As Haggai
continued to share the LORD's words through prophesy, he included the
date, the twenty-first day of the month, in his remarks. In chapter
two and verse two of his prophesy, Haggai shares how the LORD speaks
again to the leaders and people. We read:
Speak now
to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua
the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the
people, saying,
The
verse begins, “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the
high priest,...” Haggai began
with the words, “Speak”
which means “say, utter or avow” “now to Zerubbabel”
whose name means “sown in Babylon” and was “the grandson
of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles
from Babylon” “the
son” or “child” “of
Shealtiel” which means “I
have asked of God” and was “son of king Jehoiachin or Jeconiah or
Coniah of Judah and uncle of Zerubbabel” “governor”
or “captain or deputy” “of Judah”
whose name means “praised” and was “the kingdom comprised of
the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of
Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “and
to Joshua” or “Jehovah is
Salvation” who was “son of Jehozadak and high priest after the
restoration” “the son”
or “child” “of Josedech”
whose name means “Jehovah is righteous” and was “grandson of
the high priest Hilkiah; son of the high priest Seraiah; and father
of the high priest Joshua; he never attained the office of high
priest himself because he was carried captive to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar” “the high”
or “great, large and important” “priest”
which means “principal officer or chief ruler”. The LORD had
Haggai address his next remarks to the leadership of Israel again.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and to the residue of the people,
saying,...” Haggai continued, “and to the residue”
or “rest, remainder, remnant and what is left” “of the
people” which refers to “the nation, compatriots and
country-men” “saying” which means “utter, speak,
answer and avow”. In addition to the leaders of Israel, the LORD's
words were also addressed to the people of Israel.
When
we consider Haggai's words, our attention should be upon the
persistence of the LORD to speak with both the leaders and the people
of the country of Israel. It is interesting to note that he included
both groups in this charge. We too should think about our leaders and
the people over whom they govern as we consider whether or not they
“seek the kingdom of God” first or allow it to be a minor
afterthought. Sometimes the “Kingdom of God” through His
Son Jesus Christ doesn't receive any consideration, and though this
is often true, we must not align with this way of thinking. We should
pay particularly close attention to what the LORD has to say to the
leaders and people of Israel, and as we do, let us evaluate our own
ability to hear the LORD and align with His ways.
Next
time the LORD asks the people “who saw this house in her
first glory”, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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