Haggai 2
THE throne of God was not again established in Jerusalem after its departure (Ezekiel 11:22, 23), and though a son of David now supervised the remnant of the people that had returned, his position was that of a deputy of the king of Persia. The temple for which Cyrus had provided was indeed larger than that of Solomon (compare Ezra 6:3, 4 with 1 Kings 6, and 2 Chronicles 2 to 4), but in every other respect it was greatly inferior.
Another circumstance was the hostility of the people who now occupied the land, and the attitude of Darius toward the building of the temple was not yet known at Jerusalem. In so far as they judged by circumstances, then, there was much to depress and discourage those who feared God. (See Ezra 3:12, 13, though it relates to the beginning of the work, a dozen years earlier).
Now, God is always for His people; though He may allow them to pass through circumstances painful and humbling; this is for their true and abiding blessing. His hand at times falls in discipline upon fits children, too, for we have a faithful, as well as a loving Father and the past course of Israel had not without due and repeated warnings, brought upon them their present ruin and dishonor.
There is much to make the child of God today mourn, when, considering the state of things in the days of Haggai and Zechariah, and the former glory of Israel, he turns to view the present state of God’s heavenly people, the Church, and compare it with the bright years of the beginning of Christianity. The substance of the confession of the godly Daniel (Daniel 9:3-19) should be the language of every true-hearted saint of God today.
Verses 2, 3: His people were then to feel what had taken place, and to be humbled over it. But (verse 4) they were not to be discouraged; “Be strong, and work, for I am with you”, was the message of Jehovah to His feeble and few people, and observe, He speaks of Himself as “Jehovah of hosts”—His name of power. They had, as they are reminded (verse 5) His word and His Spirit, as in the beginning; “fear ye not!” Are these not enough for faith to go on in obedience?
And here God points onward to the day now at hand (see Hebrews 12:26, 27), when He will deal with the world in righteousness, and the “Desire” of all nations —the Lord Jesus as the true and rightful Ruler—shall come. Then His house—called “this house” in verses 7 and 9, because it is His earthly dwelling- place at Jerusalem that is in view—He will fill with glory. (In verse 9 read “The latter glory of this house”).
Another word follows (verses 10-19), the burden of which is the defilement that is everywhere. The New Testament counterpart of this passage, written for the guidance of the present-day children of God, is found in 2 Timothy 2:19-21. Mistaken is the notion of some to go into the world to cleanse and improve it; the inevitable result is to contract defilement from, instead of reforming it. In verses 15-19, God points to His own faithfulness to His word; have we not found Him always thus?
A last brief message closes the book (verses 20-23). It looks forward to the day of Christ’s glory as Son of David—of whom Zerubbabal was, as Israel’s ruler a type or foreshadow.
ML 07/18/1937