DAILY TEXT, From today Wednesday-June-28-2023, I will shake all nations and the valuable things of all nations will enter (Haggai 2:7).

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Wednesday June 28

I will shake all nations, and the valuables of all nations will enter (Haggai 2:7).

"Within minutes, the old buildings and shops began to collapse." “People were terrified […]. Many said it lasted a couple of minutes, but it seemed like an eternity to me." This is how some of the survivors of an earthquake that shook Nepal in 2015 expressed themselves. However, at this very moment we are all experiencing another type of shock, one that affects all the nations of the world. The prophet Haggai wrote: “This is what Jehovah of armies says: 'Once more—in a little while—I will shake the heavens and the earth.'” (Haggai 2:6). Unlike a literal earthquake, which only brings destruction, the shaking Haggai speaks of produces good results. Jehovah himself said: “I will shake all the nations, and the valuable things of all the nations will come into this house and I will fill it with glory.” w21.09 14 pars.

AN ENCOURAGING MESSAGE IN THE DAYS OF AGEO

Why did Jehovah send Haggai the prophet?

Jehovah entrusted the prophet Haggai with an important mission. Let's see why. It is probable that Haggai was one of those who in the year 537 before our era returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. Shortly after their arrival, those faithful servants laid the foundation of the temple, the house of Jehovah (Ezra 3:8, 10). But unfortunately, they later faced opposition, became discouraged, and gave up the works (Ezra 4:4; Haggai 1:1, 2). So in the year 520 Haggai was commissioned by Jehovah to help them regain their enthusiasm and encourage them to complete the temple.—Ezra 6:14, 15.b

Why must Haggai's message have been very encouraging to God's people?

Haggai's message was intended to strengthen the faith of the Jews in Jehovah. Courageously, the prophet conveyed these words to those who were discouraged: “Be strong, all you people living on this earth,” Jehovah declares, “and work. For I am with you," declares the LORD of hosts" (Haggai 2:4). The expression “Jehovah of hosts” must have encouraged them greatly. If they wanted to succeed, the Jews had to trust in Jehovah, who has a huge army of angels.

What effects would the shaking predicted by Haggai have?

Jehovah commanded Haggai to tell the Jews that he was going to symbolically shake all the nations. This revelation assured those who had stopped building the temple that Jehovah was going to shake Persia, the world power that included many nations at that time. What effects would that shock have? On the one hand, the people of God would finish building the temple. On the other hand, even non-Jews would join them and worship Jehovah in the restored temple. Surely that message was very encouraging for God's people (Zech. 8:9).

What work are we helping to do today?

What does Haggai's prophecy mean for us today? Once again, Jehovah is shaking all the nations, and this time we help to do it. Consider this: In 1914, Jehovah made Jesus Christ King of his heavenly Kingdom (Ps. 2:6). For world leaders, the establishment of that Kingdom was bad news. It meant that “the appointed times of the nations” had been fulfilled, that is, the time had come to an end when there would be no ruler to represent Jehovah (Luke 21:24). In view of this, Jehovah's people have been telling people, especially since 1919, that the Kingdom is the only hope for mankind. This work of preaching “the good news of the Kingdom” has shaken the entire world (Matt. 24:14).

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