the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Haggai 2:15-23
The people have learned by sorry experience that time spent away from God is of no profit. They will now be able to prove the opposite. "From this day will I bless you," the Law promises. Whether it is a matter of the Christian businessman who closes his shop on Sunday, with the possible loss of trade, or the industrialist who declares honestly to the taxman the last pound of his income, every child of God will always be able to prove the words of the Lord Jesus: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (necessary for the present life) shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
The final message of Haggai contains some touching words of grace addressed personally to Zerubbabel. This name means "born at Babylon", (and Sheshbazzar, his Chaldean name, Ezra 1:8, seems to mean "joy in tribulation"). The LORD calls him by his name as if to say to him: "Poor refugee from exile, I have incredible promises for you. The whole world will be shaken, but fear nothing; I have reserved for you a kingdom which cannot be removed" (vv. 6, 21, 22, quoted in Hebrews 12:26; Hebrews 12:28). At the same time we can recognise in this heir of David a type of Christ, the Deliverer chosen and established by God to reign over Israel.
