3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’” (Hag 2:3–9)
Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? (Num 14:4)
Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. (Eccl 7:10)
Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. 19 Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. (Is 43:18–19)
But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. (Heb. 8:6)
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (Prov 4:18)
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua … the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, (Hag 2:4)
‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? (Hag 2:3)
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace (shalom), declares the Lord of hosts. (Hag 2:9)