Haggai

Haggai ios a book written during the time of the return of the Israelite exiles from the Babylonian Captivity.  The book has one central focus- the  rebuilding of the temple.  The book gives an account of how Zerubbabel was stirred up by the Spirit of the Lord to rebuiold the temple.  At the time of the rebuilding of the temple, the name of the high priest was Joshua.  Joshua in this passage serves as a type of Christ for in the New Testament would come one with that very same name who indeed would rebuild the temple and would set vup his priesthood presiding as high priest over the work of the temple.  Zephaniah makes clear to the Israelites that the Spirit of the Lord never departed from them but that it was with them all along even in the midst of their captivity.  God is always there with us to help and to go through our struggles with us even in the midst of captivity.  The Lord promises in this book that he will shake the heavens and tje earth and all nations as the desired of all nations comes and fills the house of the Lord with glory.  This is a Messianic Prophecy.The book concludes with a reminder to the people of how the people had faith in God before the building of the first temple.  Then the people turned from God and sruck all their work with blight, mildew, and hail.  However , the people in the midst of their adversity did no turn to the Lord.  The Lord then promises to bless the people.  The book then concludes with a command by God to tell Zerubbabel the governor of Judah that he will once again shake the heavens and the earth and overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of foreign kingdoms.  He would overthrow chariots and horses and riders.  Then he would make Zerubbabel his signet ring.   We live in a society which indeed is in need of God to once again shake the heavens and the earth.  God wants to show his power to us today and to show that he is still on his throne.  He wants to demonstrate among those who have turned against the church and who have fought and in doing so he wants to turn over the dark powers of the spiritual world.  But in order to do this and in order to spread the message, he is calling us to be his signet ring.  For God has chosen us to speak of his Majesty.