Haggai 2:6-9

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2009

Haggai 2:6-9 (New International Version) 6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 9 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."

Christmas is special in lots of ways as our church and family celebrations reflect. Although George Washington moved his troops across the Potomac River one Christmas night for an important victory during the Revolutionary War, at other times enemy armies stopped hostilities on Christmas and even observed the holiday together. It is a wonderful time!

The text we consider this Christmas Eve comes from the little known book of the prophet Haggai, a writing of only two chapters with 38 verses in all. That is fitting as God used ordinary people and places for His extraordinary deed. We consider

CHRIST HAS COME

I. An astounding event

II. With astounding blessings

There had been earth-shaking events before, a fact hinted at by the reference to their happening “once more”. Mt. Sinai shook at the giving of the commandments and establishment of God’s law covenant with Israel. The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and annihilation of the Egyptian army shook nations so that they were frightened as the Israelites advanced through the desert.

More earth-shaking happenings were on the way. World powers would be rising and falling. The Persians had already replaced the Babylonians as rulers of the world. Before long it would be Alexander the Great. His successors weakened each other. The Romans were in power at the time Jesus was born. So the pattern of one power replacing another has continued throughout the centuries.

While governments were passing there was a spiritual shaking as objects of trust failed. That was true regarding both gods other than the true God and military might. The world was also in an upset state and on the go by Caesar’s command for a census as the end of the B.C. era approached.

When the world was shaken the Lord announced through Haggai, “The desired of all nations will come.” We can easily see how the description fits the Savior. He met an immense need of all people. There is no salvation apart from Him. All others to whom people turn for rescue fail. You can search high and low and not find satisfaction for the needs of your soul. God also shook the natural ways and processes He set in motion at creation in the conception of Jesus by the virgin Mary. Charles Wesley reflected this text in a verse of the hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” when he wrote, “Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home.”

That verse has been omitted in our present hymnal, Christian Worship. Perhaps the reason is that a plural verb is used by Haggai in the verse about the desired of all nations. While possible, it is rare to pair that with a singular noun. The verse could be referring to believers coming to the Messiah instead of Him coming to us. The elect, those loved by God and chosen in eternity, come to trust in Jesus as Savior and bring their gifts and praises to Him. Either way, it definitely took God’s fulfillment of His Messianic promise to bring it about. Jesus came and carried out the work of rescuing our lost world from sin by His life and death as our substitute. It is astounding that He cared enough to send His own Son for us when we were hooked on sin, covered by it, unable to shake loose from it and committing more sins daily. It is also astounding that you and I would come to faith. We were by nature rejecters. The Holy Spirit entered your heart through the Gospel message, breaking its hardness and planting faith. You now know and trust in Jesus. That astounding event has occurred because Christ has come.

II.

His coming was also with astounding blessings. The prophet announced glory for God’s house. In fact, “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty.” The original temple built by Solomon was a lavish structure, but Nebuchadnezzar’s army had destroyed it. The defeated people of Judah went into captivity in Babylon. After the Medo-Persian Empire defeated the Babylonians, people received permission to return. Those who did so had laid the foundations for a new temple and built an altar of burnt offering. The old timers wept at the sight because they knew it would not be as magnificent as the original. Nearby Samaritans opposed the project and stirred up trouble, resulting in an order to cease construction. Although permission was reinstated, the project lagged. It lay unfinished for sixteen years. There were more factors than fear, such as self-interest and lack of trust that God would enable completion.

Haggai and Zechariah called God’s people to action to finish the temple. God promised it would have glory. He asserted that He owned all that existed. He would provide the means for them to do it. He had sent drought and famine on the land. The question was proper, “Were hard times the cause of the temple delay or was it the other way around? Did God send the hard times, in essence taking from the nation what they had failed to give Him?” He also showed His ability when King Darius returned the gold and silver articles that had been looted from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar.

There was greater glory for the temple than expensive decorations. The presence of God made it glorious. “The glory of the Lord” was a special sight of smoke that filled the Most Holy Place of the temple to indicate God has taken up residence. He has also promised to be present with believers wherever two or three are gathered in His name, that is, around His Word. The size and adornment of the location do not matter. God’s temple in the New Testament is built of living stones, people like you and me in whom His Spirit dwells. The glory grows greater yet when we become the Church Triumphant in heaven for all eternity. Nothing exceeds that glory. We will have astounding blessings in God’s presence.

“ ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” God’s peace is spiritual, the result of sins forgiven. Jesus paid the penalty entirely. We need have no fear of God’s judgment because the Word asserts, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” As that peace fills our hearts, it pours out into our relationships. A family is blessed that follows the Lord. No, they are not without stress or arguments, but we apologize to one another when we have done wrong. We accept apologies and forgive each other when we are the ones sinned against.

Eternal peace is the ultimate blessing. In heaven we will have no trouble from enemies to disturb our peaceful existence. There will be no accusations of Satan to haunt us. Nothing will be lacking to upset our peace of mind. We will have total security under the care of the Good Shepherd. What a gift! And it is yours. Know and enjoy it now from the Word. Experience it firsthand when the Savior calls you to that heavenly home.

May you live in joy and security knowing the astounding event of God’s sending of His Son has brought you astounding blessings!