Promised Blessing and Chosen Seal

Haggai 2:15-23 

15 'And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD— 16 since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,' says the LORD. 18 'Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid—consider it: 

19 Is the seed still in the barn?
As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate,
and the olive tree have not yielded fruit.
But from this day I will bless you.'"

Zerubbabel Chosen as a Signet

20 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

I will shake heaven and earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;
I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.
I will overthrow the chariots
And those who ride in them;
The horses and their riders shall come down,
Every one by the sword of his brother.

23 'In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says the LORD, and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,' says the LORD of hosts."

This end of Haggai’s message ending with a promised blessing and a chosen seal.  Before the temple house of God was razed, the people’s rebellion had brought lack instead of abundance and they were told to think hard about those things and why they had brought down on their own heads in disobedience and rejection of the LORD.  They were to also then consider since the temple was rebuilt after its foundation was laid that there would be fruitfulness once more.  He promised to bless them by asking them first if the seed was still unplanted or if their vines and trees had yet borne fruit.  They had to look with trusting eyes of faith instead of with guilt and defeat.  What He promised to complete in them He was willing and able to do as we are reminded personally in Philippians 1:6 as well.  Therefore, Zerubbabel was chosen as a signet ring of belonging to the LORD.  When the heavens and earth were shaken in judgment and all nations brought down, the Chosen One would seal His people as His own (Ephesians 1:13) by the indwelling Holy Spirit given as the Savior rose from death to life and returned to the Father.  He has used His Spirit as a signet ring to mark us forever as His own!  He Himself is our promised blessing and seal of choosing.  Praise Him!  Yes, even though we all have sinned and come short of God and His standards, like Israel we too can see blessings of provision for our soul in the chosen One who sits at the Father's right hand. The Messiah, Christ Jesus, holds all power and authority of God, and He offers deliverance from our disobedience and restoration of our souls before almighty God.  From the day we are reconciled through Him to God we bear true and lasting fruit.