CRITICAL NOTES.]
Haggai 2:10.] This prophecy two months later than those preceding in this chapter.
Haggai 2:11-13.] To convince them of their unworthiness, they must learn from their legal advisers two things—no holy objects could communicate holiness to things or persons who touched them (Leviticus 6:20); but whatever an unclean person touched was unclean (Numbers 19:22).
Haggai 2:14. So] “The nation in its attitude toward the Lord resembles, on the one hand, a man who carries holy flesh in the lappet of his garment; and, on the other, a man who has become unclean through touching a corpse” [Keil]. Unclean] By their habits of sin, all their worship, character, and lives were impure.
HOMILETICS
DUTY NEGLECTED CONTAMINATES CHARACTER AND CONDUCT.—Haggai 2:10-14
The people suffering from scarcity of food consequent upon the failure of their crops had, it seems, been continuing in some measure their regular sacrificial offerings, though they had been neglecting the building of the temple. These oblations had not been accepted, as they might have inferred from the withdrawal of the divine blessing, the true cause of which is now impressively illustrated. As he who was ceremonially unclean tainted everything with which he came in contact, so had they suffering from God’s displeasure, on account of their disregard of his claims, communicated the effects of that displeasure to all the labour of their hands, which profited them nothing [Lange]. Attendance upon outward ordinances will not sanctify the character and render those acceptable to God who neglect their duty.
I. This truth is illustrated by divine teaching. “Ask now the priests concerning the law,” and it will prove two things.
1. That sacred things cannot communicate holiness to what they touch. The flesh of the sacrifice might hallow “the skirt” in which it was carried (Leviticus 6:27), but did not transmit virtue to meat and drink. The altar does not sanctify the gift, nor the temple the land. Corn, wine, and oil are merely common produce. No special blessing rests upon the fruits of the land, on account of its sacredness.
2. That an unclean person contaminates whatever he touches (Numbers 19:22). “Legal sanctity is not so readily communicated as legal impurity. So the paths to sin are manifold; the path to holiness one, and that one of difficult access” [Grotius]. Thus prophet and priest act in accordance with their proper functions, and teach the same lessons. One expounds the law, and the other applies it (Leviticus 10:10-11; cf. Isaiah 8:20).
II. This truth is proved in human life. “So is this people, and so is this nation before me.” Here the two cases are applied. By the first the nation is not made holy by its offerings; by the second, by their disobedience, they pollute what they offer.
1. It is proved in Divine worship. “And that which they offer there is unclean.” Like character, like worship. However splendid the gifts or beautiful the actions in themselves, they will not remove impurity of life through neglect of duty. The possession of sacred privileges will not counterbalance disobedience.
2. It is proved in daily life. “So is every work of their hands.” Not only in their offering, but also in their works are they unclean. Impurity in heart will not sanctify in works. “Those whose devotions are plausible, but whose conversation is wicked, will find their devotions unable to sanctify their enjoyments, and their wickedness prevailing to pollute them.” “Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 2
Haggai 2:12-14. Priests. The ceremonial institutes of the ancient law were designed to illustrate man’s relation to God, as being under his favour or under his displeasure. The conditions and treatment of uncleanness, while setting forth most vividly the loathsomeness and defilement of sin, exhibited as clearly the effects of God’s anger against it, which was shown to extend to all the sinner’s experience, removing him beyond the reach of covenant mercies and blessings. While the Divine displeasure was manifested towards an individual or a nation, no amount of outward religious observances could appease it, just as no frequency of contact with legally consecrated offerings could impart sacredness to any other object [Lange].