2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Hag 2:1–9.
Do you recall the excitement of anticipating something significant? Whether it was a Prom, Graduation, Birthday, or Wedding, these events filled you with a sense of anticipation. Our hearts naturally prepare for something ultimately wonderful, and this anticipation is a beautiful feeling. Many carry this same sentiment into the holiday season. Now, imagine if we had a previous event to which we constantly compared everything. If our thoughts were consumed by how that past event appeared or how others presented similar occasions, we would allow this comparison to steal the joy we are meant to experience. Magazines, television, and social media thrive on making us compare our lives and experiences to the most extravagant, glamorous scenarios that are often impossible to replicate. The prophet Haggai delivered a prophetic word to people in a situation very similar to theirs. The elders remembered the true grandeur of Solomon’s temple and its adornments, which was a sight that would have made even the most famous modern-day influencer envious. However, the people of Haggai’s time were not as wealthy, and neighboring countries were not offering their best goods. Consequently, the comparison to the old temple fostered a mindset that needed a reminder: God calls us to anticipate not worldly possessions but God’s Glory.
Haggai was sent a message meant to correct the reliance on comparison inherently that steals the beauty and sincerity of the present moment simply because it isn’t what came before. The message was delivered on the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which happened to be the very same festival during which Solomon had dedicated the original temple centuries prior. The parallels naturally led to the painful comparisons for the elders, who, while disappointed by the lack of grandeur, found that their frustration was amplified by their current reality. As they celebrated the harvest festival, they were in the midst of a prolonged period of both drought and scarcity, thus it wasn’t just about how the temple looked, but it was also a comparison against past splendor, leading them to the dangerous error of equating physical magnificence with God’s favor. Haggai’s message, therefore, was a call to abandon the need to return to a previous standard, teaching that when we are too troubled by looking backward, we cannot anticipate the glory God is preparing for us right now.
The call to anticipate God’s present work is the very foundation of hope, a hope that requires the faithful to let go of the past and trust in the Lord’s promises. To empower this shift, God commanded the leaders through Haggai to find strength and ask the people to be empowered by the mandate that was also given to Joshua when preparing to engage and enter the land the Lord had promised, which connects their task of the temple and overcome their current circumstance to a legacy of overcoming challenges. This encouragement was not based on human ability but on the divine assurance given to us through the following: the unwavering promise of His presence, the enduring validity of God’s covenant, and the internal power of the Holy Spirit. Haggai ultimately communicates, both to the original audience and us now, that true strength and hope are not found in wealth or even the comparisons to the past opulence. They are, however, a gift of faith, reminding all of us to keep our eyes fixed on God and allow His Spirit to fill our hearts with anticipation for the glorious future promised.
Looking forward with anticipation is essential because God promises something new, that shakes the heavens and earth which will remove the temporary and establish God’s kingdom, which is unshakeable. Although most of the world looks at precious metals as luxurious and beautiful, Haggai through prophesy redefines glory, because all silver and gold already belong to God, which redefines the new temple’s splendor, as it would not be material but profoundly spiritual. This prophecy was fulfilled as the Second Temple possessed a far superior glory. Within its courts held the personal presence of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who taught within its courts. This living, manifest glory, combined with the purity of its worship and the subsequent proclamation of the gospel, reveals a fulfillment that surpasses all worldly wealth. Ultimately, this new glory brings shalom, which is a complete spiritual peace secured by Jesus and is the very reason we can now approach the Lord’s Table with anticipation, remembering the life He gave to redeem us.
When we allow past experiences to cloud our judgment, we tend to compare present blessings from the Almighty to what once was, lamenting how things “used to be better.” This tendency to compare, much like those whom Haggai addressed, blinds us to the anticipation he calls us to embrace. Hope, fueled by faith, reveals the beauty that becomes possible when we trust in the Almighty God, and as we partake in the offering of Christ we are reminded that, regardless of our present circumstances, whether in abundance or scarcity, the provision of bread and wine signifies something far greater. It underscores that our reliance must come solely from Christ, not from our own contributions. We are called to an anticipation that surpasses the excitement of a child on Christmas morning or a couple on their wedding day. For the Almighty God promises a future of transformation, immeasurable blessings, the Gospel, joy, and peace. This is the peace we long for, when God restores all things, the hungry are fed, and wealth disparity disappears, which leads to harmony with God and one another. It is with this profound anticipation that we gather at the table and invite others to join us.
Horizon Community Church 