9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” – Haggai 2:9 (NIV)
What does the word “glory” mean?
It’s most likely that the people rebuilding the Temple were thinking of the word being defined as all the material wealth that was on display in King Solomon’s original Temple. Their definition isn’t inaccurate, it’s just incomplete. They’re not quite on the same page with the Lord when it comes to vocabulary, and until they can see and understand what He’s saying from His perspective, they’ll continue to miss the bigger picture.
See, when God is speaking of the great glory that will fill this present house, He’s speaking of His very Presence. He’s speaking of giving them the gift of their God being right there with His people. The Lord is speaking this powerful promise so that they can rise above their discouragement and feelings of insignificance and recognize that He’s going to give the whole world something far greater than silver, gold, and fine fabrics. He’s going to give them all a gift they’ve been longing for in the depths of their souls. He’s going to bless the nations with the gift of Himself to be with them forever!
All the ornate decorating and wealth being accumulated were just tools to point to and bring about worship of the One who is Glory – God himself. And in all reality, without the presence of the Almighty God, all these things are pointless. God’s ultimate purposes weren’t going to be fulfilled because His people built another beautiful building. His goal was to be Immanuel – God with us.
We have a leg up on Haggai’s original audience in that we know this promise of God was fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah – Jesus. We know that God came to this earth in the flesh by giving us His one and only Son, and that His life, death, resurrection, and ascension ushered in a worship that continues to bring glory to His name. And as His Church continues to grow all over the globe, He continues to reside not just among His people but in His people through His Holy Spirit. And the glory of this grace far exceeds any glory that could be made by earthly hands.
And it’s this glory – the very Presence of the Lord our God in us – that brings to our lives the promised peace that only He can provide. Because of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary, we are blessed with shalom. This peace of God brings harmony, satisfaction, fruitfulness, and a true wholeness of life.
As the Lord continues to build you – the temple of His Holy Spirit – what are you considering glorious? Are you more focused on an ornate exterior that finds its glory in the polish and the performance? Or is your definition of glorious a holy interior, filled with the Presence of the Almighty God?
As you prepare your heart for worship this Sunday, which glory are you longing for? The beauty in the building, the music, or the fellowship? Or do all those things pale in comparison to and prove themselves meaningless without the very Presence of God in our midst?
As you continue in these 21 days of prayer and fasting, may the Lord birth in you a desire for His glory, may He grace you and fill you with His Presence, and may He bless you with His peace.