07/23/2026
The Restoration of Zerubbabel : God Finishes What He Starts
God had warned through Jeremiah, the Prophet, that a time of judgment was coming on the nation when they would be allowed to be overtaken by Babylon for a season. This conquest was allowed as a form of provision as the nation made up for unobserved Shmita’s. Which meant the lands would be unproductive, from a business since, for a few generations.
Yet while they were in Babylon, God would humble, teach, use, and mold them into who they were meant to be. Then send them back in to reclaim their territory. This happened in the time of the great revival of Ezra and Nehemiah!
However, things were still hard in Israel and the people became preoccupied with the hard work of building their own homes, vineyards, and lively hoods. So the work on the temple slowed and took a back seat for 2 decades. Then Zerubbabel (descendant of David) became governor of Judah under Persian occupation.
While he is governor, Persia faces a civil war causing it to begin to loose it’s grip on the region, and the global powers of the time begin collapsing. It is in this uncertain climate that God anoints this man to stand in the bloodline of David. The nation is in ruin and cannot fight its enemies, then Zerubbable sees God cause these mighty nations to all turn on each other and fall around them while they do nothing but rebuild the temple.
Generations before, God had spoken (through Jeremiah) of the King of Judah as a signet (a kings seal/ring of authority) on his hand that He would discarded. Now God speaks to that same Kings grandson (Zerubbabel), and restores him to his families position by calling him, “his signet.”
The things happening in the world may seem to be rooted in physical power and politics, but God was sovereign in all of it. Even when we are too small to physically effect the outcome of mighty nations, God is still bigger and more powerful that all of them. Pray, serve, and obey God and He will work it all out for the good. He is our protection, provision, and the securer of our positions, callings, and purposes!
He shakes the nations and overthrows thrones and kingdoms for the sake of His faithful remnant! God does not forget His promises. He keeps His covenants. When hard things come, you can trust that He will work it all out for the good! If he is correcting us, He is not rejecting us, He is perfecting us! He wants to bring us to the expected end that He has promised. Do not loose hope through the tough seasons. They have their reasons. The pruning brings the desired fruit!
God reinstated the bloodline of David to rule over Jerusalem, through this obscure lowly governor under Persian occupation, named Zerubbable. (who ends up being part of the bloodline of Jesus) Zerubbable then begins the work of rebuilding the temple again, and achieves a full and complete restoration. A people humbled, a land cleansed, an enemy defeated, and a promise completed. Full restoration. Nothing wasted. God does not allow hardship for no reason. Hold on to hope. He will finish what He started and it will be amazing!
“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; 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. 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.” - Haggai 2:21-23
