Haggai 2

About a month later, God addresses the discouragement of those who remembered Solomon’s temple and saw the new one as nothing by comparison. He urges Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people three times to “be strong,” for “I am with you,” and His Spirit remains among them. Then comes the great promise: God will “shake the heavens and the earth” and the nations, “and the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former... and in this place I will give peace.” In a third message, Haggai uses a priestly ruling on holiness and defilement to teach that their former uncleanness had spoiled their work, but “from this day on I will bless you.” Finally, in a fourth message to Zerubbabel, God promises to overthrow the kingdoms of the nations and to make Zerubbabel “like a signet ring, for I have chosen you” — a pledge that preserves the Davidic line toward the coming Messiah.