The Pulpit Commentary — Haggai — Section 42

centre by the appearance of Christ. Revolutions in society seem to me essential to the mornl progress of the race. There must be revolutions in theories and practices in relation to governments, markets, temples, Churches. How much there is to be shaken in the heaven and earth of Obristendom before the cause of true moral progress can advance I May we not hope that all the revolutions that are constantly occurring in governments and nations are only the removal of obstructions in the moral march of humanity? In the clash of arms, in the fall of kingdoms, one ought to hear the words, " Prepare ye the way," etc. II. IT INVOLVES THE BATIBFA0TION OF THE IIOBAL CRAVINGS OF MANKIND. "The desire of all nations shall come." Whether this refers to Obrist or not has been questioned. Still, philosophy and history show that he meets all the moral longing of humanity. The moral craving of humanity is satisfied in Christ, and in Christ only. 1. MO,'fl,'s deep desire is reconciliation to his Creator. 2. Man's deep desire is to have inner hatrmony of soul. Christ effects thiM, 3. To have l>rotherly unity with the race. Moral socialism is what all nations crave for. Christ gives this. He breaks down the middle wall of partition. He unites all men together by unitin;1; all men to God. Ill. 11,, ENSURES THE HIGHEST MANIFESTATIONS OF GoD TO MANKIND. "J will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord." 1. God will be recognized as the universal Proprietor. "Silver is mine, and gold is mine,'' etc. In the good time coming, men will feel that all is God's, not theirs. They will act as trustees, not as proprietors. God will be all in all. 2. God will be recognized as the universal Peace-giver. " I will give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."-D. T. Vers. 10-14.-Human duty. "In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Thus said the Lord. of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the Law," ete. "On tbe twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of the same year, that is to say, exactly three months after the congregation had resumed the building of the temple (eh. i. 15), and about two months after the second prophecy (eh. ii. 1), a new word of the Lord was uttered through Haggai to the people. [This is the prophet's third address, extending over vers. 10-19.J It was now time, since the despondency which had laid hold of the people a few weeks after the reco=encement of the building had been dispelled by the consolatory promises in vers. 6-9, and the work was vigorowly pursued, to confirm the people in the fidelity which they had manifested, by bestowing upon them the blessing which had been withdrawn. To this end Haggai received the co=ission to make it perfectly clear to the people that tbe curse, which had res:=t.i upon them since the building of the temple had been neglected, had been nothing but a punishment for their indolence i11 not pushing forward the work of the Lord ; and and that from that time forth the Lord would bestow bis blessing upon them again " (Delitzsch). The passage suggests two facts. I. THAT THE QUESTION OF HUMAN DUTY IB TO BE DECIDED BY AN APPEAL TO DivmE AUTHORITY, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts ; Ask now the priests concerning the Law." The question, of course, implies two things. 1. That there is a Divine written law for the regulation of human conduct. Though the Law here refers to ceremonial institutes which were contained in the Levities! code, there is also a divinely written law of a far higher significance-that moral law which rises out of man's relations, and is binding upon man as man, here and everywhere, now and for ever. 2. That there are divinely appointed interpreters of this law. "Ask now the priests." Under the old economy there were men appointed and qualified by God to expound the Law to the people; and in every age there are men endowed with that high moral genius which gives them an insight into the eternal principles of moral obligation. They descry those principles, not only in the words of God, but in his works; they have that ethical and ~piritual " unction from the Holy One,'' by which they know all things pertaining to duty. Thus, then, the question of duty is to be decided. It cannot be decided by the customs of the age, the enactments of governments, or the decrees of Churches. "To the Law and to the testimony." Tbe will of God is the standard of moral obligation. II. THAT THE DISCHARGE OF DUTY REQUIIIES THE SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE. It was the duty of the Jews now to rebuild the templo; but that duty they dischurged uot 42 THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. [arr. n. 1-28