Who was Zerubbabel? I know he was used by the LORD to rebuild the temple, but there is a verse in Hag. 2:23 that really puzzles me:
But when this happens, says the LORD Almighty, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will treat you like a signet ring on my finger, says the LORD, for I have specially chosen you. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!
Am I I looking for something that’s not there?
A signet ring was a special ring worn by wealthy or important people. It had the personal seal of its owner in place of a jewel. When the owner wanted to prove that a letter had come from him, he melted some wax on the letter to seal it and pressed his signet ring into the wax. The impression left by the signet ring was proof that the letter was authentic.
Zerubbabel was the leader of the Jewish people during the building of the 2nd Temple, after the Babylonian captivity. By calling Zerubabbel His signet ring God was saying that Zerubabbel would be His proof of authenticity, because through Zerubabbel, God’s promises would come true, proving that His word was authentic.