14 APRIL
The King of Glory
‘For thus saith the LORD 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 desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.’ Haggai 2:6–7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 24:1–10
He shall fill this house with his glory. When he visited it he displayed his glory. The blind and the lame came thither to him and he healed them. Children felt this power and sang, Hosanna to the Son of David, and when the Pharisees rebuked them he said, If these held their peace, the stones would cry out [Luke 19:40]. As the Lord in his own house, he purged the temple and drove out those who profaned it. And when he left it the last time, with sovereign authority he denounced that awful sentence which was soon after executed both upon the temple and the nation. His glory filled the temple when he was an infant, so that Simeon and Anna then acknowledged his character and spoke of him to those who were waiting for the consolation of Israel. Especially, his glory was manifested when he proclaimed himself the fountain of life and invited every thirsty, weary sinner to come to him to drink and live [John 7:37–38].
The temple has long been destroyed. But he has still a house—a house not made with hands. This house is his church, his people. He dwells in each individually. He dwells among them collectively in their societies and solemn assemblies. But before he takes possession of a heart, there is usually a shaking. He shakes the heavens and the earth; their former views of God and themselves are changed. All that they have been building in religion is shaken to the ground—their vain hopes are shaken to the foundation. This makes way for the perception of his glory as a Saviour. In this day of his power, the heart is willing to throw open its gates that the King of Glory may come in [Psalm 24:7–10].
FOR MEDITATION: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God’ (Revelation 19:1, NIV).
SERMON SERIES: MESSIAH, NO. 3 [5/5], HAGGAI 2:6–7
