Haggai 2: 10-11

On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling:^[1]

Haggai now receives instruction from the Lord to ask the priests a question. One Old Testament commentator suggests, “It was to prophets that the Lord communicated fresh disclosures of the divine will either for their own age or for the future. But it was priests who were recognized as being uniquely qualified to provide a ruling on matters of cultic purity by virtue of their role as trusted custodians of the Mosaic law.”^[2] It is interesting to note the deference Haggai gives to the authority of the priests and it begs the question of how those who minister before the Lord and supposedly guard the Word of God are viewed in our day. It is not uncommon for the clergy to be overlooked or completely ignored when questions of purity or morality emerge in our society. Is there, perhaps, a word here for those who would serve the Lord and to whom one takes their questions?

It is rare that clergy are sought for an opinion and when they are, especially in the public arena, only those whose perspectives coincide with the intended agenda are chosen. Perhaps, this lack of deference in our day is symptomatic of the lack of any unified voice. Opinions and perspectives are so diverse that one can find many who will agree with their particular view. Perhaps it is no longer the Word of God that is referenced when an opinion is sought, but rather one’s particular perspective based upon their education and experience. Lest it appear that this is an indictment of the clergy alone, remember that we are a priesthood of believers. Do people seek us for an opinion, and if they do, how do we respond? Is our response merely an echo of the opinions of popular culture, or the Word of God? If we have no one seeking us out, is it because our lives do not convey anything that would suggest we have any spiritual authority?

Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount that we should let our lights so shine before people that they would see our good works and glorify God (Matthew 5:16). Wouldn’t be grand if someone were to ask us today for a ruling because they saw something honorable, holy and authoritative in lives?

Dear Lord, we do not always live in the light of Your Word in such a way that people would see You. We are often so interested in pursuing our own agendas that we have hardly a thought for others around us. Allow us the grace today to live in such a way that people would see in us that which would indicate faithfulness, trustworthiness, obedience and authority. Then, make us willing and prepared to give a loving, yet emphatic opinion whenever it is sought. Make us today, instruments of Your will, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Hag 2:10–11.

^[2] Richard A. Taylor and E. Ray Clendenen, Haggai, Malachi (vol. 21A; The New American Commentary; Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2004), 172–173.