“Yet Once More”

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. are shaken...: Or, may be shaken - Hebrews 12:26-27

    "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

    Paul is here referring us to the prophecy of Haggai. He means for us to understand that there is only one more shaking after the time of Haggai. The shaking he speaks of is not a physical, material thing (though it certainly includes all things physical—2 Pet. 3), but a moral and spiritual shaking. It is a shaking that began with our Lord’s first advent, continues throughout this gospel age, and will be consummated in his glorious second coming. It is a work both of God’s wrath upon those who refuse to hear his Word, upon those who despise his Gospel, and of his great mercy, love, and grace upon his elect, whom he causes to hear his Word, whom he makes willing to receive, believe, and delight in his gospel.

    The Lord our God will shake and remove everything that is natural, transitory, temporal, and perishable, not merely the old Mosaic dispensation, but also every human thought and power that is opposed to Christ, his Gospel, his Church, his Kingdom, and his dominion. This shaking is the thrice repeated overturning of all things in his creation that are opposed to God our Savior and his people (Ezek. 21:27; Isa. 13:13; Joel 3:16; Matt. 24:29). But that which cannot be shaken, the church and kingdom of God, the faith of God’s elect, the blessed hope of the Gospel, shall remain.

    Haggai

    Haggai’s prophecy was written more than 500 years before Christ came into the world (about 520 BC). Yet, he tells us what we should expect our God and Savior to do in our day. Haggai was, from all accounts, born in Babylon during the time of the Babylonian Captivity. He came to Jerusalem as an old man. The Temple at Jerusalem, the House of God, laid in utter ruin, and the people were in utter despair. Though the Lord had brought them out of Babylon, they were reluctant to go to work rebuilding the Temple. Cyrus, their deliverer (a type of Christ) had told them to do it. But they didn’t believe God.

    They were content just to be out of Babylon. They had lost all hope of God visiting them again. Oh, they looked for him to visit the earth again and make his house glorious again, just not in their day. (Sound like anyone you know?) We see this in the opening words of Haggai’s prophecy (Haggai 1:2). So the Lord God sent his prophet Haggai to his people. Haggai’s name comes from a word that means “Merry,” or “Feasting.” It might even be translated “Time of Feasting,” or “The Feasts of the Lord.” God sent Haggai to his people to encourage them to believe him and build his house, assuring them that he would make it glorious.

    He rebukes them by telling them twice in chapter 1, “Consider your ways! Consider your ways!” Then, we read in verse 8 of Haggai 1, ― "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD." In other words, he says, “Put your shoulder to the work!”

    Zerubbabel

    Then (vv. 12-14) God raised up Zerubbabel (another type of Christ), who inspired “the remnant of the people to obey the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.” Before, while looking at themselves, they feared to believe God. Now, looking away from themselves to him, they feared not to believe him! And, we read in verse 14, “They came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” They put their shoulders to the work.

    Still, there were some old, old people in their midst, who had seen the Temple in its former glory. In their eyes, this new Temple was “nothing in comparison” (2:3). Lest they should give up, God sent Haggai to them again with words of gracious encouragement (Hag. 2:4-5). Against this backdrop, the Lord God gave the promise to his ancient people, which he has repeated to us in Hebrews 12:26-27.

    "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; (7) 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. (8) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. (9) 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." (Haggai 2:6-9)

    Let us not despise the days of small things. God’s hand is not short. His ear is not heavy. So long as the Lord our King is on his holy, sovereign throne, he will both sustain us in our work for him and make our work effectual and fruitful for the building of his true Temple, his true House, and the glory of it!

    So long as Christ is King and Shepherd upon his throne we will lack nothing in the service of his Kingdom. He will provide the means of building his house and filling His temple with the splendor and glory of his grace.