On the Second Day of Christmas: Desire of Nations

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: yet once, in a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, the dry land. All nations I will shake and the desire of all nations shall come. (Haggai 2:6-7)

The passage above quoted from Haggai predicts a time when God will “shake the nations and the desire of all nations shall come.” The shaking of the land is a metaphor that occurs repeatedly in scripture to refer to God’s radical reversal of injustices. God will radically alter society and replace it with something better. Th

The shaking of the nations is not a peaceful image. It is frightening, a metaphor of God’s terrifying power and His holy anger.

But the coming of the Desire of Nations is a promise of peace. So why is it coupled with this violent metaphor? I think that it requires the intervention of God to bring the nations to even recognize their deepest need.

Throughout this wonderful Christmas season, we often hear the words “Peace on earth,” which is a reminder to us of the message delivered by the heavenly hosts to the humble shepherds at the time of our Savior’s birth in Bethlehem (see Luke 2:13–14).

The great message of peace which the angels proclaimed that night so long ago is the message which we declare at this Christmas season. “Peace on earth” can come to each of us because of Jesus Christ and His love for each of us.

Peace comes to us as we follow our Savior by being kind to others, being obedient to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, praying each day, reading the scriptures, and trying to be more like Jesus Christ in thought, word, and deed.

And as the Savior calmed the “great storm” on the Sea of Galilee with the words “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:37–39), so He will calm our hearts and give us peace as we trust in Him and do what He has asked us to do.

At this Christmastime, we bear testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. We testify that through Him we may have the peace which was declared at His birth. May His peace be in your hearts and in your homes this Christmas.