Ezekiel Kimosop - Pastor & Bible Scholar

Haggai 2:8 the silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

The context of this verse is anchored in the passage of Haggai 2:1-9. God was speaking to Prophet Haggai concerning the glory of the latter Temple which was to be constructed in the place of the old one that had been destroyed by the enemies of Israel. The people were discouraged by the enormity of the task ahead of them and vulnerability of the post-exilic community who were poor. 

The ISBE notes that Haggai was a contemporary of Zechariah, and was associated with him in the work of rebuilding the temple. He may have been young enough during the captivity to have seen the previous temple before it was destroyed and was taken to captivity after the destruction and capture of Jerusalem and happened to have been among the oldest returnees. Little is however mentioned about his early life.

God spoke the words in Haggai 2:8 to encourage his servants to set their hands to the work before them and restore the Temple.

What is the theological message of this passage? When God speaks and declares that the silver and gold are his, he is in fact asserting his sovereignty and title to the earth's resources as the creator and owner of all there is. God also declares in Psalm 50:10 "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." David declares of God in Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." These verse make it plainly clear that men are not the true owners of the resources of this earth but they hold all things under the grace of God. 

God is both the ruler and true owner of all the oil, sea and earth resources. He owns the airspace and the galaxies and not an iota of anything that was made was made without his ingenuity and workmanship (John 1:1-2).
 
The theological message is that God is able to harness the resources towards his ministry work. He has the power to place resources to those to whom he will including the church. Even the heathen kings of Lebanon were able to supply timber for Solomon's temple and so will God cause all that was required to accomplish his works. 

God was calling the returnees to place their trust on God power to supply. The same God who in his anger allowed the Israelites to be taken to exile is the same God who determined the time when full restoration will be made.

Have you ever wondered if God is oblivious to the vast resources held in the hands of the heathen and those who mock God? Marvel not because God is able to cause these kings into submission. Notice that he used the Persian Kings as tools at his disposal; He called Cyrus "my servant" (KJV my anointed) when he served his purposes and the rod by which he chastised Israel (Isaiah 45:1). God goes on to make further declarations concerning Cyrus saying in Isaiah 45:3-4 "And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 

This should cause us as the elect of God to realize that nothing limits the power of God in making provision for the advancement of his eternal Kingdom. The temple in Jewish though symbolized God's presence and was the national centre of worship. 

Many church ministries today struggle against very trying circumstances in serving God, even in the midst of opposition and tribulation. This should scripture should encourage us to place our trust in God. It is not the enormity of the task but the greatness of our God that matters. 

The declaration of Haggai 2:8 is also futuristic in dimension because it depicts the messianic rule when the glory of God shall be manifested and Christ shall rule the earth with the scepter of David. The redeemed of God will reign as princes and all the resource will vested in Christ forever. This should comfort the saints as serve the Lord. What is it that stands in the way of your ministry today? Our God.

November 14 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report