Unholy Flesh Haggai 2:12

As the LORD through Haggai the prophet began His fourth sharing with the people of Israel, He told Haggai to “ask the priests concerning the law”. In chapter two and verse twelve of his prophesy, the LORD tells Haggai he is to “ask the priests” concerning unholy “flesh”. We read:

If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

The verse begins, “If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy?” Haggai began with the phrase, “If one bear” or “If a man or person lift, carry, take, support, sustain or endure” “holy” or “apart, sacred or separate” “flesh” which refers to “of the body or living things” “in the skirt” or “wing, extremity, edge, border or corner” “of his garment” which means “clothes, apparel, robe or vestures” “and with his skirt” or “wing, extremity, edge, border or corner” “do touch” which means “reach, strike, extend, apply, attain or befall” “bread” or “food, grain or bread-corn” “or pottage” which means “boiled food, soup or things sodden or boiled”, “or wine” which refers to “banqueting wine perhaps so called from bubbling up and fermenting” “or oil” which means “fat, fatness or olive oil” “or any meat” which refers to “food, fruit or edible provender such as flesh and fruit” “shall it be holy?” which means “consecrated, sanctified, prepared, dedicated, hallowed, apart, sacred or separate”. The condition questioned by the LORD refers to the law concerning “holy flesh” which was not to touch anything that was considered “unholy”.

The verse goes on to say, “And the priests answered and said, No.” Haggai continued, “And the priests” which refers to “principal officers or chief rulers” “answered” or “responded, testified, spoke or shouted” “and said” which means “uttered, spoke and avowed” “No” or “not at all”. When the priests were questioned concerning the law concerning “holy flesh”, they knew the answer immediately, and we get the sense that the LORD is going to ask them a further question as to the manner in which the law applies to other things.

When we meditate upon Haggai's words, we may be able to relate to his inquiry as we think about areas of the law of God in which we are familiar. Sometimes it is easier to think about a law which is specifically known rather than an abstract one for which the spirit of the law is concerned. The LORD desired for the “priests” to consider what they already knew so He could prepare them for the question that is to follow. The key for us is to continue in a relationship with Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit of God to know what He has on His mind for us. May we have “ears to hear” and “eyes to see” what the LORD would say to His children concerning “holy” areas.

Next time Haggai shares about touching “dead” bodies and being “unclean”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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