Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Authority, Bible, Compassion, Covenant, Eternity, Family, Holy Spirit, Scripture

SIGNET RING

HAGGAI 2:23

“‘On that day,’ declares the LORD of armies, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the LORD of armies.”

My dad used to have this real cool ring he bought when he was in the army. It was made of nickel, I think, and was very heavy, especially for a little boy. I loved that ring. I would sneak and wear it around the house pretending it made me important, like a king or something. I made the mistake of wearing it to see a friend who had a pond on his property. Do you see where this is going? Yep, I lost that ring in the pond. I knew dad was going to kill me, but he didn’t get upset at all. Praise the Lord.

God tells Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that He would make him like a signet ring. What does that mean? You have to understand that the signet ring carried power and authority. We saw this when Pharoah gave his ring to Joseph (Genesis 41:42) and when Ahasuerus gave his ring to Mordecai (Esther 8:2). So, when Zerubbabel is told this, he knows this is an honor. God has selected him to stand out. What a great way to end this book.

APPLICATION

Many scholars equate Zerubbabel as a type of Christ. Christ, or course, does not need a signet ring to give Him authority. He is authority. He is power. And His seal of the Holy Spirit is upon each of us as believers. Look at Ephesians 1:13. “…you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Sealed, marked, shown as belonging to Him.

Don’t every doubt that. You belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are in His family. He claims you as His own. There is no doubting that. The devil loves to try to convince us that we don’t belong to Christ. Don’t believe it. Once you have asked Christ in your life, you are His for eternity.

What kind of imprint are you leaving on this world? Who have you influenced for Christ? We should leave a Jesus-size mark on everyone we meet. They should know they have been impacted by Him, not us. Will you do that today? Tell someone how Jesus has imprinted you. Maybe they will be imprinted too.

You have marked me as You own. I am so thankful I can be counted as one of Yours.

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Battles, Bible, Courage, Defense, Enemies, Protection, Scripture

THEY ARE ALL GOING DOWN

HAGGAI 2:22

“‘And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, every one by the sword of another.’”

When I played football in high school, I was bad about trash talking the opponent. I would get in front of a guy and say things like “You are mine!” or “You’re going down.” I would say just about anything to try to intimidate them. Of course, then I would proceed to hit them as hard as I could on the next play. Trash talk is nothing new. Goliath did it to the Israelite army. Jonathan faced it the day he climbed the hill with his companion.

God is doing some trash talking here in verse 22. Now, I’m not being sacrilegious. The difference is no one doubted His ability to do just what He said He was going to do. He wasn’t bragging. He was stating a fact. He was going to destroy the enemies of Israel. Every soldier and chariot would go down. I bet the Israelites who heard this message from Haggai were jubilant!

APPLICATION

Wouldn’t it be nice if God still did that? Do you have a “hit list” of individuals you wish God would take down? Be honest. Well, that’s a matter for another blog. But He does still defend us and if necessary, take down our enemies. One of my favorite verses is Exodus 14:14 (which I have shared before). It says, “The Lord will fight for you while you remain silent.” Hmm, that’s the hard part – staying silent.

Another passage is Deuteronomy 20:4. “‘For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’” Do a search for God’s protection. You will be amazed at the number of verses you will find. What will that tell you? That God has your back. He will defend you. He may not step right when you want Him to, but He will in His perfect time.

Let me tell you something else I got out this verse. I don’t want to be one of those enemies in God’s cross hairs. I don’t want to be that person someone else is asking God to take down. To prevent that I have to stay connected to the Lord. I have to be centered in His will. So, if someone does try to ask the Lord to destroy me, He can respond back, “You’ve got the wrong person. I know that guy. He’s alright.” Would He say that about you?

Father, thanks for Your protection. I know You are always there to defend me.

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Abiding, Belief, Bible, Correction, Direction, God's Will, Kindness, Scripture

THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD

HAGGAI 2:21

“‘Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.”’”

I grew up in SW Georgia where pecans are a cash crop (by the way, it is pronounced pee-can, lol). I used to love to watch the workers harvest the nuts. Someone (I wish it had been me) invented this machine that has a huge mechanical arm that grabs the tree trunk and shakes it. When that happens, all those nuts come falling down. It literally rains pecans.

I thought about that when I read today’s verse. God said He was going to shake the heavens and the earth. He was saying He was going to literally shake things up. Things were about to change. But His people had nothing to fear. They would be gathered up, just like those pecans, for the harvest. He was going to do this to elevate His people.

APPLICATION

Is your life all shaken up? Perhaps the Lord is trying to prepare you for something great. But Carl, I don’t like this shaking. I want to live in peace. That’ll come. Trust Him. Submit to Him. Allow Him to work in your life and shake out all the stuff that needs to fall out. He may be shaking you to get you to move in the direction He has for you.

I know we all like to live without any troubles. But to experience real peace, we must submit to His mighty hand. Peter tells us this in 1 Peter 5:6-7. “6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” Did you see that last phrase? He cares about you. Never doubt that.

Looking back at my life, I can see times when God shook me to get me where He wanted. It was never a violent shaking. It was gentle and compassionate. But I have learned to trust His hand. I don’t see it as a hand that is poised to strike me. No, it is hand to embrace me, even in the shaking. I know He wants what is best for me. Do you?

Lord, in the shaking of my life, You have directed me to follow Your will. Thank You, Lord.

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Bible, Future, God's Will, Heaven, Promises, Scripture

A FINAL WORD

HAGGAI 2:20

“Then the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,”

You may have heard the joke about the little boy who went to church with his friend for the first time. He had never been to church before, so he didn’t understand a lot of the things that were going on. His friend explained when the song leader raised his hands they had to stand and sing. When they passed the round wooden plates with the felt bottom, they were supposed to put their offerings in it. When the preacher stood up and placed his watch on the pulpit, the little boy excitedly asked his friend what that meant. His friend replied, “Absolutely nothing.”

We know that every action of the Lord has meaning. That’s why we need to look intently at this last section of Haggai. This is the fourth and final word from the Lord. This one occurs on the same day as the last one we found back in verses ten through nineteen. This final word is a word of encouragement. God will reveal His plans to Zerubabbel. He wants him to know what is about to transpire.

APPLICATION

Don’t you wish God would do that for us? Oh, wait! He has done that. We have His Word that reveals to us exactly what is going to happen. Revelation 22:1-5 describes the scene in heaven. “1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

That is our future. That is what we have to look forward to. You need to read the Word to see what is coming. It’s all there. God isn’t trying to hide things from you. He isn’t playing peek-a-boo with you. He may not reveal every detail of your future, but He promises you that He will be with you. He promises you eternal life with His Son. He promises you that you will receive your heavenly rewards.

I am thankful I know what is coming. These earthly days don’t really matter. I know where I am headed. My future is sealed with a promise. It is my prayer that you are going with me. If you are not sure of your salvation, make it sure today. Confirm with the Father your place in heaven. He’s always welcoming new residents.

Praise You, O Lord, for the guarantees You give me. I know You hold me in the palm of Your hand.

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Asking, Bible, Blessing, Change, Courage, Direction, Following, Future, God's Will, Scripture

FROM NOW ON

HAGGAI 2:19

“‘Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.’”

“From now on” hints at a change. Something is about to happen that will change your circumstance or maybe even your life. When my children left home, they faced some “from now ons.” They no longer were protected under my roof. They were either married with a new family or in a new city with a career. Some “from now ons” are scary while others are exciting. Let’s look at the one described in verse 19 today.

What starts out as a continuation of the description of their suffering due to their disobedience ends with a “from now on.” Look at it. The last sentence says, “Yet from this day on I will bless you.” The literal translation is “From this day I will bless.” Things were changing. God was returning His blessing on His children. Don’t you know a shout went up when they heard that news? After years of suffering, God was going to rain down His blessings on them again.

APPLICATION

Have you been in a period of suffering? Take heart, friends. God has not forgotten you. His “from now ons” still happen today. He can change the trajectory of your life with one flick of His little finger. He has certainly done that in my life on a number of occasions. Moving to a new ministry or meeting that certain person can make a new “from now on” happen.

Are you praying for a “from now on” moment? Stop and pray for God’s perfect will in your life. I am reminded of the passage in James. James 4:13-15 says, “13 Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” 

“From now on” in the life of the believer can mean many different things. But one thing is for sure – from now on the Lord will be with us. From now on His mercies are new. From now on Jesus is interceding for us. From now on…

From now on, Lord, I will pray that Your will be done in my life so that I can learn to trust You more.

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Abiding, Bible, Commitment, Heart, Scripture

TAKE TO HEART

HAGGAI 2:18

“‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider:’”

In the past several years I have made a drastic change in the way I read and study God’s Word and spend time with Him. Every Man A Warrior (www.everymanawarrior.com) did that through its emphasis on memorizing and meditating on the Word of God. You could say I have truly taken to heart the meaning of doing a Quiet Time. It’s a passion for me now. The first thought on my mind each morning is getting with the Lord and listening for His voice.

What you can’t see in the English translation of verse 18 is the two different Hebrew words that are used for “consider.” Actually, in the Hebrew, it reads “Now consider, consider…” And the last word of the verse is again, consider. The second and last time “consider” is used, Haggai uses the word that really means “take to heart.” The verb comes from leb, the Hebrew word for heart.

APPLICATION

You are probably thinking Well, big deal, Carl. Now, listen. When you take something to heart that involves some serious contemplation. I am reminded of the commandment given to us in Deuteronomy 6:5-6. “5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” Twice the word “heart” is used there. It’s the same word used in Haggai 2:18.

So, let me ask you. What is your heart set on? What is your greatest desire? What drives your thoughts each and every day? Nothing has changed since these words were written by Haggai back around 520 B.C. That’s closing in on three thousand years ago. God’s commands and His words are timeless. We are still told to set our hearts on Him.

Let me encourage you today to examine your heart. See where it is set. If it is not set on Him, reset it. Make knowing Him your top priority. I promise you He will show Himself to you. Oh, how He loves you.

Oh, how He loves you and me. Oh, how He loves you and me. He gave His life. What more could He give? 

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Abiding, Bible, Choices, Devil, Enslavement, Following, Hope, Pride, Return, Scripture

FAILURE TO RETURN

HAGGAI 2:17

“‘I struck you and every work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the LORD.”

When I read today’s verse, my thoughts went back to a dog I used to have. That dog was bad about running away from home. If he got off his leash or out of his fence, he would take off and be gone for days. Most of the time I would have to track him down by neighbors’ reported sightings. You would think he would happy being fed, loved on and cared for, but he had other plans it seemed.

Even though God judged the nation of Israel in the past through the destruction of the crops with scorching winds, mildew and hail they did not return. Amos 4:9 uses almost the same words as Haggai. “‘I struck you with scorching wind and mildew; The caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the LORD.” About 200 years separated these two prophets which tells us they were very slow to return to the Lord.

APPLICATION

Our failure to return to our Lord may not span 200 years, but we are just as disobedient. He tries to draw us back, but we reject Him. We are comfortable in our sins. Just like my runaway dog, we like the “freedom” that we think we have on our own. We don’t see the dangers that lurk behind every corner. The devil loves runaway Christians. He will continue to lure you away.

So, what must we do to return? It’s pretty simple. Just stop running. Stop, turn around and fall into the arms of Jesus. Now, what does that remind you of? How about the story of the Prodigal Son that is told in Luke 15:11-32. It says the son came to his sense and returned. Even though he probably still smelled like pigs, his father embraced him and welcomed him home.

If you are like me, you probably stink with sin sometimes, especially if you have been wallowing in it. God has been calling you home, but you have ignored Him. Return to Him. Come home. He is waiting for your return.

Come home, come home. Ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, calling all sinners, come home.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Caregiver, Contentment, Gifts, Hunger, Provision, Scripture

ONLY HALF

HAGGAI 2:16

“from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty.”

I have been blessed through my years in that I can say I have never gone hungry. Oh, I thought I was starving a few times, but I was really just whiny about not eating when I wanted. There’s a difference in being hungry and truly starving. Not having enough to provide yourself or your family is a real issue in many parts of our world today. Be grateful if you are like me and are blessed with more than you need.

God was reminding the people of Israel to continue to think back to the days when they didn’t have enough. Grain was short on supply, as well as the fruit of the vine to make wine. Those were days of judgment when they suffered because of their disobedience. Now, they were living in relative ease, but they needed to remember where they had been and what God had done for them.

APPLICATION

Maybe that’s you. Do you need to remember where you were and where God has brought you? We seem to forget so quickly, don’t we. In the middle of thanking the Philippians for sending him a gift, Paul says this in Philippians 4:11-12. “11 Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

Paul reflected back to the lean years. He shared how God had taught him to be thankful in whatever situation he found himself. Boy, we could learn a lot from Paul, couldn’t we? But I love the next verse. Paul reveals the secret to this. It’s in verse 13. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” That is the key. It is Christ in me. It is Christ in you.

When I think back to my “lean” years, I can pinpoint specific events that caused my faith to leap forward. Times when all I could do is trust in His sovereign will helped me grow. Was it fun? Nope. Did I struggle through it? Yep. But looking back I can see the fingerprints of God all over. Will you join me in trying to look closer for God’s fingerprints today? They are there. We just have to look.

Father, I am eternally grateful for Your bountiful provisions. The world may see them as meager, but I know You are giving me exactly what I need.

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Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Consequences, History, Scripture

THINK BACK

HAGGAI 2:15

“But now, do consider from this day onward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,” 

Sometimes, before you can move forward, you have to look backwards. It has been said those who do not remember their history are bound to repeat it. I am sixty-two years old. There are more years behind than ahead of me. I realize that. I have a pool of knowledge about some things. I hope I am wise enough to learn from that and not repeat past failures (yes, I have had failures). Shouldn’t we all?

The Lord God tells the people in verses 15-19 to think back “before one stone was placed on another…” He is going to remind them how it was back then. Think back! Remember! Don’t repeat your past sins. Listen to Me. Follow Me. I will guide you. I am sure some of the people did just what the Lord said. But I am also sure others didn’t. That is just human nature, isn’t it?

APPLICATION

If the Lord told you to do this, to think back, would you do it? I hope so. Do that right now. Think back to the person you were before Christ. Think back to the hopelessness. Think back to the longing you had in your spirit. Think back to the aimlessness in your life.

But now, think back to your moment of salvation. Think back to the joy that filled your soul. I am reminded of David’s Psalm 51.12 says, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” It is natural to lose some of that “zeal.” God does not expect us to stay on the mountain top. But He does want to revisit those days. He wants to encourage us.

I am back in my hometown this week. This is allowing me to think back. I am seeing old friends and family who knew me before my salvation. It reminds of where He has brought me. I am so thankful. I wish I had gone through some of the things in my past, but thinking back I can see how the Lord has used them. I pray that is the same with you.

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died. My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride

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Bible, Forgiveness, God's Will, Scripture, Sin, Testimony, Unclean, Worship

WHAMMO

HAGGAI 2:14

“Then Haggai responded and said, “‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’”

I love to watch a really good hitter in professional baseball. It’s a battle between the pitcher and the hitter. The pitcher is trying to strike out the batter and the batter is trying to get a hit. Good batters know how to watch the pitcher and even manipulate the batter’s box to get the pitcher to throw a pitch they want. And when they do – whammo – out of the park.

Verse 14 is kind of like that. The Lord set up the priests for His response in this verse. He said, “So is this people. And so is this nation before me, and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.” He could not accept anything from them at this new temple until they cleansed themselves. He was telling them to look inward at their uncleanness because it was resonating across the nation.

APPLICATION

Jesus addressed this very thing in Matthew 5:23-24. “‘23 Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.’” Do you get the picture? God cannot honor your offerings if you are harboring sin against a brother.

I have been in church my whole life, and I have seen people sitting in church who couldn’t sit by certain people because of old grudges. Beloved, we can’t be that way. We must be forgiving and willing to ask others to forgive us. God tells us that He will humble the proud and exalt the humble. We cannot expect God to be honored and worshipped under such conditions.

I have had to go to people and ask for forgiveness. It’s not easy. It is very humbling. In most circumstances, that person has forgiven me. In others, they haven’t. But that is not on me. All I can do is be obedient to God. I can’t force them to do the same. If you have something against someone else right now, go to them or call them. Don’t text. That is so impersonal. Make it personal. And then pray together. It is really hard to stay mad with someone you are praying with.

Lord, I need to ask You to forgive me for any harm I caused in another believer’s walk with You. Give me the chance to make that right.

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