BibleWare/BibWare.bin/bibref/mhc.exe/HAG.TXT

Text File | 1996-06-12 | 8KB | 138 lines

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** After the return from captivity, Haggai was sent to encourage
the people to rebuild the temple, and to reprove their neglect.
To encourage their undertaking, the people are assured that the
glory of the second temple shall far exceed that of the first,
by the appearing therein of Christ, the Desire of all nations.

* Haggai reproves the Jews for neglecting the temple. (1-11) He
promises God's assistance to them. (12-15)

#1-11 Observe the sin of the Jews, after their return from
captivity in Babylon. Those employed for God may be driven from
their work by a storm, yet they must go back to it. They did not
say that they would not build a temple, but, Not yet. Thus men
do not say they will never repent and reform, and be religious,
but, Not yet. And so the great business we were sent into the
world to do, is not done. There is a proneness in us to think
wrongly of discouragements in our duty, as if they were a
discharge from our duty, when they are only for the trial of our
courage and faith. They neglected the building of God's house,
that they might have more time and money for worldly affairs.
That the punishment might answer to the sin, the poverty they
thought to prevent by not building the temple, God brought upon
them for not building it. Many good works have been intended,
but not done, because men supposed the proper time was not come.
Thus believers let slip opportunities of usefulness, and sinners
delay the concerns of their souls, till too late. If we labour
only for the meat that perishes, as the Jews here, we are in
danger of losing our labour; but we are sure it shall not be in
vain in the Lord, if we labour for the meat which lasts to
eternal life. If we would have the comfort and continuance of
temporal enjoyments, we must have God as our Friend. See also
#Lu 12:33|. When God crosses our temporal affairs, and we meet
with trouble and disappointment, we shall find the cause is,
that the work we have to do for God and our own souls is left
undone, and we seek our own things more than the things of
Christ. How many, who plead that they cannot afford to give to
pious or charitable designs, often lavish ten times as much in
needless expenses on their houses and themselves! But those are
strangers to their own interests, who are full of care to adorn
and enrich their own houses, while God's temple in their hearts
lies waste. It is the great concern of every one, to apply to
the necessary duty of self-examination and communion with our
own hearts concerning our spiritual state. Sin is what we must
answer for; duty is what we must do. But many are quick-sighted
to pry into other people's ways, who are careless of their own.
If any duty has been neglected, that is no reason why it should
still be so. Whatever God will take pleasure in when done, we
ought to take pleasure in doing. Let those who have put off
their return to God, return with all their heart, while there is
time.

#12-15 The people returned to God in the way of duty. In
attending to God's ministers, we must have respect to him that
sent them. The word of the Lord has success, when by his grace
he stirs up our spirits to comply with it. It is in the day of
Divine power we are made willing. When God has work to be done,
he will either find or make men fit to do it. Every one helped,
as his ability was; and this they did with a regard to the Lord
as their God. Those who have lost time, need to redeem time; and
the longer we have loitered in folly, the more haste we should
make. God met them in a way of mercy. Those who work for him,
have him with them; and if he be for us, who can be against us?
This should stir us up to be diligent.
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* Greater glory promised to the second temple than to the first.
(1-9) Their sins hindered the work. (10-19) The kingdom of
Christ foretold. (20-23)

#1-9 Those who are hearty in the Lord's service shall receive
encouragement to proceed. But they could not build such a temple
then, as Solomon built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we
do as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will
scarcely let us be pleased, unless we do as well as others,
whose abilities are far beyond ours. Encouragement is given the
Jews to go on in the work notwithstanding. They have God with
them, his Spirit and his special presence. Though he chastens
their transgressions, his faithfulness does not fail. The Spirit
still remained among them. And they shall have the Messiah among
them shortly; "He that should come." Convulsions and changes
would take place in the Jewish church and state, but first
should come great revolutions and commotions among the nations.
He shall come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all
nations, for in him shall all the earth be blessed with the best
of blessings; long expected and desired by all believers. The
house they were building should be filled with glory, very far
beyond Solomon's temple. This house shall be filled with glory
of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must serve and
honour God with it, for the property is his. If we have not
silver and gold, we must honour him with such as we have, and he
will accept us. Let them be comforted that the glory of this
latter house shall be greater than that of the former, in what
would be beyond all the glories of the first house, the presence
of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, personally,
and in human nature. Nothing but the presence of the Son of God,
in human form and nature, could fulfil this. Jesus is the
Christ, is He that should come, and we are to look for no other.
This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews, and condemn
their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their
prophets spake. If God be with us, peace is with us. But the
Jews under the latter temple had much trouble; but this promise
is fulfilled in that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by
his blood purchased for all believers. All changes shall make
way for Christ to be desired and valued by all nations. And the
Jews shall have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is,
whom they have hitherto rejected.

#10-19 Many spoiled this good work, by going about it with
unholy hearts and hands, and were likely to gain no advantage by
it. The sum of these two rules of the law is, that sin is more
easily learned from others than holiness. The impurity of their
hearts and lives shall make the work of their hands, and all
their offerings, unclean before God. The case is the same with
us. When employed in any good work, we should watch over
ourselves, lest we render it unclean by our corruptions. When we
begin to make conscience of duty to God, we may expect his
blessing; and whoso is wise will understand the loving-kindness
of the Lord. God will curse the blessings of the wicked, and
make bitter the prosperity of the careless; but he will sweeten
the cup of affliction to those who diligently serve him.

#20-23 The Lord will preserve Zerubbabel and the people of
Judah, amidst their enemies. Here is also foretold the
establishment and continuance of the kingdom of Christ; by union
with whom his people are sealed with the Holy Ghost, sealed with
his image, thus distinguished from all others. Here also is
foretold the changes, even to that time when the kingdom of
Christ shall overthrow and occupy the place of all the empires
which opposed his cause. The promise has special reference to
Christ, who descended from Zerubbabel in a direct line, and is
the sole Builder of the gospel temple. Our Lord Jesus is the
Signet on God's right hand, for all power is given to him, and
derived from him. By him, and in him, all the promises of God
are yea and amen. Whatever changes take place on earth, all will
promote the comfort, honour, and happiness of his servants.