One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Haggai 2:14, “14Then Haggai answered and said, “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.” The people have a problem: they are unclean. May we recognize our need for a Savior fully so that we can rejoice in God’s forgiveness rightly.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:13, “Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” Whereas holy items cannot make us clean (only Christ can), unclean items can defile us. May God give us grace to witness to a defiled world without becoming corrupted ourselves. Thankfully, he has promised to do this work in us.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:12, “If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?” Holy items cannot cleanse unclean items. Only Christ can make common things holy. May we look to no one else for our holiness.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:11, “”Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests about the law.” Haggai starts his illustration with a simple instruction: go to the leaders for instruction on God’s law. May we have leaders who guide us in the ways of God.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:10, “On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet.” The people have gone two months since God promised a greater glory for the house of God, and now they need a reminder that they are unclean and need God’s blessing. We often fall to the same temptations of pride and self-righteousness. May God humble us in the same way.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:9, “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.” This prophecy finds fulfillment in the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Church. We stand in awe of God’s wisdom in designing for Christ to make peace with God and man and for his Spirit to dwell in our midst.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:8, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.” God will bring the treasures of the nations in because he already owns it all. We should stand in awe of our mighty ruler and king.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:7, “And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.” The coming of Christ brings upheaval to the nations, and now all nations come into Christ and into the Spirit’s dwelling place—the church. We praise God for his divine plan to bring the blessing of Abraham to all people.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:6, “For thus says the LORD of host: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.” God’s unknown time of fulfillment for promises actually is part of our reason for courage. He is coming back to do something great, and he could be coming soon.

This episode looks at Haggai 2:5, “according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.” God is with them because of their covenant. As they learn to rightly fear him in relationship, they have nothing to fear from the world’s opposition.