Nobody will ever name their boy Zerubbabel. There are still plenty of Davids and Samuels, Joshuas and Calebs left for the hallways at the hospital. Zerubbabel? Not a chance.
Here was a guy who is never quoted in the Bible. He never wrote a book that bears his name. Yet he occupied a position of great importance, hope, strategic necessity in Israel’s history – enough that he held the attention of two Old Testament prophets.
He led an emerging nation, but would doubtless never be hip enough to lead an emerging church.
If Zerubbabel lived in the last 200 years and somehow been elected president of the United States, I figure he’d be a Calvin Coolidge or Warren G. Harding – somebody we know was there, but never talk about.
If he were a tree, he’d be one of those types that was nameless – big and strong, and I guess some expert knows what type it is, but most of us would just look and say, “It’s just a tree.”
If he were a piece of chicken, he would be the thigh. Strong, muscular, flavorful. But at the bottom of everybody’s list of preferences.
Somehow in the wisdom and providence of God, this silent champion was chosen to head a dangerous and deliriously exciting project: rebuild the house of God. We know of no credentials he had to actually construct anything (no doubt he’d have issues with OSHA today). He and his companions were terrified because they had no might to defend themselves. They shut down the project at one point because they had no authority (power) from Persia to complete it. He was an ancient nobody, given an impossible task.
Zerubbabel couldn’t do it by himself, and God knew it. So God sent some help – starting with the 42,000-plus people who returned with him. But the most powerful support came from two prophets. God knew that laborers can help the physical effort, but the most significant support is that which is aimed for the heart.
The builders had stopped. Waited. And, apparently according to Haggai, settled in. They began to accept half-built temples as the norm. That’s when the prophets emerged and faith arose.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”‘” Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, ” Consider your ways! “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
Thus says the Lord of hosts, ” Consider your ways! “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord. “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the Lord of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. “Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. “I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands” (Haggai 1:2-11).
As a result of this, Zerubbabel, the silent champion, and Joshua, the high priest, took an enormous step of courage and faith. They started rebuilding before they got the official word from the palace.
Then Zechariah chimed in:
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”‘”
Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. “For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel — these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth” (Zechariah 4:6-10).
Zerubbabel had a choice. He could base his action on his perceptions of his own might or authority. Or he could recognize his challenges as opportunities for the Holy Spirit, and fulfill the purpose for which he was called. He could seek out a comfort zone in his paneled house and play it safe, or he could launch out into the miracle zone of courageous faith.
He launched. He fulfilled. He discovered life in the Spirit.
Zerubbabel and his generation were not alone. This man – this silent champion – stood halfway in his earthly lineage between David, the giant killer, and Jesus, the sin bearer. And though he may not be the most heralded or famous men in the Bible, his role was no less crucial to the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Neither is yours.
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Zerubabbel – one of the first people I am going to look up when I get to heaven. A great, unknown talent. To have the vision and then pull off the exodus from Babylon? Wow… I think if more were written about him, he would be seen more than a Coolidge or Harding. I see him more as a George Washington.
Why God chose not to say more about him is a mystery to me. Some of the great prophetic one-liners were spoken to him, ie, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit…”
Domitus Ulpian~ Justice is the constant and perpetual will to allot to every man his due.
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