His Presence in our Present

We can easily get stuck in the past. That was one of the problems with Israel's leaders who returned from exile to rebuild the nation, starting with the Temple. The destruction of the former things left them heartsick over what was lost, rather than focused on what God would restore to them. And into this atmosphere, the Lord speaks through Haggai. 

Haggai 2:1–3 (ESV) 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?

Sixty-six years had passed since the exile and destruction of Solomon's temple. Perhaps only a few people remembered the former things. But sometimes you just need a hint of the past to get stuck in the present. 

But the past is never as great as we make it to be. If we do a little more work, we can remember how often we didn't desire the things of the past and eagerly longed to get beyond them. That is what brought us into the present. I imagine that for the noble and faithful in the land who looked back on the former Temple, they would have been reminded of the profanity that was introduced to it through Israel's wicked kings. 

The good news for them and for us - God does not want us living in the past. He wants us to recognize His presence in our present.
Haggai 2:4–5 (ESV) 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.

The Lord refers to the Covenant from the days of their deliverance from Egypt. He will still give them this land of promise. He is still with them. He will protect and fulfill His promise to secure them where He has called them. 

Then the Lord announces what must have overwhelmed them. 
Haggai 2:6–8 (ESV) 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.

The Lord announces significant realities. The nations around Israel will be shaken off, no longer holding authority over them. And moreover, the Lord will fill the Temple with glory. And then the most important passage for Christians:
'Haggai 2:9 (ESV) 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 Temple will be filled with riches, abundance, and God's glory. How is this fulfilled? First, it was fulfilled preliminarily when Christ entered this Temple before His crucifixion. It was also somewhat fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit filled Jewish believers, and they spoke in the languages of the nations. Finally, it will be fulfilled when Christ returns, walks through the Eastern gate from the Mount of Olives, and establishes His kingdom on Earth. 

The point? Christians don't have a past to remember; they have a glorious future to anticipate. And along the way, the Lord is with us to accomplish this global purpose of bringing all things in subjection to Christ. 

Amen. 

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