FRIDAY June 24, 2022
Come Let Us Reason
And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.” Then Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’ ”
Haggai 2:13-14
Haggai continued on with his message that was given to Him by the Lord. He spoke of what was clean and unclean. The Jews were taught to adhere to many Ceremonial Laws. If a high priest or someone touched a dead body, they were considered to be unclean:
He who is the high priest among his brethren . . . shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself for his father or his mother...’ ” (Leviticus 21:10-12).
“ ‘He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean’ ” (Numbers 19:11-12).
Therefore, the priests knew exactly what the prophet’s question given to them was in reference to, and, of course, there was only one obvious answer. A person who touched a dead body was defiled––unclean. God used this common knowledge of the Law to reveal to the priests how He viewed the Jewish people and the nation of Israel before Him. Lifting up their hands in worship, the work of their hands, and their offerings were summed up in one word––unclean. God saw their sinfulness.
Like the people of Israel, as believers we are no longer ignorant. We do not live by the Law, but we do have knowledge of the Word of God and a good understanding of our sinfulness. God speaks to us intelligently; He reasons with us. If you are in sin, be honest and real with God. Deal with the issue of your sin––repent and ask Him for His forgiveness.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
~Isaiah 1:18~
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