The LORD spoke
to the people of Israel through Haggai the prophet during the second
year of the reign of Darius the king of Persia. On the twenty-fourth
day of the ninth month of Darius' second year, the LORD spoke to the
people for the second time as He shared how He would “shake the
heavens and the earth” where we read:
Speak to
Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and
the earth;
The
verse begins, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah,
saying,...” Haggai began with
the word, “Speak”
or “say, utter or avow” “to Zerubbabel”
whose name means “sown in Babylon” who was “the grandson
of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles
from Babylon” “governor”
or “prince, leader or commander of a province” “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” “saying”
or “uttering, speaking or avowing”. The LORD specifically spoke
these next words to the “governor”
over the people of Judah who were the Israelites who returned to
their land after being exiled in Babylon.
The
verse goes on to say, “...I will shake the heavens and the
earth;” Haggai continued, “I will shake” which means
“make to quake and cause to spring or leap” “the heavens”
or “the visible universe, sky and atmosphere” “and the
earth” which refers to “the land, country, territory,
district and region”. No doubt the power of the LORD was going to
be demonstrated as not only the “heavens”, but also the
“earth” were going to be moved by Him.
When
we think about these words of Haggai, we might find it interesting to
contemplate the full measure of what the LORD just stated. He created
the “heavens and the earth”, and it is certain that He can
shake them. His power is limitless, and because the people of Israel
were turning their attention and priority toward Him once again, He
was not only going to respond, but respond resoundingly. Those who
fall in love with Jesus, make His kingdom and righteousness first,
and exalt Him to the main priority in their lives have access to this
power of the living God. The LORD stands ready to “shake the
heavens and earth” for those who put their trust in Him. May we
learn what it means to have that much faith in Him.
Next
time the LORD tells Haggai He will “overthrow the throne of
kingdoms”, 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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