Get Back To Work - Haggai

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.’”

Haggai is a motivation speaker sent by God to get the returning exiles off their comfortable couches and into the work of restoring the Temple. They were released from exile to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.  There were three returns and Haggai was sent with the first to motivate them.   But upon their arrival to Jerusalem,  this is what happened:

Haggai 1:2-4 (ESV)

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Instead of repairing the Temple they sought out their own creature comforts.   Yet, when they did begin to build the Temple, the results were less than grand:

Haggai 2:3 (ESV)

‘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?

Not only did they stop the work, their efforts were first seen as mediocre at best.    Yet, that is when God began to encourage them through Haggai’s speech.  Haggai is giving a message of what will happen in this Temple in the future.   Yes, right now, it looks subpar.  Yet, according to God through Haggai’s speech, God was going to do a great work.  There was coming a time when this house of God will be greater than any time in its history.   It will be filled with God’s glory.   Haggai is speaking of two times in the future.  

1. The first time is when Christ came and filled the Temple with His presence.  It was a time when, as He died on the cross, that the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. God glory was seen in that time because that is when redemption came to mankind. 

2. Haggai is speaking of a time in the future that Jesus, Himself, spoke about:

Matthew 25:31 (ESV)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

Haggai wants to encourage the doing of the good works we were sent to do.  He talks to them about being motivated to finish what God gave us to start, as we are part of His glorious plan to return and show all mankind His glory, as He did on the cross and that resurrection morning.