How Do Ye See It Now?

2012-08-21

“Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” (Haggai 2:3)

The days of Haggai’s preaching were a bit different from some of the other preachers: people listened to him. The people had taken care of their own living conditions without paying mind to the building of the temple. But when the LORD chided Zerubbabel and Joshua for not completing the temple, the temple did get completed. However, it did not measure up to what it was before. We know that though many celebrated at the laying of the temple’s foundation, the old men wept because it just did not compare with the former days (Ezra 3:12-13).

The wickedness of their forefathers had cost the nation of Israel dearly. They had never seen the days of glory like in the days of David and other righteous kings. They were always under foreign powers since the Babylonian captivity.

But by the Lord’s grace, we know that there will be a temple to come in later times that will be far superior to even the first temple: “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” (2:9).

What can we learn from this? Sin may have permanent consequences (at least this side of heaven). But there will be a time where God will deliver us from the presence of sin forever, and those days of glory will surely outshine any hint of glory we have seen in this dreary, sinful old world.