Sermons
“From this Day on I Will Bless You”
“From this Day on I Will Bless You”
Haggai 2:10-23
Introduction:
1. The book of Haggai naturally divides itself into three sections based on the three revelations that God makes through Haggai.
a. In the first revelation (1:1-15) God called on those who had returned from the exile to
consider their ways.
1) They had been sowing but harvesting little.
2) Eating, but there was not enough to be satisfied.
3) Drinking, but there was not enough to become drunk.
4) In other words, God was withholding blessings from them. And why? Because they
were dwelling in their paneled houses while the house of God was desolate. And so,
God called on them to go to work and build the temple of the Lord. They obeyed the
Lord and went to work.
b. In the second revelation (2:1-9) the Lord encouraged their work saying, “Do not fear, I am
with you.”
1) But in the last portion of that revelation the Lord looked past the temple that they
were building to the true tabernacle that He would build (Heb. 8:1). In Eph. 2:21-22
Paul refers to the people of God as God’s dwelling, founded upon Christ and the
revelation of His apostles and prophets.
2) Truly we are the great and glorious house of God.
c. The third revelation is contained in 2:10-23.
2. This is what it says . . . 11-19.
Discussion:
I. In this statement God reminds the remnant that because of their uncleanness He had withheld blessings from them, but no longer. From this day forward He would bless them (2:11-19).
A. God had always promised Israel that if they were faithful to him that he would lavish them
with material blessings.
1. When they left Egyptian bondage He promised them a land flowing with milk and
honey, cities that they had not built and vineyards that they had not planted. And he
had granted it too. Near the close of his life, Joshua said, “Not one word of all the
good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed. All have been
fulfilled for you. Not one of them has failed” (Josh. 23:14).
2. In Deut. 12:12ff God spoke through Moses these words . . .
3. There were warnings given, that if they turned from the Lord that he would take them
off the good land that he had given them (Deut. 11:13ff).
4. Material prosperity was something that God promised Israel if they were faithful to
him. They had been unfaithful and had been taken into captivity. Now returning, they
had been neglecting the House of God. God considered them as having been unclean
and therefore, His blessings were being withheld.
B. Sometimes people today claim this promise even though God has not promised them
wealth and prosperity because of their devotion.
1. “Why am I economically depressed?”
2. “Why is God withholding blessings from me?”
3. “Why is my health failing?”
4. “Why am I not prospering like I would like?” Doesn’t God promise prosperity to
those who serve Him?”
5. We can read about the promise of material prosperity to Israel. Where do you
read a promise of material prosperity to the people of God today?
a. “Doesn’t God promise that if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
that we will not have to worry about food and clothing? Doesn’t Scripture say
that the Father knows we have need of all these things? (Matt. 6:25ff).
b. Is that what He is saying or is He saying that we need to focus on the kingdom
and let Him take care of these other matters?
c. “But doesn’t God promise that He will never desert us?” (Heb. 13:5).
6. If you interpret God as promising you physical prosperity for obedience what do
you do with
a. Israel in Egyptian bondage?
b. What do you do with Job who lost all he had?
c. What do you do with “joyfully accepting the seizure of your property” (Heb.
10:34)?
d. What do you do with Paul, beaten times without number, cold, hungry (Phil.
4:12; 2 Cor. 11:23ff)?
e. What do you do with Jesus, crucified?
f. “Well, they experienced hardship, but ultimately they were blessed by God.” Yes,
and that is the point. God has not promised us a life of ease. He has promised
that He will bless us. It was He who said to the church at Smyrna, “do not fear
what you are about to suffer. . . you will have tribulation. Be faithful until death
and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). And compare Matt. 5:10-12;
10:16ff.
7. God first calls on us for faithfulness. It is that unconditional trust in God that leads
to the crown of life.
8. The people of Haggai’s day worked to build the house of God and the Lord blessed
them.
II. God spoke through Haggai twice on the same day. The second part of the prophecy was spoken to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah and this is what he said . . . (2:20-23).
A. “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth,” God said.
1. He interprets this to mean that he will overthrow the nations.
2. He seems to imply that they will destroy each other (v. 22).
B. But Zerubbabel, God’s servant will be like a signet ring. “For I have chosen you,” the Lord
said.
1. As son of Shealtiel Zerubbabel was in the lineage of king David.
2. God had promised David that He would “establish His kingdom forever” (2 Sam.
7:13).
3. God said he was now choosing Zerubbabel as His servant. C. F. Keil made this
powerful statement regarding Zerubbabel being chosen, “With these words the
Messianic promise made to David was transferred to Zerubbabel, and his family.”
Cf. Psa. 89:27-29. Keil continues, “This fulfillment culminates in Jesus Christ, the Son
of David and descendent of David (Matt. 1:12; Lk. 3:27). Jesus Christ has raised up
the kingdom of David and of His kingdom there will be no end (Lk. 1:32-33).”
C. Even though God’s kingdom may appear oppressed and humiliated, it will never be
crushed or destroyed. It will endure and be blessed forever (Dan. 2:44; Heb. 12:28; 1
Cor. 15:24). Cf. Matt. 5:3-12.
Conclusion:
1. We are citizens in that kingdom.
2. We have entrusted our souls to a faithful Creator.
3. To the degree that we share the sufferings of Christ we rejoice, so that at the revelation of His glory we may rejoice with exultation (1 Pet. 4:13).
4. To God’s kingdom belongs the victory.
- From_this_Day_on_I_Will_Bless_You.pdf (116.14 kB)
