Fully Devoted: Israel, Act 2Sample

Does God Remember Me?

The prophet Haggai tells the story of Israel’s return. That first wave of freed captives has a first priority—to reestablish the worship of their God. It’s this really unique moment in history where the people, as a whole (not just one good king, prophet, or judge) decided to be obedient to the Lord. They reject idolatry. They put away injustice. And they reconstruct the temple. And the beautiful thing is, as they do this, their priorities begin to align with God’s. 

We serve a God who never, ever gets tired of bringing us home. He delights in restoring us; in bringing beauty from ashes. Jesus’ parables in Luke 15 reflect God’s heart for more and more lost people to return home, just as they did in this period of Israel’s history. 

And one of the most significant things that happens in the earliest phase of Israel’s return is the reestablishment of the throne of David. In Jeremiah 22, God uses the prophet Jeremiah to call out the evil kings of Judah in an intense way.  Jehoiachin was one of these kings. God says of him specifically, “As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off.” Jeremiah 22:24 NIV

This language is really symbolic and really significant. We’ll come back to that in a moment. But first, we need to address the “elephant in the room.” Namely—has God forgotten His covenant with David? Because generations before this, God had promised to establish the throne of David forever. And these are David’s descendants being cursed right now! Removed from authority, deposed, and killed or taken captive by Babylon. Is David's bloodline just too far gone? 

Zerubbabel had led the first wave of captives home. His father is a bit of a mystery, but it’s clear that he’s the grandson of the king God had compared to a signet ring being removed—a symbol of power and authority taken away. When we investigate, we find that most genealogies list Zerubbabel as one of Shealtiel’s offspring, the firstborn son of King Jehoiachin. But 1 Chronicles brings us behind the scenes by listing Zerubbabel as one of Shealtiel’s brother’s kids. Why the seeming discrepancy? Because God is showing us that there is nothing He cannot redeem. He built redemption into the fabric of His people’s society.

See, when a man passed away, he would leave his wife and kids in an incredibly vulnerable state, because they couldn’t own property or provide for themselves in that day and age.  Without a husband or father, they’d end up on the streets. That’s not okay in the eyes of God. His protection for them came in the form of a “kinsman-redeemer.” This law states that the closest male relative can choose to take his relative’s family and property under his roof—they would be absorbed into a new nuclear family, the wife and children would be safe, and their bloodline could continue. This is most likely Zerubbabel’s story. It’s believed that Shealtiel died, and under this law, his brother Pedaiah took in his widow. Together, they had a son—Zerubbabel. So Zerubbabel was born out of a redemption story. He’s the result of God’s protection and provision for the most vulnerable members of society. 

And this is the man who led the exiles back home. He’s living out the redemption story that foreshadowed the Redeemer to come. Because through him, God shows us that He has not forgotten His covenant with David. The same words used to curse Jehoaichin were used to establish Zerubbabel. “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:23 NIV

Don’t miss the power of this moment. For 70 years, God’s remembrance of His covenant with David, the king through whom the King of Kings would come, was called into question in the hearts of His people. Will He remember? Will He bring us back? Will He rescue us? Is redemption coming? And with the same words used to bring justice upon an evil ruler, God establishes a good ruler. With the same words. And with these words, God continued to herald the Redeemer that was to come. 

Journaling Questions 

• What verse or verses stuck out to you today? Take some time to write those down. Why did they stand out? 
• What is a promise of God that is really important to you? How does God’s faithfulness to His covenant with David encourage you? 
• How does the theme of redemption tie the story of the Old Testament to the story of Jesus?

Memory Verse

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 NIV