The second chapter is the last one in this short book. As I read this chapter, I see a question, an encouragement, a warning, and a promise.
A Question
In the opening verses God asks those who saw the old temple about their remembrance of it. He acknowledges to the people that the new temple is not as grand and opulent as the temple built by Solomon. Those who remembered the old temple mourned over the loss of grandeur. God gives empathy to shoe people, but the importance is not the size or decoration of the temple. It is who is worshipped there.
An Encouragement
Next, we see God reaffirming His promises to the returned exiles. He alone owns all wealth and uses it for His purpose. In these verses God informs the listeners that His purpose is to make the place of His worship greater than anything they can even imagine. I believe that this is an allusion to the church. God will build His temple in Christ. The church will grow so large that no temple can hold it. It will grow into a global body of believers worshipping Christ.
A Warning
In this warning God tells His people that He will not allow their work to prosper if they do it without obedience. Our work for the Lord is to be done in the power of Christ and not for selfish gain but as worship to God. The people in this passage were doing their work for the Lord sloppily. The God we serve is sovereign over all things. God Himself made that point in the last section. We must serve Him with that truth in mind. He deserves our first fruits, the best we have to offer.
A Promise
The last section focuses on God selection. Here God makes a promise to Zerubbabel. In this promise God says that He will make Zerubbabel a signet ring. Matthew Henry states it this way:
“The promise has special reference to Christ, who descended from Zerubbabel in a direct line, and is the sole Builder of the gospel temple.”1
Through the line of Zerubbabel, Jesus comes. It is interesting to note that before Jesus was born there was a lot of upheaval in the world, and the bible promises that before He comes again the world will experience much turmoil and upheaval. However, when He does come, He will set all things right and will restore His people to the glory that He has promised.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV
For His glory and our good!
Pastor Jonathan Welch
