People Like Unclean Things Haggai 2:14

The LORD through Haggai the prophet asked the priests to consider “the law” concerning how “holy meat” that touches “bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat” becomes “unholy”. He questioned them about touching “dead bodies” and how that would defile them as well. In chapter two and verse fourteen of Haggai's prophesy, the LORD told Haggai “this people” were like these unclean things. We read:

Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

The verse begins, “Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, says the LORD;” Haggai began with the words, “Then answered” or “responded, testified, spoke and shouted” “Haggai” whose name means “festive” and was “the tenth in order of the minor prophets; first prophet to prophecy after the captivity”, “and said” which means “uttered, spoke and avowed” “So is this people” which refers to “nation, compatriots or country-men” “and so is this nation” or “people, descendants of Abraham and Israel” “before” which means “in the face, in the presence and in front of” “me says” or “utters, declares, speaks and avows” “the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” who is “the existing One” and “the proper name for the one true God”. The LORD declared the people of Israel to be like “unholy meat” tainted by other things and also like the defilement from touching “dead bodies”.

The verse continues, “and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.” Haggai continued, “and so is every work” or “all deeds, things done, labors, business, pursuits, undertakings, enterprises and achievements” “of their hands” which refers to “the strengths, power, portions, special technical senses, signs, monuments, stays, supports and wrists”; “and that which the offer” which means “anything which comes near, approaches, enters into, draws near and presents itself” “there is unclean” or “impure ethically, ritually and religiously”. Not only were “the people” of Israel defiled, but also every work they offered to the LORD was as well.

When we think about Haggai's words, we may concur with the inditement against Israel. Though their actions seemed to be with the LORD, they were actually far from Him. The LORD calls them out concerning their behavior. Because they did not have His kingdom first in their lives, not only were they “unclean”, but also every work they did for the LORD was affected and defiled. Jesus told His disciples to “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”, and Jesus' words as well as Haggai's should encourage us to examine our own lives. Is the the kingdom of God first, or are we like unto “unholy meat” and defilement from touching “dead bodies”? Would the LORD say we are like “these” and that our “works” are as well. May we “hear the LORD” speak to our hearts and discover any area where we are out of alignment with Him, and may all our “works” be altered to be pleasing to Him.

Next time Haggai the LORD tells the people to “consider this day and upward”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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