743. HAG 2:7. THE GLORY CONNECTED WITH MESSIAH’S APPEARING
Hag_2:7. The Glory Connected with Messiah’s Appearing
"And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts."’97Hag_2:7.
The text is a clear prophecy of the Redeemer. To no other person can it be appropriately applied. As it refers to Jesus it also refers to the second temple, which was now in course of erection, and which was to be filled with glory, in connection with the advent of the Messiah. Observe then in the prophecy,
I. The distinguished title of the Saviour. "The Desire of all nations."
II. His predicted advent.
"The Desire of all nations shall come."
III. The striking events which should distinguish his appearance.
"I will shake all nations, and will fill this house with glory."
I. The distinguished title of the Saviour.
"The Desire of all nations." The Hebrew prophets, under the inspiring influence of the Spirit, selected every significant term, and employed every striking metaphor, to set forth the glories and excellences of the Redeemer. None are more expressive than that of the text. "The desire of the world’97the admiration of all men’97the praise of universal being." Something parallel is that prophecy of the psalmist, "All people shall be blessed in him." "The fairest among ten thousand," &c. Christ may be styled the "Desire," &c.
1. Because of his compassion and kindredness to all nations.
The unity of the human species is an interesting doctrine. "God has made of one blood all the families of the earth." All nations are compacted into one brotherhood. Now, Jesus is the kinsman of the whole. He is allied, by the assumption of our flesh, to every child of man. He was of the nation of the Jews’97of the seed of Abraham’97the offspring of David’97but he is the brother of every child of man. Every man on the face of the earth has in Christ a kinsman, and not only so, but a Saviour. The design of his assuming our nature was the lasting well-being of all nations. He is "the Desire of all nations."
2. As the good and pious of all ages have preeminently desired him.
Abel had especial respect to him in the sacrifice he presented. Noah looked beyond the ark for the body, to that ark for the salvation of his soul. Abraham rested all his soul upon him, and looked through the vista of succeeding ages, and saw his day and was glad. Jacob beheld him as the coming Shiloh, when the sceptre was departing from Judah, and the lawgiver, &c. Moses clearly announced him as the prophet, of whom he was the honored type.
David never sang so sweetly as when his inspired muse had respect to the King of Zion, he who was fairer than the children of men. Isaiah had respect to him when he prophesied of his sufferings and the glory which should follow. To him gave all the prophets witness. We find, too, that among the Gentile nations, when they had not the light of revealed truth, or the lively oracles, that for ages an expectation of some illustrious teacher and philanthropist existed. Socrates, the wisest and best of the heathen philosophers, expressed his desire and hope that God would send an instructor, to teach men how to express their prayers with acceptance. Suetonius and Tacitus both affirmed that the book of the fates declared that out of Judea an illustrious personage should come, who should have universal empire. It is evident, too, that at Christ’s advent the great and the wise were intently looking for the appearing of some distinguished and dignified person. So that both among waiting, believing Jews, and the heathen Gentiles, the expectation of a coming deliverer existed. He is "the Desire of all nations."
3. As he alone possesses those blessings which all nations require.
Human nature everywhere without Christ is dark, guilty, polluted, and miserable; and for these diseases there is no remedy but that which Christ possesses. He is the light of the world. He is the mediator between God and the guilty. He is the regenerator of polluted nature. "The fountain opened," &c. He is the author of freedom, and happiness, and rest. In him is a balsam for our every wound; "all, all we want is there." "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden," &c. "If any man thirst," &c. He is "the Desire of all nations."
4. Because all nations shall ultimately delight and be made happy in him.
He shall have dominion, &c. His reign is to be that of righteousness, peace, and joy, and it is to be universal. The whole earth is to be filled with his glory. The song of universal joy is to be "Hallelujah, for the kingdoms of this world," &c.
II. His predicted advent.
"The Desire, &c., shall come." This was long predicted,’97long promised, even for 4000 years. Long expected and desired. Long hoped for and prayed for. At length the predictions were realized, and the promise fulfilled. He came,
1. At the time specified.
Daniel’s weeks ending’97the sceptre departing At the fulness of the times.
2. In the manner predicted.
Of a virgin. In Bethlehem. In a lowly form. In circumstances of humiliation, yet with attendant displays of power and glory.
3. For the work beforehand testified. To teach mankind. To exhibit a perfect model of holiness. To suffer for sin, and to offer the blessings of salvation.
III. The striking events which were to distinguish his appearance.
1. Shake all nations.
See also Hag_2:6. The passage evidently refers to a general convulsion of the chief empires and nations of the earth. Between the uttering of this prophecy and the coming of Jesus, the Assyrian empire was transferred to the Persians. The Persian empire was conquered by the Grecian, which extended its power everywhere under Alexander the Great. But after his death it was broken to pieces, and the Roman empire spread over all the then known world. But when Christ appeared there was universal peace, so that his gospel could be preached in every nation.
2. To fill the temple with his glory.
In several things that temple was inferior to the first. In size and external magnificence. In the loss of its vessels of gold and silver. It had not the ark, the tables of the law, the pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod. Neither the Schechinah, the Urim and Thummim, the breastplate, nor yet the sacred fires which came from heaven, and had burnt for ages on its altar’97but its superiority arose from Christ’s connection with it. Here he was presented, when good old Simeon took him in his arms, and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." In this temple the youthful Jesus reasoned with the teachers and doctors, asking them questions and giving answers. Here he often met the worshipping crowds of Israel, and taught them the way of salvation. Here he manifested his zeal for his Father’s glory, when he expelled the buyers and sellers. "Get ye hence," &c. In the temple appeared not the symbol, not the type, but the substance, and the great antitype. He was the real ark, the true manna. Not the cloud of the divine glory, but the glory itself.
Application
1. Mark the preeminent glory and excellency of Christ. In all his offices, and titles, and works, he is the Desire of all nations. He is the sun of heaven, the glory and light of the world. How do you stand connected with Christ? Is he your riches, your beauty, your all in all?
2. We urge the sinner to reflect on the desirableness of an interest in Jesus. No substitute for him. You cannot do without him and be happy and safe.
3. The inquirer may now see his face, and live. He dwells in his church. He is in the midst of his worshipping people. Hear his gospel, and now believe in him to the salvation of your own souls.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS