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ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE

I. QUAR., LESSON III., JAN. 15, HAGGAI 2:1-9

Golden Text—”Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.”—Psa. 127:1

Again we are led to view the rebuilding of the temple in its typical character. In our previous lesson we saw that the foundation was re-laid amidst great rejoicing, and that then, on account of the opposition of their enemies, the work was for a long while abandoned. Having been thus hindered in the great work, Israel gradually became indifferent and indisposed to encounter again the difficulties necessary to its further prosecution, and became more and more engrossed with their own affairs, leaving the house of the Lord still in ruins.

As a consequence of this growing indifference to the house of the Lord, God’s favor was measurably withdrawn from Israel and they were visited with drought and threatened with famine. Then came a message of reproof from the Lord to them, chiding them for neglecting the important work of rebuilding the temple and giving themselves up to their own pursuits. (Hag. 1:1-11.) When the Lord thus stirred them up to a sense of duty and privilege in the matter, the people and their leaders obeyed his voice and again began to build, and the Lord encouraged and helped them.—Hag. 1:12-15.

In all this what a vivid type we have of the great reformation work which began in the sixteenth century with the preaching of Luther and his contemporaries, briefly noted in the preceding lesson. We call to mind that the one great work accomplished at that time was the laying again of the foundation doctrine of “justification by faith” in the one “continual” sacrifice of Christ, in contradistinction to the papal dogma of “the mass,” which had set aside the “continual.” (Dan. 11:31.) Thus again Christ Jesus became the recognized foundation of his temple, which is the Church. This done, there was great rejoicing among those interested and engaged in the work. While the re-laying of the foundation progressed the builders were greatly opposed, so that they were obliged to keep themselves continually armed with the sword of the Spirit against their enemies. But, as in the type,

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when the foundation was laid they began to grow weary in well-doing and weary of contending against opposition, and so, with a few exceptions, abandoned the work, and spiritual drought and famine followed. Protestantism ceased to be a protest against the iniquitous system that gave it birth, and for a time made no further progress beyond the re-laying of the foundation of the temple of God.

But by and by the message of the Lord was impressed upon some faithful souls, who still longed to see the completion of the temple of God, to arise again and build, to clear away the rubbish of false doctrine and establish the faith of the Church in the truth—that they might be living representatives of the truth, not error, and thus be recognized of God as living stones in his temple. Since the re-awakening the work has been going forward (See MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. III., Chapter iv.); and the Word of the Lord to all the workers is the encouraging promise that, when it is completed, it shall be filled with glory.—Hag. 2:7.

And not only so, but it is also written that “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Hag. 2:9.) That this was not said with reference to the temple of Zerubbabel, which did not excel nor equal the former temple, is manifest, and therefore the expression must be regarded as a prophecy of the glory of the antitypical temple of God—the glorified Church.

Let those, therefore, who are zealously engaged in the work of the Lord—in building up the Church, the temple of God, in the most holy faith—hear the Word of the Lord by the Prophet Haggai (2:4-9).

VERSE 4. “Be strong, and work, for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.”

VERSE 5. “My spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.”

VERSES 6,7 remind us of the similar promise of Malachi 3:1. “Behold, the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple,” his Church; and it is his glory that shall fill it—the glory of his presence, his power, his righteousness and his authority; and the whole Church shall be imbued with the same, as his worthy joint-heirs in the kingdom. And when the Lord thus comes to his temple the whole earth will see his glory—will recognize his authority and power. And when he is thus recognized and the blessings of his kingdom begin to be experienced, he will indeed be, as the Prophet expressed it, “The Desire of all nations;” for it is also written that he is the “Prince of peace” and that he will speak peace unto the nations” (Hag. 2:9; Zech. 9:10), and that “In this place [by means of his temple] will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”

The shaking of all nations—the heavens [the present ecclesiastical powers] and the earth [the whole civil organization of human society], the sea [the lawless elements] and the dry land [the more settled and law-abiding of mankind]—reminds us also of the expression of Malachi (1:2), “Who may abide the day of his coming?” and of the predicted judgments of verse 5 against all evil-doers; as well as the explanation of the Apostle Paul (Heb. 12:26,27) that “This word, ‘Yet once more’ signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, … that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.”

Praise the Lord! the things that are to be removed are the unsatisfactory things of the present order, and that which is to remain is the Kingdom of righteousness and peace, under Christ the Prince of peace, whose glorious reign when fully inaugurated and manifested will indeed be “the desire of all nations.”

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— December 15, 1892 —