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Haggai 2:1-9

Haggai 2:1–9 CSB

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the remnant of the people: ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison? Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel—this is the Lord’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you—the declaration of the Lord of Armies. This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’ ” For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies. “The silver and gold belong to me”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Armies. “I will provide peace in this place”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

Message

1. The Expectations - 2:1-3

The Expectations do not determine the outcome.

More importantly, or more specifically, our expectations do not determine the outcome of a work of God.

Notice how God acknowledges the difference of this temple to the prior one.

The second temple, after its construction and at the height of its glory was nothing compared to the first temple built by Solomon

But what was happening here, is similar to what we tend to do as people as well.

We expect that if God is going to do something, the result must be big right? It must be grandiose

And if it is a work upon something or a rebuilding of something, then it has to be bigger and better than the first right?

But again, that assumes our expectations are in line with God.... it assumes that our minds are also that of the mind of God.

Do you yourselves think God’s thoughts?

Do you yourselves work in God’s ways?

The prophet Isaiah would argue otherwise

In Isaiah 55, He is calling the people to come and follow God, to taste of the water that eternally satisfies,

Isaiah says this:

Isaiah 55:7-9

Isaiah 55:7–9 CSB

Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Our thoughts, our expectations, apart from God..... are not in line with God.

The natural man (the natural person) apart from the supernatural work from God (that is salvation & the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) - considers not the things of God but rather selfish things only focused on that which opposes God

So also remember, here in Haggai we are in a time before the work of Jesus in securing redemption and salvation for His people and thus before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit into each believer.

SO here in Haggai (and therefore the rest of the Old Testament) we are seeing a time, unique to us....

A time when believers, who were saved by faith just as we are, did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. Now what that means and what that looks like is kind of hard to explain....

But through what we know about the Holy Spirit, we can imagine how without Him, it would be so very hard to “set your mind on things above” as Paul puts it in Colossians 3

But simply because we have failed expectations, that does not mean that God has failed. Our failed expectations is an us problem.

The Expectations do not determine the outcome.

2. The Outcome - 2:4-5

The Outcome does not excuse us from work.

We have touched on this before but we will continue to touch on this topic every single time it comes up.

We believe ultimately it is God who does and accomplishes the work.

Right? Like when I share the Gospel with someone, and they turn to follow Jesus.....that is a work of God!

If they are truly saved that is God who does that. I am the messenger of that Good News, it is God who takes the person who is spiritually dead, and raises them to spiritual life

Now, in understanding that it is God who accomplishes the work, it can be easy to try to excuse ourselves when doing what He has called us to...

It can be easy to get lazy, to get complacent, or to get unmotivated because “well God is doing all the work anyways why does it matter.”

So lets’ talk about a couple of the reasons why we see this in this passage:

1. Work with God teaches us strength and courage

“Even so, be strong Zerubbabel....be strong Joshua…Be strong, all you people...”

“This is the promise I made to you.....don’t be afraid”

What could be more empowering in doing the work of God than knowing if God wants the work accomplished, it’s going to be accomplished.

We can learn boldness and courage knowing God is going to accomplish EVERYTHING He wants to.

2. Work with God teaches us the importance of Presence

“…Work! For I am with you...”

“This is the promise I made to you when yo came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you..”

It is so opposite to think that because it is ultimately God that accomplishes the work that we shouldn’t dive in and get our hands dirty....its literally the opposite.

How much more daunting would it be if God said “hey listen, this whole getting people saved thing, or this whole restoring a community thing, yeah all of that....that’s all on you. Good luck.

Would you honestly rather that or God say

“hey I’m in the business of saving people and bringing dead things to life. Would you like to join me as I do it?”

3. Work with God teaches us community involvement

“…all you people of the land…Work! For I am with you...”

Work, specifically here, the work of rebuilding and restoration is not just something that the leaders do.

It is not just the pastors job to go tell people about Jesus, its not just the pastors job to get involved to see communities restored.

It is our job as followers of Christ. All of us.

God calls out to the people - All you people of the Land…Work! Dive in! Get off the bench and in the game!

So yes, we know the outcome is already in God’s hands. Yes we know the outcome has already been written but because of that, we lean in. We lean in and we get involved.

3. The End - 2:6-9

The End is determined by God & for His Glory

So in order for me to talk about this last point and explain these last few verses, I am quickly going to have to take us into the weeds of this passage quick so that when its explained and all is said and done, we will be able to actually apply this to our lives.

Because as long as I’m pastor here we are never going to avoid hard passages.....if they are in Scripture and we come across them we will deal with them as the come.

So first I need us to first look back at Haggai 2:3

Haggai 2:3 CSB

‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?

There is one key word to note here in the text, and its the word “this”

“Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory?”

The important point here to make is that according to God, there is not more than one temple.

Historically speaking we use the phrases “first temple” and “second temple”

To talk about the temple made by Solomon (first), and the temple built here by Zerubabbel (second)

So quick history lesson/recap.

David, King of Israel wanted to build the LORD a temple, the LORD tells Him it is not he that will do it but his son Solomon. Solomon builds that temple, and through the next generations, Israel and the Kings begin to stray away from God and worship other gods.

For this they are judged, leading to the destruction of the first temple, and the people taken into exile by Babylon.

The people return from Babylon which is where Ezra and Nehemiah pick up.

So the temple that we have just recently been looking at being “rebuilt” is historically referred to as the second temple.

But notice, God says there is only one temple. One temple that has taken different forms....but still the same temple.

Why? Because there is only 1 dwelling of God with His people.

And this might seem a little unnecessary but I promise it will make sense as we proceed.

So, so far we see one temple that has taken different forms…but still one temple.

NOW

As we look at Haggai 2:6-9 ; we can begin to work through this.

The essentials of this passage are this: (and therefore the issues)

In a little while,

God will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land

He will shake the nations

So that this house will be filled with glory

Glory referring to substance (the treasures being brought) and essence (glory of the dwelling of the LORD)

Final glory of this house is to be greater than the first

Peace in this place

So, one of the main issues,...

Is that historically, the “second temple” , which stood until 70 A.D. (therefore it is the same temple Jesus walked in)....

That “second temple” never surpassed the first (Solomon’s temple) in glory.

Now Herod, in the time of Jesus would take this “second temple” and enlarge the base and expanded it and add much more gold and silver and precious metals and stones, but it still wasn’t greater in that sense than the first.

So some Christian scholars have tried to answer this by saying Jesus stepping foot in the “second temple” ; being God in the flesh, filled the temple with more glory than the first therefore...

The issue with that being the only answer is the first essential in this passage - “in a little while”

God is speaking to the people, trying to build the temple, now if you were to hear God say “in a little while” are you thinking years or over 400 years.....

So it has to mean something to these people, and then there is the issue of shaking the earth and sea and dry land....and the wealth of the nations being brought to this temple....

So we actually get a New Testament author quote this very passage and elaborate on it...

So anytime, you get a New Testament author/apostle explain an Old Testament Passage....we always go with the Apostolic explanation...

Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 12:18–29 CSB

For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

So here we get an explanation to a lot of our passage, and what isn’t directly commented on, the idea can be taken back to explain the rest.

Our essentials and now explanations are this:

In a little while, ---

see point 3

God will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land ---

The author of Hebrews describes the shaking of earth as a thing that happened when God came down upon the mountain and gave the Law to Moses.

So the description of heaven, earth, land, and sea, doesn’t necessitate for instance a physical event like earthquakes (because the whole earth didn’t shake when the law was given)

He will shake the nations ---

because we also get a description of what is meant by shaking/yet once more “indicates the removal of what can be shaken - that is, created things - so that what is not shaken might remain ;

so when we see the shaking of the nations in a little while…we are seeing the nations (part of creation) being shaken (removed or disposed) beginning (in a little while) ;

because we know right now it’s the Persians & Medes but then they are conquered....AND we know from 2 weeks ago…what does King Darius do.....He sends the peoples gold and silver! and then they are later removed.

So that this house will be filled with glory ---

Now when we talk glory of “this house” remember this is only 1 temple....no matter how many years apart of its rebuilding it is still the same temple...

There is only 1 temple through all the ages

Glory referring to substance (the treasures being brought) and essence (glory of the dwelling of the LORD)

Final glory of this house is to be greater than the first

So the note of final glory, shows us that we is being discussed here is a process and we can see the end of this process by our last essential

Peace in this place

This is talking about literal peace. Not just spiritual peace found in Jesus

But the nations being disposed that there might be literal peace...

This is the end to which we speak of

One commentary puts it this way:

(Look at commentary)

Hebrews 12:28-29

Hebrews 12:28–29 CSB

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Now, lets get out of the weeds and talk about how any of that matters to you as you leave here and go to work tomorrow or school or wherever

we saw our main point for this 3rd point was

The End is determined by God & for His Glory

So what you can pull away from this is this:

There is only one kingdom that will stand in the end. And its God’s kingdom.

All of the nations of the earth will be shaken because they will not remain…they will be shaken and God will glorify Himself out of every little bit of that nation in the process....

SO - if your greatest concern is the prosperity of a particular nation you are missing main thrust of Scripture.

Especially in this political season, we can begin to reason and think our “kingdom” and “nation” is the end of all things.

Hebrews 12:28-29

Hebrews 12:28–29 CSB

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

That’s your take away, release this overbearing anxiety and fear of “well what’s going to happen after November”

Sure be involved in politics but can we stop acting like the 2 sides of the isle are how God is going to separate the “sheep from the goats”

or as if America is the equivalent of the Kingdom of God.....

The unshakable kingdom you have received, if you are a follower of Jesus is not America it is the Kingdom of God, of which Jesus reigns eternal!

If you are not a Christian and you’re here…that was what I call you to do....receive the kingdom that is unshakeable...

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“...By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe”