Haggai 2:9

Glory of the New Temple, and the Blessings of the New Era - Haggai 2 This chapter contains three words of God, which Haggai published to the people in the seventh and ninth months of the second year of Darius, to strengthen them in their zeal for the building of the temple, and to preserve them from discouragement. The first of these words (Hag 2:1-9) refers to the relation in which the new temple would stand to the former one, and was uttered not quite four weeks after the building of the temple had been resumed.

In this chapter we have three sermons preached by the prophet Haggai for the encouragement of those that are forward to build the temple. In the first he assures the builders that the glory of the house they were now building should, in spiritual respects, though not in outward, exceed that of Solomon's temple, in which he has an eye to the coming of Christ (Hag 2:1-9). In the second he assures them that though their sin, in delaying to build the temple, had retarded the prosperous progress of all their other affairs, yet now that they had set about it in good earnest he would bless them, and give them success (Hag 2:10-19). In the third he assures Zerubbabel that, as a reward of his pious zeal and activity herein, he should be a favourite of Heaven, and one of the ancestors of Messiah the Prince, whose kingdom should be set up on the ruins of all opposing powers (Hag 2:20-23).

2:9 future glory: Haggai might have in mind the Messiah’s coming to his Temple (see Mal 3:1). Jesus was presented in the Lord’s Temple as an infant (Luke 2:22), and he taught there as an adult (Luke 19:45-47). Jesus, the human Word of God, is greater than the Temple (Matt 12:6; see John 2:13-22). Although it was recognized by only a few, Jesus’ presence in the Temple far outshone the glory in the Tabernacle at the time of Moses and in Solomon’s Temple (cp. Luke 2:29-32). • in this place I will bring peace: The priestly benediction (Num 6:24-26) was pronounced as part of the Temple liturgy. In the last days, God would make a covenant of peace with Israel (Ezek 34:25; 37:26). The good result of rebuilding the Temple was a guarantee on that future peace.