is a type of Messiah. Zerubbabel led Israel out of the Babylonian exile; Messiah would deliver us from the bondage of sin; Zerubbabel built the temple of God; Messiah is building the spiritual temple, the Church. God describes Zerubbabel as God’s signet ring; Messiah is the signet ring in and through whom all divine purposes are sealed.
*Despite frightening world circumstances, powerful enemies of the Lord, and personal discouragement, we cannot neglect what God has called us to do. To serve God as we should, we must trust God’s promises about what God is going to do in the future. Our God will prevail!

Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. His visions serve to encourage the people to complete the temple, as Haggai’s did. Zechariah’s fifth vision encourages Zerubbabel. Here, we are made to see the testimony that results from a cleansed and Spirit-filled life.
Zechariah 4:1 The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep. 2-3 He said, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl.”… 11-12 “And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?” I asked. “What’s the meaning of them? And while you’re at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?” 13 He said, “You haven’t figured that out?” I said, “No, sir.” 14 He said, “These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide.”
Zechariah is shown a lampstand of gold with seven lamps and a bowl at the top, which served as a reservoir for the oil. Two olive trees stood beside the lampstand. A golden pipe extended from each branch to the bowl so that the golden olive oil poured from the tree. Out of the reservoir, according to most Bible scholars, came 49 pipes, seven to each of seven lamps on the lampstand. This lampstand was like the one that stood in the holy place of the tabernacle, with three exceptions: (1) the bowl on top of it; (2) the seven pipes to each lamp; and (3) the two olive trees. These additions point to the abundant, continual supply of oil to the lamps. In the temple, the priests had to keep the lamps full of oil, but in this vision, the supply of oil flowed constantly without help from any man.
4 Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, “What does this mean, sir?” 5-6 The Messenger-Angel said, “Can’t you tell?” “No, sir,” I said. Then he said, “This is God’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through My Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”
The lampstand signifies the important task that God gives to His people to be a light to the nations, to reveal God and His truth to those who walk in darkness. The oil that flows in continual abun-dant supply so that the lamps can go on burning symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The two olive trees represent the priestly and kingly offices in Israel, with the two branches being Joshua and Zerub-babel. Together these two anointed ones were a type of the Mes-siah in the offices of Priest and King. Messiah is God’s anointed One, who provides the Holy Spirit in abundant supply to God’s people.
There are two ways to work for God. One is by our might and power. This refers to human energy and effort. But when we stand before Christ, it will be insufficient, because it came from the flesh. The other way is by His Spirit. This does not imply that there is no toil and sweat when we labor in the power of the Holy Spirit. But when God’s Spirit motivates and energizes the work, there is conscious dependence on God…and God gets the glory.
7 “So nothing can stop Zerubbabel from completing the temple. Even a mountain of problems will be smoothed out by him. When the temple is finished, he will put its most important stone in place. Then the people will shout, ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” 8-10 After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!” Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”
God encourages Zerubbabel by assuring him that, despite the problems in rebuilding the temple, he would finish the task. This would confirm to all of God’s people that He had sent His Servant, in the person of the angel of the Lord, to His people.
Those who were disparaging this temple in comparison to the former one, should not despise the day of small things. Under God’s perfect providence, the project will be completed.
*We lose motivation when we lose perspective on the importance of the work to which God has called us. That work in-volves being God’s lampstand to the world. It involves building God’s temple where God’s light shines forth. The world ought to see Christ, the Light of the world, both in us individually and in the Church corporately. Small is great if God’s eye is on it. The seven eyes of God signify His full attention and care.