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
Holiness
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)
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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)
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View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »