by J. Riddle (Cheshunt)
Again, Read Chapter 2.1-9
In the last paper we commenced a consideration of the second of Haggai's messages -
TO RESTORE THEIR CONFIDENCE, 2.1-9.
This we subdivided into the following sections and we dealt with the first two:
A) THE MONTH, v1. The message came at a significant time:
B) THE MEN, v2. The message is addressed individually and collectively:
C) THE MESSAGE, v3-9. It covers past memories, v3; present encouragement, v4-5; and prospective glory, v6-9.
As we have noticed, the message covers (i) past memories, v3; (ii) present encouragement, v4-5; and (iii) prospective glory, v6-9.
"Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?" It all looked very disappointing. The same people had wept when the foundation was laid. See Ezra 3.12, "But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy." (So it was a case of ‘tears and cheers!’). They remembered the ‘good old days!’ This was the third reason for despondency. First of all, it was the seventh month with the "feast of tabernacles," then they were only a "remnant", and now, an inferior building! The old days were so much better! Older people tend to look back, and make comparisons.
Some of us can remember when ‘the assemblies were much larger and much stronger … when there was more evangelism … when … when …’ Well, we must learn the lessons of the past, but it can be very counter-productive to dwell in the past!
Of course, they were looking at it from their point of view. "How do ye see it now?" In comparison with the original temple, it was "as nothing." But that wasn't how God saw it: "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord," 1.8. Let's say, again, that however small and unimpressive, work undertaken sacrificially for God, and out of devotion to Him, will bring Him immense joy and pleasure.
It is worth noticing the expression "this house." At first glance, the wording seems inaccurate: "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?" But it wasn't the same building!! There is yet another building in v7, and that is also called "this house!" See also v9. Quite obviously, God sees the succession of temples as ‘one house.’ (I Steeds, ‘The Minor Prophets: Their Relevance for Today). They represented different phases of one thing. As we shall see, the "first glory" of "this house" will be totally eclipsed by the ‘latter glory of this house,’ v9 JND.
"Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord, and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you saith the Lord of hosts. According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so My spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not." We must notice (a) Their responsibility, and (b) Their resources.
a) Their responsibility. Years before the enemy had "weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building," Ezra 4.4. Compare Ezra 6.22. But now they were to "be strong," and "work!" They were not to give up because they could not match the ‘good old days!’ They were to get on with the job in hand. They were to be resolute and determined. Joshua was to be "strong and of good courage" in connection with the task before him ("for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land"), in connection with the teaching of God's word ("that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law"), and in connection with the trials that awaited him ("be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed"). We can only "be strong" as we enjoy fellowship and communion with the Lord Jesus. See, for example, Eph.6.10; 2Tim.2.1; 2Cor.12.9. The injunction, "and work", reminds us that we are to be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord," 1Cor.15.58.
b) Their resources. Whenever God gives instructions to His people, He always provides the necessary resources. They could never have been "strong" and continued to "work" without divine help! Neither can we! Incidentally, it was building work. It was building ‘the house of God.’ We need divine help in assembly building. Notice the words "building", "buildeth", "build", and "built", in 1Cor.3.9-14.
Here are their resources:
His presence: "I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts." Compare 1.5-6 and 1.9-11. He had been against them. But now they enjoyed His presence. See also 1.13, I am with you, saith the Lord."
His power: "I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts." This divine title (Jehovah Sabaoth) emphasises God's infinite power and resources, together with His leadership. It has been pointed out that this title is used particularly when God's people were weak. It is first mentioned in 1Sam.1.11.
His promise: "According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remaineth among you." This refers to Ex.29.45-46. "And will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God." The words, "So My Spirit remaineth among you," refers to the prophetic office. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," 2Pet.1.21. See Neh.9.20, "Thou gavest also Thy good Spirit to instruct them." Read Isa.63.10-14, where the Holy Spirit is mentioned three times. With such resources, we can understand the final injunction: "Fear not." "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me," Heb.10.5-6.
God had assured His people of His presence and power as they laboured for Him. Now He gives them assurance for the future. The ‘senior citizens’ had looked back: now they are invited to look forward. What a future! "I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts … The glory of this latter house (the latter glory of this house) shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts." We must notice the three statements: (a) "I will shake," v6-7; (b) "I will fill," v7; "Will I give," v9.
a) "I will shake," v6-7: "For thus saith the Lord of hosts, Yet once, it is a little while (compare Heb.10.3-7 - it is only a "little while" when compared with eternity!), and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations." This passage is cited in Heb.12.26-27: "Whose voice then (referring to Mount Sinai) shook the earth: but now hath He promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."
Quite obviously, this refers to the coming ‘tribulation’ period, which will terminate with the return of the Lord Jesus. The convulsions described here recall Isa.24.19-23, "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it. And it shall fall, and not rise again … Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." See also Matt.24.29, Rev.6 (the "seal" judgments), Rev.8-9 (the "trumpet" judgments), Rev.16 (the "vial" judgments). This leads to the return of God's glory to the temple.
b) "I will fill," v6. "And the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts." Since the word "come" is plural, most commentators conclude that this refers to the ‘desirable things of all nations’ (RV) which will be brought to the temple at that time. That is, the silver and gold in v8. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) has ‘And they will come with the wealth of all nations.’ It has, however, been pointed out that when two nouns stand together, as here ("desire" and "nations"), the verb can agree in number with either noun. It is therefore quite legitimate to conclude that the plural verb ("come’) agrees with the plural noun ("nations’), and that "the desire of all nations refers to the Lord Jesus Himself. As M. C. Unger observes, ‘the appellative ("desire of all nations") does not imply that the nations consciously longed or yearned for Him, but rather that He was the only One to satisfy the deepest desires that all felt unconsciously for a Saviour-Deliverer.’ On the other hand, He will certainly be the "desire of all nations" in the millennium. See Zech.14.16. It is significant that when He first came, Israel said, "there is no beauty that we should desire him," Isa.53.2.
The words, "I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts," are amplified in Ezek.43.1-5, "Afterward He brought me to the gate, even to the gate that looketh toward the east: and, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and His voice was like the voice of many waters: and the earth shined with His glory … And the glory of the Lord came into the house, by the way of the gate whose prospect is towards the east … So the Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house." Compare Ezek.10-11. This leads to enduring peace.
c) "Will I give," v9. "The glory of this latter house (JND, ‘the latter glory of this house’) shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." The ‘senior citizens’ looked back to Solomon's temple. Quite obviously, even they never saw it in its original glory! But the future was going to be even better than the past! This was God's full answer to their despondency. For us, too, ‘the best is yet to be.’ "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him. But (don't forget to finish the quotation!) God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit," 1Cor.2.9-10. See also 1Pet.1.3-4, Rom.8-17, Rev.21.1-6, etc.
There wasn't too much peace around when Haggai preached. The rebuilding project had been interrupted by enemy activity of various sorts, and it wouldn't be long before Nehemiah was given the same treatment. But the centuries-long opposition to God's people will not be for ever. "In this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." The "Prince of peace" will be there! He "shall speak peace unto the heathen; and His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth."
The prospective glory described in these verses is guaranteed by "the Lord of hosts." The divine title occurs five times. God, with infinite resources, is able to fulfil all His promises, and like Abraham, we are "fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform," Rom.4.21.
—to be continued (D.V.)