Future Hope

Daily Devotional: Read Haggai 2:20–23

It would have been easy for the apostle Paul to get discouraged. He had worked so hard to share the gospel and plant churches. Yet he was regularly imprisoned, the churches he founded were bickering and embracing false teaching, and his own people accused him of defiling the Temple (Acts 21:28). But despite all the hardships, Paul stayed focused on his mission. While sitting in a jail cell, he wrote to the Philippian church: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13–14).

It is this perspective rooted in a future hope that the Lord instilled in Haggai’s final prophetic message. The Lord encouraged Zerubbabel to reflect on the day of the Lord, when God would come to judge the earth (vv. 21–22). At that time, nations would not be saved because of their military might but because of their relationship with the Lord.

Not about military might!

The book ends with a particular promise to Zerubbabel. God said, “I will take you, my servant…and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you” (v. 23). A signet ring is a marker of identity. If a king sealed a document with his ring, it demonstrated that the document belonged to and came from the king. What is God saying here? Is He talking about Zerubbabel or a future figure? Since the overall context relates to the final judgment, it is best to understand that this verse points forward to a future Davidic king. Zerubbabel represents a future Messiah who would fulfill the Davidic covenant. God’s promises to restore Israel would be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, Lord of the nations (Rev. 7:9). Today we can express this hope by praying, “Come, Lord” (1 Cor. 16:22).

Go Deeper

How does anticipating the return of Jesus change the way we live today? What are some ways we can keep our focus on that purpose?

Pray with Us

Jesus, You are our King. As we eagerly await Your future coming, encourage our hearts that You will accomplish Your purposes. We trust You as the Sovereign Judge who deserves our obedience. Prepare our hearts to see You!

“I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the LORD Almighty.

Haggai 2:23