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More Haggai commentaries
Haggai 1:1-15
The command to build God’s house
Haggai 2:1-9
Encouragement to complete the Temple
Haggai 2:10-23
Holiness will not rub off on others
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Holiness will not rub off on others
Haggai 2:10–23
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
You know when you buy toys for your kids or grand-kids often times on the package in fine print are these words: “Batteries not included.” Do you know what that means? It means that you get the toy, but the power to make it work is not included. That is not the kind of … More
In spite of the stirring promises of Haggai 2:1-9, the small nation was still living with the consequences of their sin. Harvests had been small, so the food remained scarce. But, God assures them all will be changed. His blessing will rest upon them, and future crops will be plentiful.
Thus far in his short book, Haggai has asked several rhetorical questions; but now the Lord directs him to the priests with a specific legal question (vv. 10-11). Whenever anyone had a question pertaining to the Mosaic law, a priest was the one to consult (Duet. 33:8-10). The question posed by Haggai concerns the transmission of holiness (v.12) and of uncleanness (v. 13). Is it possible for meat set apart for a sacrifice, to communicate its holiness to other food while wrapped in a garment (vv. 10-12)? The priests reply based on Leviticus 6:27 teaches that if anyone touches holy meat directly he will become holy, but nowhere does Scripture say that indirect contact will sanctify a man. The garment in which meat was wrapped became holy, but could not be passed to a third object.
The example given in this passage makes it clear that holiness will not rub off on others but contamination will. As the people began to obey God, He promised to encourage and prosper them. But they needed to understand that activities in the temple would not clean up their sin; only repentance and obedience could do that. If we insist on harboring wrong attitudes and sins or in maintaining a close relationship with sinful people, we will be defiled. Even good works done for God can be tainted by sinful attitudes (v. 14). The only remedy is confessing this sin to God (vv. 15-17). The people relaid the temple foundation, and immediately God blessed them (vv. 18-19). He did not wait for the project to be completed (vv. 20-23).
Application
God closed His message to Zerubbabel with this tremendous thought: “I have chosen you.” This truth should make me see my value in God’s eyes and motivate me to work for Him.
Haggai 2:10-23 (English Standard Version)
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?'" The priests answered and said, "No." Then Haggai said, "If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?" The priests answered and said, "It does become unclean." Then Haggai answered and said, "So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD, how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD. Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider: Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you." The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts."
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