On That Day
Haggai 2:20–23
Introduction: I have a love-hate relationship with movie trailers. Some are bad. Some are good. Those that are good give you a condensed version of the whole movie with a few intense moments that really stir anticipation, awaken expectation, and hint at the storyline and the hero who will rise.
Haggai’s final (fourth) oracle functions similarly. It is brief, yet it carries the weight of God’s redemptive plan as well as his sovereign cosmic plan. It gives us a glimpse of a day (on that day, Haggai 2:23) when the Lord will “shake” the nations, reverse Israel’s trajectory, restore the Davidic promise, and set His chosen servant in place.
I. God’s Intention: God has spoken!
Haggai’s final message begins with a familiar refrain: “The word of the LORD came to Haggai…” (Hag. 2:20). This phrase forms the backbone of the entire book.
“The word of the LORD came…” (Hag. 1:1; 2:1, 10, 20)
“Thus says the LORD of hosts…” (Hag. 1:2)
“The voice of the LORD their God…” (Hag. 1:12)
“Haggai spoke with the LORD’s message…Declares the LORD” (Hag. 1:13)
“Declares the LORD of hosts…” (Hag. 2:4)
“(Thus) says/declares the LORD of Hosts…” (Hag. 2:6, 7, 8, 9)
“(Thus) says/declares the LORD of Hosts…” (Hag. 2:11, 14, 17)
And three times in our passage: “Declares the LORD.” (Hag. 2:23)
The repetition is intentional. The entire book rests on the conviction that God speaks and His speech directs life, calls for repentance, governs reality, and shapes our view of God and the future. The call to “continue” rebuilding the temple begins with His word. The shaking of the nations will unfold by His word. The restoration of the Davidic promise rises from His word. The future of Zerubbabel’s generation and ours rests on His word.
John Murray states, “[The] Holy Scripture is not a dead word but the living and abiding speech of the Holy Spirit.” This truth permeates Haggai’s prophecy. God’s word carries divine authority. It gives life, satisfies the soul, secures our freedom, confronts apathy, awakens obedience, upholds the universe, and shapes the future.
The remnants during the time of Zerubbabel lived under Persian rule. This doesn’t mean, though, that they get a pass from living under the authority of God’s word. Their temple may be lying in ruins. Their monarchy may appear broken. Their future feels fragile. Yet the Lord’s word carried more weight than Persian armies, economic limitations, or political decrees.
The living voice of God continues to speak through Scripture. His word builds His church.
His word sustains His people. His word advances His kingdom.
II. Divine Intervention: God will “shake” the nations and save His people
Divine Retribution
Notice the divine (direct) speech that is highlighted with decisive verbs: “I will shake… I will overturn… I will shatter… I will overthrow…” (Hag. 2:21–22). The repeated use of the first person in this announcement underscores the Lord’s direct involvement in these events. The verbs are traditional languages that echo God’s past acts. Haggai alludes to God’s great acts to reinforce what God will accomplish. Take note of the word “overthrow.” God has done this before. It is the language used in Genesis 19 when God “overthrew” Sodom and Gomorrah. The same theme can be seen when Egypt was drowned (Exodus 15:1), and kingdoms were humbled. Where was the Assyrian monarchy? It was already overthrown! Where was the Babylonian monarchy? It was overthrown. The Persian rule? God shattered it. The Romans? God toppled them! The powers that are, and are yet to come, shall in like manner be overthrown. Their day will come to fall.
Haggai’s apocalyptic announcement, according to Matthew Henry, focuses on God’s rule and judgment: “Expect shaking times, universal concussions.”
Illustration: (Modern weapons) Nations today build weapons that claim unmatched power. Missiles, drones, cyber warfare, nuclear arsenals. These tools appear unstoppable. Yet the Lord shakes the nations with greater force than any modern arsenal. His intervention carries authority that surpasses every human invention. His sovereignty governs every kingdom. The Lord declares, “I will shake all nations.” (Hag. 2:7). The psalmist affirms, “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing” (Psalm 33:10).
Application: Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, spoke of “living as if we owned the earth.”
A number of Bible scholars offer a theological perspective on calamities, wars, inflation, and the global experience of suffering. Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle, states, “This is a strong and definite judgment because the world has been arrogant in going its own way. We are reaping the consequences of our moral degradation, as well as the environmental damage that we have caused…We are in serious moral trouble because every type of lifestyle is now regarded as legitimate… We are in a situation where we are liable for God’s judgment, which is intended to call us to repentance.”
This is an encouragement for us: Psalm 73:17, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” God will shake the nations until everything is brought back to order.
Divine Reversal and Restoration: Haggai’s language reaches backward and forward.
It reaches backward to the Exodus, where the Lord shattered chariots and drowned armies.
Also, it reaches forward to a future day (“on that day”) when the Lord shakes heaven and earth in final judgment and restoration (to bring things in order). Zerubbabel stands at the intersection of these two horizons. He embodies the Lord’s renewed pleasure in His people. He represents the restoration of the Davidic promise.
Signet Ring (IVP Background Commentary) – A signet ring served as a symbol of authority, identification, and ownership. Kings sealed decrees with it. Legal documents carried its imprint. It represented the king’s identity and power. The LORD declares, “I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you” (Hag. 2:23).
The reversal is striking. Jehoiachin once served as the signet ring cast aside (Jeremiah 22:24-25):
“As I live, declares the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off 25 and give you into the hand of those who seek your life, into the hand of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans.”
Zerubbabel is God’s signet ring restored. It is critical to note that Zerubbabel is the grandson of Jehoiachin from the line of David. So when the Lord tells Haggai to tell Zerubbabel that you are now my signet ring, God is restoring the line of David through him. I threw, but now I will bless you, and now through Zerubbabel I am putting back the signet ring. He chose him to restore the Davidic kingship.
The passage anticipates the arrival of the true Son of David. The greater David. The greater Zerubbabel. Matthew records Zerubbabel in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:12–13). The shaking in Haggai anticipates the shaking that surrounds Christ’s death and resurrection. At Jesus’ death: “The earth shook, and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:51), and at His resurrection: “There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven” (Matthew 28:2). These events reveal divine intervention. The “shaking” is associated with the Lord’s presence or appearance. The Lord shakes creation to announce the arrival of the true King. Christ’s cross and empty tomb stand as the ultimate fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy.
Application:
Humility before the lord.
Hide away our fears. Does God have a plan for history?
Honor him as citizens of an unshakable kingdom. God’s kingdom shall never be destroyed and stand forever:
“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27)
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
Heart for the advancement of his kingdom.
Discussion questions:
As we consider the Lord’s declaration of a coming day when he will shake the heavens and the earth, how does this call us to deeper humility before Christ our King, especially when our own “little kingdoms” and the kingdoms of this world compete with his rule?
In light of God’s promise to overturn the nations and establish his chosen servant, how does union with Christ help us lay down our fears and rest in his sovereign care amid global instability, personal suffering, and the uncertainties we carry?
Since Jesus is the true signet ring who seals us as his own, how does belonging to an unshakable kingdom shape our mission, our courage, and our witness as those stamped “Mine,” sent to bear his Word and authority in the ordinary places he has called us?
Sources:
Iain Duguid, Haggai, Reformed Expository Commentary.
Paul House and Stephen Coleman, Haggai, Preaching the Word
Matthew Henry, Haggai, Commentary