Summary
After many years of exile in Babylon, God brought a remnant home to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple, the dwelling-place of God (at that point in history) with his people. But opposition brought that rebuilding to a halt, and years passed. God sent Haggai to call God’s people to resume building his temple, reflecting their devotion to him. He promised them future blessing and glory despite their current situation.
While God’s people laboured again in the land, their labours went unblessed. The reason was their sinfulness, which had resulted in the exile and continued in agricultural curse; a type of the judgment in which their rejection of God would ultimately result. In Haggai 2:10-19, we see God address the sinfulness of his people. He reminds them of their sinfulness through an analogy, applies that analogy with an assessment of their status, and promises their faith will result in blessing.
Our passage explained
v10-13
Haggai’s third message to God’s people begins with an analogy (vv.10-13). About two months after his previous message from God, Haggai is instructed to ask the priests to provide an interpretation of the Law (vv.10-11). As many people could not read, the priests played an important role in teaching God’s Law and the Scriptures to the people.
Firstly, he asks the priests whether sacrificial food could spread its ritual holiness to normal, unconsecrated food. The holy meat was probably from a freewill offering, which was considered ritually holy (only holy things may be sacrificed) but had to be eaten within two days (see Leviticus 7:16-18). The answer to this is, no (v.12).
Secondly, he asks the priests what would happen if someone considered ritually unclean due to touching a dead body (because death is the result of sin) touched the same normal, unconsecrated food? In this case, the priests answered, the food becomes unclean (v.13, see Leviticus 22:1-9).
v14-19
The reason for the analogy given by asking about the ritual status of food was to make an assessment of God’s people (vv.14-17). “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” (v.14).
Like the unclean person, the sinfulness of God’s people made them unclean, and so unfit for God’s presence and blessing. It also spoiled their deeds, which God cannot accept because they are unclean.
The sinfulness of God’s people was then the cause of their continuing struggle. “Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD, how did you fare?” (vv.15-16). Rather poorly: due to blight and hail sent by God, their agricultural crops yielded far less than they would expect to have occurred, a half of the normal yield of grain, and forty percent of a normal yield of wine (vv.16-17). Despite these punishments and warnings, “you did not turn to me, declares the LORD” (v.17).
Yet despite this assessment of sinfulness, God still offers hope of blessing (vv.18-19). The people responded in faith to God’s command to rebuild his temple, and were told to “Consider from this day onward…since the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid” (v.18). They have sown their seeds and planted their vines, and in the past their yield was poor. Yet God promises “from this day on I will bless you” (v.19).
Our passage applied
The punishments of exile and agricultural blight were physical demonstrations of God’s anger at his people’s sin, pointing to the greater eternal punishment which awaits those who reject God. So too renewed agricultural blessing pointed to a restored relationship with God, as he blessed them not only physically but with the spiritual blessings of life and a cleansed conscience. Why? Because they trusted in God and responded positively to his command to rebuild the temple.
Bare ritual was not enough to earn God’s favour in that day. Rather, God sought lives which expressed trust and dependence on God. The people could not clean themselves, only God could take away sin. The same is true today. Bare attendance at a church service or Bible study does not earn God’s favour. God desires hearts and lives (and church attendance) motivated by faith in God and his promises.
God has shown us favour through Jesus Christ our Lord, saving us from our sins, and showering us with every blessing in the heavenly places. He removes the uncleanness from us which stops us from being able to fellowship with him, and announces us as holy. While we do not experience in the same way as the Jews of Haggai’s day the material blessings of the covenant relationship, we still experience the blessing of fellowship with God and the promise of eternal life.
God has dealt decisively with our sin through Jesus, and blesses us through him too. As we respond in faith to God’s call in our lives, we too can know “from this day on I will bless you” as we look forward to experiencing God’s blessings in their fullness.
Resources
Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.
