Haggai 2:18

Haggai 2:18 says, Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.   God called on them to make note of the day that they started to rebuild the temple in obedience to Him.  It was their obedience that was really important.  As Christians, we should make note of the day that we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.   Verse nineteen adds, Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.  God asked if the seed were yet in the barn, and answered that they were, then said that nothing had yet brought forth fruit.  There was not an immediate evidence that anything had changed by looking at the world around them, but they had God's promise that things were going to change.  Even if we do not see worldly evidence of God's promises to us as followers of Christ, we must still put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty continues, And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,  God once more spoke to Haggai.  Today, even in America, if someone says that God spoke to them, they are often ridiculed or looked at as being a little crazy, but God still speaks to His people today.  Haggai listened when God spoke, and so must we.  Verse twenty-one states, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;  Haggai was once again told to speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah.  Matthew Henry points out that Zerubbabel was concerned with more than just the crops but was also concerned about the overall safety of Judah from being defeated by her neighbors.  God is aware of all the concerns of His people, and if they are faithful to Him, He will provide them with everlasting blessings and safety.  Verse twenty-two adds, And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.  God promised Zerubbabel that He would defeat all of the enemies of Judah, as long as they remained faithful to God.  As followers of Christ, we have God's promise that He has already defeated all our enemies, even death, and all we have to do is remain faithful to Him in order to enjoy His spiritual blessings that He sends each day.  Verse twenty-three concludes, In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would make it clear that He had chosen Zerubbabel to lead the people of Judah.   Matthew Henry said that this also referred to Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah.  The temple that Zerubbabel might build would be temporary, but the temple that Christ built would be everlasting.  Our bodies as Christians are called the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it is on this foundation of faith in Jesus Christ that we must build the good things of God.