One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Psalm 12:1, “Deliver, LORD! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.” When trouble comes (whether physical, personal, or spiritual), may this prayer be our first reaction: Save us!

This episode looks at Haggai 2:23, “On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.” The book of Haggai concludes on the note of our promise-keeping God sending his eternal king to rule over his blessed people. In light of this promise, knowing that it is Jesus who has come and fulfilled it, we look forward to the Second Coming with hope and joy while also asking God to turn us back to him and away from our own sins.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:22, “and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.” This prophecy highlights the kingship of our messianic ruler, Jesus. His kingship should invoke in us humility, confidence, and hope.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:21, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth.” God narrows in this promise to just Zerubbabel, raising the messianic significance. Zerubbabel may have been confused as he drew close to death about whether or not this promise would be fulfilled. Now that we have vision to see it fulfilled in Christ, we ask God for grace to trust his promises even when we don’t fully understand them.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:20, “The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month.” This message occurs the same day as the last one, and it should remind us that hope is close by—revealed to us in the Bible and confirmed to us by the Spirit.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:19, “Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.” We thank and praise God for his blessing to us in Christ—the fulfillment of the prophecy through Haggai.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:18, “Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider.” The people needed help to look at the future accurately, and we need that same help.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:17, “I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.” Even when disciplined, the Israelites would not repent and turn to God. May we not fall to the same fate when we face discipline from God.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:16, “How did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.” Yahweh was punishing the people for their rebellion, but they missed it. We need wisdom to discern whether hardship and suffering is rooted in opposition from the world against us or discipline from God upon us.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:15, “Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord.” Israel is confident in themselves because of their present work on the Temple, and God is going to humble them by calling them to look back on their past accurately.