Holiness Will Not Rub Off on Others
January 14, 2021
Commentary
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 (NET)
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of Darius’ second year, the Lord’s message came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said, ‘Ask the priests about the law. 12 If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his garment and that fold touches bread, a boiled dish, wine, olive oil, or any other food, will that item become holy?’” The priests answered, “It will not.” 13 Then Haggai asked, “If a person who is ritually unclean because of touching a dead body comes in contact with one of these items, will it become unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”
14 Then Haggai responded, “‘The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,’ decrees the Lord. ‘And so is all their effort; everything they offer is also unclean. 15 Now therefore reflect carefully on the recent past, before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. 16 From that time when one came expecting a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures from it, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the products of your labor with blight, disease, and hail, and yet you brought nothing to me,’ says the Lord. 18 ‘Think carefully about the past: from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, to the day work on the temple of the Lord was resumed, think about it. 19 The seed is still in the storehouse, isn’t it? And the vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree have not produced. Nevertheless, from today on I will bless you.’”
20 Then the Lord spoke to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah: ‘I am ready to shake the sky and the earth. 22 I will overthrow royal thrones and shatter the might of earthly kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and those who ride them, and horses and their riders will fall as people kill one another. 23 On that day,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”