Haggai 2:7, commentary and pictures

God promised Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant building His house to be strong and work without fear, for He was with them and would soon fill that house with glory and give it peace. In a little while He would shake the heavens and earth and sea and dry land and shake all nations, and that shaking belonged to the first coming of Christ. The Desire of all nations who would then come is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Messiah and Deliverer from sin long awaited by Israel. The latter house would therefore be honored above the former, not by outward splendor or visible sign as in the first temple, but because God manifest in the flesh would appear in it in person as Teacher and Savior, teaching and healing in its courts. When Israel rejected Him that glory departed and the temple was left desolate.

Setting and Shaking

The word came through Haggai to Zerubbabel, to Joshua, and to the residue of the people concerning the building of a house for God, setting forth in parables what God approves and what He condemns. They were urged to be strong and to work, because God was with them according to His covenant made when they came out of Egypt, and His Spirit remained among them, so they had no cause to fear. He declared His coming action among all nations to fill His house with glory, to give still greater glory to the latter house, and to give peace in that place. The promise came after seventy years from the destruction of the first temple, which could not be blessed because the people had corrupted their ways, until the second house should be built. Though the second house looked inferior, it was to be superior to the first.

In a little while God would shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land, and would shake all nations. Then the Desire of all nations would come, and God would fill His house with glory. This shaking of the nations belongs to the prophecy of the first advent of Christ, whom Israel awaited with longing.

Building the Lord's house is not to be left until last, but is to be given first place and carried forward without delay by being strong and working. Therefore the message must be carried now, beginning in the important cities where openings are found. The work in and about Nashville was to be placed on a solid basis and conducted in a simple way that would commend the truth.

Christ the Desire

The Desire of all nations is Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Deliverer from sin, the Desire of all ages. He was awaited with longing by Israel and by the Jews, and His coming stands as part of the prophetic witness to His advent. His personal coming to the second temple filled it with glory and hallowed it, fulfilling the promise that God would fill the house with glory. That greater glory was not a visible cloud or other supernatural sign, nor outward splendor, expense, appearance, or magnificence, but Christ's own divine presence, God manifest in the flesh, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelt, teaching and healing in its courts. In this way, and only in this way, the second temple exceeded and surpassed the first.

He alone fulfills the longings God plants in human hearts and meets the world's deepest need. In Him dwells all the fullness of God, and those who come to Him are made full. He gives divine grace like living water that purifies, refreshes, and strengthens, remaining an inexhaustible source of blessing that supplies strength and grace for every need and leads to everlasting life. Those who receive His love continue to long for more of Him, while the world's sources cannot satisfy the soul and worldly riches, honors, and pleasures lose their attraction. He is the fulfillment and culmination of the desires and hopes of all ages.

He is the world's only hope, and His coming reveals God's character. He came in poverty and humility so He could reach people in the depths of suffering. There He makes Himself known to burdened, disappointed, weary, and sin-sick souls as their Rest-giver and Restorer. His obedience to all God's commandments shows the law's value and elevated character.

At His presentation in the temple the child Jesus was the veiled glory of God's presence, though the priest did not recognize Him. When He lived on earth His words and His miracles impressed hearts by the Spirit of God with conviction that He was the promised divine Messiah for whom the Jews looked. Yet many hardened their hearts and refused to accept Him. The priests and rulers were largely responsible for turning the people away from the truth to the maxims of men, because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The glory of God is seen in His face. Those who love the truth are to let Christ appear through them so that He is seen in that character. They are to make every provision to lead people of all classes and denominations to become acquainted with Him as Saviour by imparting the knowledge of Him in speech and through healing work.

Temple's Greater Glory

The second house was to be honored above the first because it was to be specially connected with the Messiah. The promise that God would fill His house with glory was to be fulfilled when the Desire of all nations, Jesus of Nazareth, appeared in that very building in personal presence as Teacher and Savior. His coming hallowed it, for in Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead. God promised to be present there, and that presence, not magnificence, was to make it surpass the former house.

Its greater glory did not come from outward splendor, expense, appearance, or magnificence. It did not come by a visible cloud or other supernatural sign of divine presence as in the first house, which the second house lacked. It came from the divine presence itself, God manifest in the flesh. The Lord's presence, rather than the building, made it glorious, and its blessing lay in what God would bring to it through Christ.

That presence was shown as Christ taught and healed in its courts. In this way, and only in this way, the latter house exceeded and surpassed the former. The promised presence of the Desire of nations with it, not outward magnificence, gave it greater glory.

When Israel rejected Him, that glory departed from the house. When He left, its glory departed, and it was left desolate.