MESSAGES
The Glory of the Latter House (Haggai 2:9)
Right after the Babylonian exile, God determined that the prophet Haggai should prophesy and command Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest, and the remaining people of Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple of God, which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar about 66 years earlier.
Haggai 1:
8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.
9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
The governor, the high priest, and the people obeyed the voice of the Lord and began to rebuild the temple of God.
Haggai 1:14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
But many elderly people who knew Solomon's temple before its destruction by the Babylonians shed tears when they saw the foundations of the new temple, so small compared to the magnificence of Solomon's temple, and they compared it to nothing.
Then, the Lord commanded the prophet Haggai to prophesy:
• Be strong (three times).
• Work.
• I am with you.
• A guarantee that the glory would be greater.
Haggai 2:
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.
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.’
In other words, even though the second temple was much inferior to Solomon's temple, God made it clear that the most important thing wasn't the size of the temple, but rather, HIS PRESENCE IN THE TEMPLE.
TODAY, WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
God is our greatest treasure, and the more He is present in our lives, the more His glory will manifest in us.
Don't think that we can please God just by believing He exists, or by practicing rituals that lack a true feeling of worship and praise, because that will never please God.
James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
God will never accept an offering like Cain's offering.
Genesis 4:
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
The glory is not in:
• The size of the church.
• The structure.
• Empty rituals.
But rather in:
• The presence of God.
• A consecrated life.
• True worship.
Give your best to God, worship Him in spirit and in truth, be faithful, seek Him, and He will manifest Himself to you, and His Glory will always be greater in your life each day.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
