Haggai 2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yes, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, has not brought forth… These are the words of Haggai, whom the Lord raised up in his old age for the purpose of calling His people from the sin of religious indifference to the earnest performance of duty. As God's prophet, it was his duty to expostulate, to trace the connection between sinful neglect and its effects, to picture in dark but true colours the woes of the people, but also to pronounce the promise of benediction and peace. I. THE PROMISE ASSERTS THAT IN GOD AND FROM GOD IS THE BLESSEDNESS OF HIS PEOPLE. 1. There is nothing we can satisfactorily substitute for the blessing of God. 2. If we have it we need fear no evil from any other source. II. THE PROMISE DIRECTLY REFERS TO TEMPORAL BLESSING, BUT INCLUDES SPIRITUAL. The picture presented is descriptive of the people's estate. We ought to connect the goodness and love of God with all the material blessedness of life, as well as with the higher spiritual side of it. There is no department of life from which God need be shut out. But the promise certainly includes the higher blessings belonging to spiritual life and development. III. THE PROMISE IS GIVEN AS THE RESULT OF OBEDIENCE, THE SINCERITY OF WHICH PRACTICAL PROOF HAS BEEN SUPPLIED. We must not try to drive a bargain with God. The service our Lord wants is the service of faith and love. Let that be rendered and the blessing may tarry, but come it will, and just because it has tarried it may be all the richer and better. IV. THE PROMISE IS FIXED AND CONTINUOUS. "From this day. That is definite enough. The benediction had been stored up — now it was to fall like the refreshing ram over all the land. And the blessing is to be continuous. To-day, and every succeeding day, I will bless you. The premiss is most reliable. From the words of the promise we look to Him who made it. He is able to fulfil it. (Adam Scott.) Parallel Verses KJV: Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. |
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