“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘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 2:6-9
“There is a long tradition going back to the patristic period that interprets ‘the desire of all nations’ to refer to Messiah. While there is arguably a strong hope expressed in the prophets for a future Davidic king, the Hebrew syntax does not support this interpretation here. The verb ‘will come’ is plural but the singular verb would be expected if ‘the desire of all nations’ is an individual. Furthermore, the immediate context suggests it refers to the wealth of all the nations that will be collected when Yahweh shakes them. In this case it is what the nations desire (wealth) that ‘will come’ and ‘fill this house with glory’. Other prophets express the hope for the wealth and riches of the nations to be given to God’s people (cf. Isaiah 60:5, 11; 61:6; 66:12, 20; Zechariah 14:14).”
Anthony R. Petterson in Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi (AOTCS 25; Downers Grove; IVP, 2015) 70.
Read today’s Scripture again and notice the warning from the Lord Almighty. What will happen in a little while?
God desires that His people rebuild His house and He will shake the earth to fill it with wealth. Petterson explains that the Lord proclaims that ‘the desire of all nations’, that is, silver and gold, will come to it. God will make it happen.
While this related to God’s people in ancient times, think about the application for us today. Will we be among those people who give generously to God, or among those God shakes to make it happen?
It reminds me of the rich fool. He was blessed and kept it for himself so the Lord shook him. He could have joyfully distributed but instead he was relieved of his duties. Each of us will give an account for our stewardship.
Start giving generously to God now or be shaken later. Each steward must make that decision for himself/herself. What will you decide?