"As I live," declares the Lord , "even though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull you off; and I will give you over into the hand of those who are seeking your life, yes, into the hand of those whom you dread, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. – Jeremiah 22:24-25
‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.” – Haggai 2:23
The very thought of God wearing a signet ring intrigued me this morning as I read the above passages. A signet ring was a ring with a specific carving on it to represent a person’s authority. The signet would be pressed against a dollop of wax to seal a document and declare it to be sent under the authority of the person that owned the ring.
The word Signet comes from the Hebrew word Hotam (Strong's H2368) which means to seal. It is where we get our word ‘signature’. It is also related to the Latin word, signatura, which was the marking given by the owner to a sheep. The thought of God having to wear a ring to show His authority is bizarre! Yet, God expresses His authority though through the example of a signet ring.
The question then became, why would God give a signet ring to
anyone? The stories of Coniah and Zerubbabel gives us the answer. But we must go back a few generations on Coniah
to understand God’s statement regarding removing the ring from Coniah’s hand. We also need to look at the meaning of the names
of the ancestors of Coniah. They show us
God’s heart towards His people. And by looking at what they did in office, we
can also see God’s grace, and the reason for his imminent punishment and
destruction of Judah. Then we will
understand the reason the ring is given to Zerubbabel.
Jehoiakim means “raised by Yahweh”.
Jehoiakim was the King of Judah when Jeremiah prophesied the
words of God and the captivity of Judah.
Yet, he completely denied the warnings from Jeremiah, burned a manuscript
of his prophecies, and ordered him to be arrested. In fact, if it had not been
for some of his advisors, he would have had Jeremiah killed.
2 Chronicles 36 tells us that Jehoiakim was taken captive
into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II, who “bound him in bronze fetters”. It also tells us in verse 8 “Now the rest of
the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominations which he did, and what was found
against him, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel
and Judah. Then [e]Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.”
Jehoiachin means “established by Yahweh”.
Jehoiachin was the son
of Jehoiakim. When his father was taken
to Babylon, Jehoiachin was only 8 years old.
According to 2 Chronicles 36:9, he reigned three months and 10 days. King Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon as
well and made his uncle, Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah means “justice of Yahweh”.
Nebuchadnezzar II appointed him King. He reigned after the first capture of Babylon
beginning at 21 years old, the beginning of God’s justice being served.
2 Chronicles 36:12-13 tells us that “He did evil in the sight of the Lord his
God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who
spoke from the mouth of the Lord. And he
also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an
oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against
turning to the Lord God of Israel. “ 2 Kings 25:7 tells us that they killed his
sons before his own eyes, then put out his eyes, bound him in bronze fetters,
and took him to Babylon.
Coniah (also called Jeconiah) means “God will establish, God will fortify”.
Coniah, was the son of King Jehoiakim, which God spoke
against in Jeremiah 22. There He says of
Coniah in verses 26-27, “So I will cast
you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not
born; and there you shall die. But to the land to which they desire
to return, there they shall not return.”
During this period the 70 year captivity of Jerusalem and Judah continued in Babylon. But there’s a beautiful passage in Jeremiah 23:5-6 between the exile and return where God says:
“Behold, the days
are coming,” says the Lord,
“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be
called:
THE LORD
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Once the captives were freed, a new King took the throne.
Zerubbabel means “scattered to Babylon”. Which is what God had done through his justice for their idolatry and turning away from Him.
Zerubbabel was made King when the people returned to Judah. God called him “My servant” which is also what He called King David. God was looking to rebuild His relationship with His people, to rebuild the temple, and gather with them for His worship. Zerubbabel was King when the temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt. He was also an ancestor to Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12-16), THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
The lineage of Jesus is broken into three groups: 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David until the captivity of Babylon, and 14 generations from the captivity of Babylon till Jesus Christ. The number 14, according to Bible Numerology, is a symbol of salvation and rescue.
What God began as justice to a wicked people ended in
salvation for all of us.
But what does this all mean relating to the signet ring? A signet ring is also a symbol of family
heritage. When the prodigal son came
home, one of the things his father gave him was a ring. It was a sign of identity, just as the signet
ring.
Those that are saved by the righteousness of Jesus Christ are now God’s people. Romans 8:16 says “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” We are His children, carrying His lineage in our souls. Ephesians 1:13 says "you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." A seal, symbolic of the seal of a signet ring. He has placed His seal on our very soul!
Are you one of God’s children? Have you asked Jesus to rid you of your sins and become your righteousness? Please pray a simple prayer and ask Jesus for forgiveness, for we are all sinners. Believe on Him as the resurrected son of God. He will save you and give you His Holy Spirit to live in your soul. Friend, there are no gifts better than having the Holy Spirit with you! He will never leave you! Won’t you ask for salvation today?
“But as many as
received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who
believe in His name…” – John 1:12
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