Well, we're continuing with the book of Haggai or Haggai. I told you last week that I still am not 100% sure what is the proper pronunciation because I've heard both and I looked it up and I found both in the pronunciation guides. So Haggai or Haggai. We're going to go to Chapter 2 this morning. Haggai, Haggai, Chapter 2. Haggai chapter two, we'll read the first nine verses of this chapter. Haggai chapter two, verses one to nine, and I pray that today the Lord will encourage our hearts through his word. In the seventh month, on the 21st 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, the 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. Well, let us look to the Lord in prayer, and then we will look to this passage this morning. Father, we thank you for your word. We pray this morning that you, through your word, would encourage us, encourage us in the path of righteousness, encourage us in seeking first your kingdom. And Lord, encourage us as we remember your plans are perfect. and that You will, You will return to us, our Savior. You will rule and reign. We look forward to that day. Help us now to trust You. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. So we are prone to discouragement as people. Most people are prone to discouragement. Now different people, it may take a different level of opposition or difficulty, but we all have some level at which we begin to be discouraged. And sometimes we become discouraged when the effort that we are putting forth, especially spiritually discouraged, spiritual discouragement I'm talking about here, When the effort that we're putting forth in the task of obedience doesn't seem to be bringing the kind of results that we would hope. That we work and labor and it just doesn't seem to accomplish what we hope to accomplish. We think, for example, of someone who witnesses to someone for a long time and hopes that that person would come to trust Christ and that person doesn't. or someone who is a church planter attempting to plant a church and then he works and labors and it just doesn't seem to get established the way that he would like it. Or if it is established, it seems to be much smaller than he had hoped. Or you think of a preacher who stands and preaches week after week. and hopes to see maturity and growth in his people, and hopes to see growth in the ministry, and it just doesn't seem to happen. Or someone that just tries and seeks to grow in grace through personal devotions and commits themselves to it, but recognizes their failings recognizes that even in the midst of all they're trying to do, they're not growing in knowledge of the Lord as much as they would like, and not really making as much growth and grace as they might like. And we all have the possibility of becoming discouraged when the spiritual task that we are undertaking does not accomplish what we would hope it would accomplish. That's a danger for all of us. We struggle in the path of obedience. The Israelites in this chapter faced exactly this kind of struggle. A struggle in the path of obedience. And God in His grace reaches down to give His people encouragement in the midst of this task. And I think that in this passage we will find for ourselves encouragement also. How does God encourage His people in the work of the Kingdom? Well, let's look at the text together. Look with me at chapter 1, verse 15, just to give a time reference here. So, the people come together. And the Bible tells us that the time that they begin the work of rebuilding the temple is on the 24th day of the sixth month. All right, so notice 24th day of the sixth month. Now look at chapter two, verse one. In the seventh month, on the 21st of the month, So we have a time period here of a little bit less than a month has passed. So in effect, a month ago, these people were, yes, let's rise up and build. Yes, let's do the work of the Lord. Yes, let's have God's priorities. Let's seek his kingdom first. Let's rebuild his house. But it's a month into the work. And it seems as though discouragement has set in among the people. From what God says to his people, it appears as though this discouragement really came, if you would, from the older generation. The older generation found themselves discouraged in the task. You say, where did you get that from? Well, take a look with me at verse three. God is speaking to the people. He says, 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? So the older generation, some of them were old enough to have been alive and to have remembered the glory of Solomon's temple. And now they begin to work or perhaps even to oversee the work. And they see the devastation that has come on that temple when it was destroyed. And then they see that as the temple begins to be built, that there is no way that they can make a temple that is even close to as grand and glorious as Solomon's temple. Now you remember the descriptions of Solomon's temple and how great treasures from around the world came for the building of this temple. It was incredibly beautiful. Glorious. And even these people who probably didn't, as glorious as Solomon's temple was, this older generation probably themselves didn't even see it at its most glorious. Because over time, there were things that were done. For example, there would be a tribute that would be given from the vessels of the temple. There would be things that were taken from the temple. So the temple was grand and glorious in their day, but they didn't probably even see it in its greatest glory when it was first made. But they remember how glorious the temple was in their memory. And they see now that the task that they are embarking on is not going to accomplish anything this close. And it seems that their discouragement has filtered down to the rest of the people. We see this, I believe, because God sends His encouragement not just to the older generation, not just to the leadership, but to all the people. We see this, for example, in verse four. This is how God encourages His people. Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land. For I am with you." And so, at the moment of this despair, it's only a month into their building, but despair seems to have set in. Discouragement seems to have set in to the work. And God, at this moment of discouragement, in His goodness, steps in to encourage His people. Now what is there in this passage that God gives His people with which to encourage them? One thing God doesn't do is God doesn't pretend that everything is exactly awesome and everything is gonna be as perfect as Solomon's temple. He doesn't pretend that way. The Bible is such a real book. The Bible is such a book that doesn't shy away from reality. So God steps in and he says, okay, older generation, Compare this temple that you're now building with the former temple. There's no comparison. Sometimes when we are encouraging someone, we're tempted to come along and say, oh, everything's okay, everything's okay, there's no trouble, everything's okay. God doesn't do that. And I think that's a helpful thing for us. Because if God were to tell us everything's okay, everything is awesome when in that moment it's not, that would actually be God bearing false witness. That would be God not telling us the truth. What God does is he looks reality square in the face, and the Christian worldview does that as well. We have to be careful of a Christianity that's only pictures of fuzzy puppies with a little verse at the bottom of it. There's a lot more to the reality of this world than just fuzzy kittens and puppies and the sort of things you might see in the Christian bookstore on posters. There's storms and struggle and sin and deceit, as well as the beauty of this world. There's both things that really truly do exist. And the scripture and the Lord of scripture does not shy away from that reality. So God doesn't say, oh, oh, don't worry because what you're doing pretty much is just the same as Solomon's temple. He doesn't say that. What does he do though to encourage his people? What does he do? Well, he encourages them with his presence. Notice what he says in verse four. I am with you. God encourages His people by telling them, I am with you. He says as well, my spirit remains among you. Verse 5, I am with you, my spirit is with you. Now there's a lot of similarities, I think, between this passage of encouragement and God's words to Joshua, back in Joshua chapter one, after Moses has died. And you might remember in that time, where more than likely Joshua is a little bit intimidated, and maybe fearful, and maybe discouraged about this huge task that lies before him, Moses is dead, Joshua now has to lead the people, And God comes to him and repeatedly says, don't be afraid. I'm with you. And we have this same encouragement in this passage. I think that in a way, this is almost encouraging too. We think, oh, we're horrible people to feel weak and alone. Remember that one as great as Joshua felt weak and alone. But I also want to remind you that God is with us. Hebrews 13, verses five and six, we are reminded of this, in particular verse five. He has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Remember the end of Matthew's gospel, where Jesus says, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, or even unto the end of the age. God is with us. So brothers and sisters, as you walk this path of obedience, and it seems as though your obedience has little effect, and you may be tempted to discouragement, you may be tempted to despair, you may even be tempted to fear, I want to remind you that God is with you. But God not only reminds His people that He is with them, He reminds His people of His own power and greatness. Look with me again at verse 4. At the end of verse 4, the Lord says, I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. Look with me at verse 7. says the Lord of Hosts. Verse eight, says the Lord of Hosts. Verse nine, says the Lord of Hosts. Now this expression, the Lord of Hosts, would be an expression that shows God and His power. It was sometimes used in the Old Testament to visually kind of speak of God as the leader of the armies of heaven. God, great and powerful. God in his majesty, in his ability to control. This is the God that he says, I am with you. Now it would have been wonderful enough for them to hear that God was with them, just to say that. But God gives this powerful name and reminds them of his power. I am the Lord, that's the covenant name of God, of host. I am the powerful God. God is powerful. As if that were not enough, look as well at how God describes what He will do in the future. Look at verse 6. I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land. I will shake all nations. This is an expression of power. Who has the ability, obviously it's symbolic, it's not saying that God is gonna literally pick up, shake them physically, but it points to his power, doesn't it? Who has the power to affect all the nations? and work his will through them. Who has the power to work in the sea and affect his will through the sea? Who has the power to work in all the earth and affect his power through that? None but God. No mere man could stand up and say, I'm gonna shake the heavens and the earth. I'm gonna shake the sea and the dry land. I am gonna shake all nations. That would be ridiculously egotistical, I mean, I'm tempted to name a world leader here. I don't think even he would say something like that. Only God has this kind of power. I'm reminded as we think of this name of God and the description of God's work here, that God in his greatness encourages us by reminding us that he is present, he also encourages us by reminding us that he is powerful. See, if we had a God that was near to us and sympathized with us, but did not have power, ultimately, that might be nice, but it is not of ultimate comfort and encouragement. Because in a way, he might almost be in the same boat as we are. But we have a God who not only is with us, but is powerful. He is all-powerful. I think of Psalm 46, as I was preparing, I was thinking of Psalm 46, verses 1-3, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Right? So you have those things connected. He is refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble. And the psalmist then continues, therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Because God is present, but God is also powerful. This is massive encouragement to us. God has power. And so you find yourself in this, in the path of obedience discouraged by what seems to be happening or not happening in the path of obedience. Remember that God is all powerful. If God can speak the world into existence, if God can speak the planets into existence, do you not think that he can handle your situation? Do you not think that he can work through your situation? So this passage encourages us by reminding us that God is present and God is powerful. But God also, I believe, brings encouragement to his people The encouragement is this, another encouragement to his people, the encouragement is this, not only is God present and powerful, but God's way is perfect. Now, as you look at this passage, this is a very much debated prophecy in this passage. What does it refer to? Let me just say at the outset, I don't often say this, but I actually think that the New King James is not as accurate as the King James in this reading. Look with me at verse seven, for example, specifically verse seven. In verse seven in our New King James, it says, I will shake all nations and they shall come to the desire of all nations. And I read about this, and that is a possible interpretation of it, but there are many good reasons to understand this reading to be read this way. And this is the way that King James has it. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come. You notice the difference there. In the New King James, it says that everyone's gonna come to the desire of nations. In the King James, it says the desire of nations will come. So, just to get that out of the way, I think that the passage more accurately reads that the desire of nations will come. Now, is it true that, as we go on, is it true that the nations will come to the temple in the future? Yes. But the passage, I think, ought to read, the desire of nations shall come. Now, here's the next point of contention. And I wanna lay this out for you because I think it'd be helpful to think through this because it impacts how this encourages us. The next question is, does this expression, desire of nations, refer to Jesus? Or does it refer to treasures that will come from all nations? So if you look in context here, it says, I will shake all nations, reading the King James reading, the desire of nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory. And then it goes on to say, the silver is mine, the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. And so, What is this Desire of Nations? Well, many would say the Desire of Nations is wealth. Therefore, this Desire of Nations or the Treasures of Nations are going to flow into the Temple one day. Now, some would say what this means then is that this passage cannot refer to Jesus. If the Desire of Nations in this passage refers to the Treasures, and I'll concede that that may be the case, Some would say, well, this passage doesn't actually speak of Jesus at all. It only speaks of how God, one day, through his sovereignty, is going to work in his temple, and he is gonna cause the treasures of the earth to pour into the temple, and therefore, the temple will be marvelous one day in God's plan and purpose. I believe that the passage is teaching that there's a day when the treasures of the nations will flow into the temple. But I believe that this cannot be only about physical treasures in the nations. And here's why. First of all, it'd be very difficult to beat the glory of Solomon's Temple, just for sake of sheer opulence, sheer richness. It'd be very difficult to beat that temple. But even if they were able to, with the treasures of the nations, Solomon's temple had the glory of the Lord. God's promise here in verse 9 is that the glory of the latter temple will be greater than the former. And in context, he seems to be talking here about Solomon's temple. The glory of the temple that will be is going to be greater than the glory of Solomon's temple. So we can't simply be talking about treasures because physical treasures cannot make the future temple more glorious than the glory of the Lord. You get where I'm going with this. This is, I think, why the King James renders this. The desire of nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. Now, the question remains, though. If Solomon's temple had the glory of the Lord, and for sake of time, I'll just turn you to this passage, 2 Chronicles 5, 13 and 14 describes the coming of God's glory on Solomon's temple, and the dedication day, and the marvelous glory of God in that place. So, if Solomon's temple had great riches, and Solomon's temple had the presence of the glory of God, how is it possible that a future temple to these people, and I believe also to us, how is it possible that a future temple would have greater glory than Solomon's temple? And here, I think, is my answer to that. God's glory is God's glory, okay? If God's glory is in a place, you cannot have greater quality of glory later. But I think the reason why the glory will be of the later temple will be greater is because it speaks of a day when Jesus will come never to leave. Here's the difference between the glory of the temple that I believe that this is speaking of in the future and Solomon's temple. I believe that scripture teaches us that there's a day coming when Jesus is going to come to his temple and he will be with his people from that moment on forever. Now if I have my eschatology straight, I think this is talking about the time of the millennium and then into the future. Glory. that he will be with his people never to leave, ruling and reigning forever. Now the difference between Solomon's temple, Solomon's temple, the glory of God came, yes. But do you remember our study through Ezekiel? Remember when the glory of God left? The glory of the future temple will be greater than Solomon's temple because Jesus would come, will come, never to leave. Now, that's also the reason why I think that this temple that's being spoken of in this prophecy is yet to come. that it's not talking simply about the temple that these people would erect. It's not talking about the great glories of Herod's temple, even. It's talking about a glory, it's talking about a temple in which the glory of God will be never to leave. I think that we see this prophesied, for example, in Malachi chapter three, Verse one, behold, I will send my messenger. He shall prepare the way before me. The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom he delight in. Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. And then that prophecy continues and speaks of that when this messenger came, or when this one would come, the one that they seek, When that King would come to His temple, He would then bring justice and judgment. Now this is again different from Jesus' earthly ministry of the past. Jesus did not come and bring in that moment that perfect justice, that reigning and ruling. I believe that God created this earth And God created man to have dominion over this earth. And no man has ever perfectly ruled over this earth yet. But there is a day coming, I believe, when a man, Jesus Christ, who is both God and man, will come and he will rule and reign perfectly on this earth. And the amazing thing about Jesus' reign will be, again, if I have my eschatology straight, is that he's going to reign not in the absence of sin in future glory, where sin is banished to hell and Jesus reigns there. That will be a glorious reign indeed. But I believe that there is a reign that's coming in the millennium where there will still be sinful people and Jesus will rule and reign when there still is wickedness, when there still is unrighteousness. He will rule, the prophecy says, with a rod of iron. Now you don't need to rule with a rod of iron if all evil has been banished to hell. So I believe this speaks of a time to come when Jesus will rule and reign over this earth and bring that perfect government. Now, all that to say, Encouragement for us. God has these plans worked out in His way on His timetable. He is able to bring about His plans perfectly. Even if I don't have my interpretation of all this correct, the point stands. God's way is perfect. These people look at their labors, they look at what they've done and feel discouraged. What is the effect of this? Is it worth even serving in this way? And God steps in and says, yes, keep doing what's right. I'm still going to accomplish my plans and purposes. God's way is perfect. So no matter what we think about our lives and our struggles and whether we think that our lives in the path of obedience really make a difference, remember that God is at work in you to accomplish His will and way. You may not understand it one day, but one day you will rejoice in the perfect wisdom of the glorious plan of God. See, we may feel discouraged and struggling now. We may have doubts and confusion now, but none of us, one day in glory, is going to be second-guessing God. None of us is going to go and say, Lord, if only you had done things my way, it would have been so much better. See, God is with us, brothers and sisters. God is present, He's powerful, and His way is perfect.