Building the Glorious House of the Lord
Exposition of Haggai 2:6-9
6 "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;
7 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.
8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts.
9 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 2:6-9 NKJV
I. THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT OF HAGGAI 2:1-9: GLORY IN HIS TEMPLE
A. Outline of the Book of Haggai
1. Prophetic perspective of present distress and crisis (1:1-6)
2. Prophetic exhortation to build the House of the Lord (1:7-11)
3. People responded to the stirring of God’s Spirit to build God’s House (1:12-15)
4. Prophecy to Zerubbabel about the former glory of the temple (2:1-5)
5. Prophecy about the shaking of the nations to bring people to the Desire of All Nations (2:6-9)
6. Prophecy of Haggai against the priests concerning unclean offerings and works (2:10-14)
7. Promised of blessings and deliverance for crisis due to obedience (2:15-19)
8. Prophecy to Zerubbabel about the signet ring amidst shaking of the nations (2:20-23)
B. Haggai 2:6-9 in the context of the book of Haggai
This short prophetic Scripture, which records prophecies and events around the second year of King Darius, focuses on
God’s zeal to build His House and to fill it with His glory. This prophetic Scripture also reveals God’s passion to draw the
nation to His Son, the Messiah, the Desire of All Nations. In this book, the God-initiated shaking in the land of Judah was
recorded in Chapters 1:1-11 and 2:15-19. The purpose of the shaking was to turn the hearts of the people from their
self-gratifying desire into the passion to build God’s House and towards the Desire of All Nations. Chapter 2:1-9 and
20-23 records the God-initiated shaking among the nations. These shakings were also designed to bring down the
strength and pride of the nations and the kings who had been blinded by their pride. Shaking looses kings, nations,
and people from the entanglement of false objects to be desired, and turns their desire toward the Desire of All Nations.
The majesty, beauty and glory of King of Kings Jesus Christ will fascinate the nations.
Haggai 2:6-9 gives a clear prophetic insight into the reality that God is the prime mover of the shaking of the heaven,
the earth, the sea, the dry land, and the nations, even though He may use various instruments such as climatic conditions
or international relations. While shaking seems to have a tearing down effect, it is often accompanied by a prophetic
exhortation to rebuild the plans and purposes of God. In this context, there is one singular focus: build the house of the
Lord (the temple) and God will fill it with His glory, and the nations will come to the Desire of All Nations. The measure
of glory in this post-shaking temple is going to surpass the pre-shaking temple.
II. EXPOSITION OF HAGGAI 2:6-9
A. Shaking of the nations unto the Desire of All Nations (vs. 6-7a)
1. I will shake
The word shake here carries the meaning to “quake” or to shake violently, to make leap. Thus this shaking, initiated by God,
is meant to be violent and move things out of their current places into His proper place.
2. Shaking of Heaven and earth
This phrase refers to the shaking of celestial and terrestrial objects. This may include living things that are in the
terrestrial and celestial spheres.
3. Shaking of sea and dry land
This phrase refers to the violent shaking of the bodies of water, such as inland waters, rivers, and even seas and dry
land. This may involve violent geographical and climatic conditions.
4. Shaking of Nations
This phrase focuses more on the aspects of the inhabitants rather than the geography. The nation involves its rulers
and its people, and its infrastructure and military might that support its identity. This shaking may involve more than
just a “natural disaster” type phenomenon. It covers dynamics of international relations and warfare between nations.
5. Desire of All Nations This Hebraic phrase can also be translated as “delight of every nation.” The emphasis of
the meaning here is on “delight, pleasure, and desire.”
B. Glory of the temple (7b-9)
1. I will fill this temple (house) with glory.
God is committed to bring forth and manifest the substance of the glory of His House, even in the midst of great shaking.
In this context, the House of the Lord becomes a place of refuge, fascination, comfort, and peace.
2. Silver is mine and gold is mine.
The book of Haggai speaks of the poverty, misery and material lack that the people have undergone in the previous and
current seasons due to their neglect of the mandate to build the House of God. Thus, it is natural to expect their inability
to afford the building costs for the House. God assured them not only of the future promise of blessed provision, but
that “precious metals” belong to Him, and He will provide it for the building of the temple, so that the House of the Lord
will have great “glory, abundance, and honor.” The glory, honor, and abundance of the House of the Lord will surpass
the temple of Solomon, which was built at the zenith of Israel’s prosperity.
3. The superior glory of the latter temple
The superiority of glory refers to superiority in beauty, abundance, and honor. The future House of God will have
superior glory, beauty, honor, and abundance relative to the temple that King Solomon had built in Jerusalem.
4. In this place I will give peace It is amazing to note how the House of the Lord is related to the governmental peace
(shalom) even in the context of great shaking.
III. PRESENT DAY APPLICATIONS
A. The global financial shaking that was sparked by the bursting of the U.S. housing market bubble. Bursting of one
bubble that brings a widespread domino effect on major financial fundamentals in the nations.
B. The shaking that is related to dwelling, livelihood, and security, putting many people in the state of re-evaluation
of the fundamental assumptions. Floods of people are coming to the prayer and worship movement.
C. The call to turn, be holy, and build the House of the Lord.
D. The presence of God’s Spirit to enable the building of the House of the Lord.
E. The assurance of God’s provision to build the House of the Lord with greater glory, honor, and abundance.
F. Boldness from the forerunner to proclaim the reasons for the shaking.
G. The shalom effect from the establishment of the House of the Lord in the midst of great shakings.
IV. CONCLUSION: THIS IS A MOMENT OF DIVINE INVITATION FOR NATIONS AND PEOPLE TO ALIGN OUR DESIRE
TOWARDS THE “DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS” AND TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE.
A. Exhortation to consider our ways: To turn desire and to present holy and clean offerings.
B. Exhortation to build God’s House by the stirring and strength of His Spirit.
C. Exhortation to embrace the God-initiated shaking that brings alignment in the nations and to our desires.