Matthew Henry Commentary Haggai 2:1-9

"In the seventh [month], in the one and twentieth [day] of the month, came the word of Jehovah 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 that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts, [according to] the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not. For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Haggai 2:1-9 (ASV)

Those who are wholehearted in the Lord's service will receive encouragement to proceed. But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomon built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in His service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely allow us to be pleased, unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours. Nevertheless, encouragement is given to the Jews to go on in the work.

They have God with them, His Spirit and His special presence. Though He chastens their transgressions, His faithfulness does not fail. The Spirit still remained among them. And they will have the Messiah among them shortly; He that should come. Convulsions and changes would take place in the Jewish church and state, but first would come great revolutions and commotions among the nations. He will come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all nations, for in Him all the earth will be blessed with the best of blessings, long expected and desired by all believers.

The house they were building would be filled with glory, very far beyond Solomon's temple. This house will be filled with glory of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honor God with it, for the property is His. If we have not silver and gold, we must honor Him with what we have, and He will accept us.

Let them be comforted that the glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former, consisting in what would be beyond all the glories of the first house: the personal presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, in human nature. Nothing but the presence of the Son of God, in human form and nature, could fulfill this. Jesus is the Christ; He is He that should come, and we are to look for no other.

This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews and condemn their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their prophets spoke. If God is with us, peace is with us. The Jews under the latter temple had much trouble, yet this promise is fulfilled in that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by His blood purchased for all believers. All changes will make way for Christ to be desired and valued by all nations.

And the Jews will have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is, whom they have until now rejected.