Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, said the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace… The Jews were taught to entertain new and more spiritual ideas of what it was in which the true glory of God's house consisted, — that it was not in the grandeur of its elevation, nor the beauty of its decorations, nor the costliness of its furniture, though wrought in gold of Ophir, but in the presence of God there, and in the communication of peace to the contrite and humble spirit. I. WHAT IS THE PEACE HERE SPOKEN OF? It is a sense of reconciliation with God. When paradise was the abode of holiness, it was also the abode of peace; when once sin had entered, there was no peace to our first parents, so long as the taint of their disobedience remained unwashed away. The peace for which we are seeking is far removed from servile fear and bondage, and has in it the very spirit of a child. There is peace for us when we are enabled to look up to God as our heavenly Father, who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope through Christ, II. WHAT IS OUR WARRANT FOR EXPECTING THIS PEACE? WHENCE IS IT TO BE OBTAINED? AND HOW ARE WE TO KNOW THAT IT IS OURS? The Gospel is specially the dispensation of peace; Christ is our peace. He is "the repairer of the breach," the way, the truth, the life, the door which leadeth unto the Father. There are systems full of error which, nevertheless, hold out fair promises of peace, and pretend that they alone can secure its possession. The infidel boasts that he can give peace. Our peace depends on what Christ has done for us, and has promised to do in us, and not on what we can do in and for ourselves; and our possession of peace depends on the confidence with which we believe His word and rely upon His power. This is the teaching which gives peace to the troubled conscience, and we confidently assert that it is the teaching of our Church. (Bishop Shirley.) Parallel Verses KJV: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. |
    |