DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS

Desired of All Nations

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 the desired of all nations
will come, and I will fill this house with glory,
says the Lord Almighty.
Haggai 2:6-7


One of my favorite high impact songs from Everything Glorious is “Desired of All Nations”. I think it is good if we take a look at the basis for this song because I am really big on understanding what we are singing. For when we understand, we have a clearer message and more passion for what we are singing. If you look at the song and the context in which it is used in the musical, you may think that it is speaking of the first coming of Christ. This passage can be used for this purpose, but there is so much more. In fact, Dr. Anderson used Haggai 2:9 in his sermon two weeks ago when speaking of Israel in the last days.
The passage is speaking of the coming day of God’s judgment on all nations. In Hebrews 12:26-27, this passage is quoted referring to the judgment of the nations at the second coming of Christ. When the Lord refers to once more shaking the nations (v. 6), He is referring to the judgment on Egypt at the Red Sea. But there will be another shaking when Jesus comes again. “Desired of all nations”, can refer to individuals, but it also has a Messianic reference. The people were looking for a Messiah to come the first time and turn the world right side up. We are looking for the Messiah to come again to set things right. For when He comes, the earth will be filled with His glory. In verse 9, the Lord even says that “the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.” When that time comes there will be peace. Can we, in our finite minds, even grasp the concept of peace on Earth? I look back on just the 38 years that I have been alive, and I can’t remember a time when there has ever been peace. Praise be to God that there is a day coming when Jesus will reign on Earth again and peace will abound.
As we begin this Christmas season, let us keep our minds and hearts on the reason we are here - to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so, we are to tell others about our Peace Bringer. The world around us is seeking and longing for this peace that comes only from Christ. We often keep this truth of a coming Messiah to ourselves. We are too afraid of what people may think of us. We have a precious gift that is worth sharing. May we, this Christmas, proclaim loud and clear that Jesus is here and is coming again!

Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
Aaron Hodges