From this Day Forward Haggai 2:15

The LORD said the people of Israel were much like “holy meat” which became “unholy” by touching “unholy” things, and like priests which came into contact with a “dead body”. Not only were they defiled, but their works were defiled as well. In chapter two and verse fifteen of his prophesy, Haggai shared the LORD's encouragement for the people to “consider from this day and upward” where we read:

And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward,

from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

The verse begins, “And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward,...” Haggai began with the words, “And now I pray you consider” which means “to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay hands on, direct, extend, ordain, establish, appoint, constitute, make, determine, and fix” “from this day” which refers to “as defined by evening and morning and time period” “and upward” or “on the top of, above and on higher ground than”. The LORD desired for the people of Israel to determine from this day forward to obey what He was going to tell them.

The verse continues, “...from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:” Haggai continued, “from before” or “in advance of the beginning” “a stone” which means a “common, hewn or precious stone” “was laid” or “put, set, laid, directed toward, ordained, established, determined and fixed” “upon a stone” which refers to a “common, hewn or precious stone” “in the temple” which means “the nave, sanctuary, palace and hall” “of the LORD” whose name is “Yehovah or Jehovah” and means “the existing one” and “the proper name for the one true God. The timing of the consideration from the people was to be before any “stone” was laid upon “stone” in the LORD's temple.

When we think about Haggai's words, we begin to understand the importance of the timing of the LORD. He desired for the people to “establish” themselves before the stones were laid upon one another in the temple. The idea is to determine to have the things of the LORD as a precedence in their lives before their actual work begins. We too may “consider” the things of the LORD most important before our work in His kingdom begins. Jesus told us to “seek first the kingdom of God”, and by “considering” the work of the temple first, we obey Jesus' directive and words.

Next time through Haggai the LORD shares about “heaps” and “pressfats”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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