Tishrei 21, 5785; from sunset October 22, 2024, to sunset October 23, 2024
(The twenty-first day of the seventh month)
This is the name “Chaggai” (חַגַּי – Haggai). The word “chag” (pronounced like “khog”) means “feast”. Chaggai means “My Feast.”
Glory
Last month, Haggai received a word from the LORD for the people who had returned from Babylon, “It’s time to build Me a House.” (cf. Haggai 1) Today in the Bible, on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, once again the word of the LORD came to Haggai – an encouragement to begin working on rebuilding the Temple – saying…
“The glory of this latter Temple shall be greater than the former.”
In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying:
“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: `Who is left among you who saw this Temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; `and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, `and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of Hosts. `According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’
“For thus says the LORD of Hosts: `Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this Temple with glory,’ says the LORD of Hosts. `The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of Hosts. `The glory of this latter Temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of Hosts. `And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of Hosts.” – Haggai 2:1-9 (NKJ)
How fitting that the prophet Haggai, whose name means “My Feast,” should receive a word from the LORD on one of God’s feast days! The Feast of Tabernacles seems to be all about the glory of the LORD. And, just as Zechariah connected the Feast of Tabernacles as extending to all nations, so too, Haggai received this confirmation. God’s desire is for all of mankind to come to Him.
What does it mean that the glory of the latter Temple shall be greater than the former? Many understand this as referring to Jesus, the Son of God, who would walk in the very Temple they were about to build. God, manifest in the person of Jesus, once again dwelling with man, just as in the garden of Eden and just as in the days of Moses and Solomon. It was only yesterday that we read in the book of Revelation how God will once again dwell among His people. It’s the end goal. For that matter, it was the beginning goal!
Still others see the fulfillment of the LORD’s word to Haggai as Jesus’ sacrifice, which made it possible for us to become living Temples where the Father will come to dwell.
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” – John 14:23-24 (NKJ)
Just as the word of the LORD to Haggai was meant to encourage the builders of the Second Temple; so, too, may it encourage us to focus on becoming Living Temples, a place where God dwells. Jesus taught us that His Father dwells with those who keep His Word. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all did that? If we completely focused on loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves? It would be like Heaven on Earth. You could even say that we would be making it “on Earth as it is in Heaven.” If God is Love; then God dwelling in us is Love.
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