Haggai 2:10-23: a reflection

10In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the LORD’s word came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11“The LORD of Armies says: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?’” The priests answered, “No.” 13Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” The priests answered, “It will be unclean.” 14Then Haggai answered, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before me,’ says the LORD; ‘and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean. 15Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the LORD’s temple. 16Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. 17I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn’t turn to me,’ says the LORD. 18‘Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it. 19Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t produced. From today I will bless you.’” 20The LORD’s word came the second time to Haggai in the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, ‘I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. 23In that day, says the LORD of Armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of Armies.”

Haggai's people have been through a hard stretch, their crops struck with blight and mildew, their work seeming to come to little, partly because they had neglected the LORD's house while tending their own. Haggai calls them to consider it honestly. And then, tied to a specific date, comes a turn: from this day on I will bless you, says the LORD. A line is drawn. The barren season is not the permanent state; from here, blessing.

Notice that God marks a turning point, and dates it. He does not leave the promise vague; he says from this day. There is a before and an after. The season of striving that came to nothing, of blight and shortfall, is being brought to an end, and a new season of God's blessing is beginning, as the people turn back to prioritizing him. God is a God of datable new beginnings.

There is hope in that for anyone in a long barren stretch, where the work has come to little and the harvest has been thin. God can draw a line and say, from this day. The past season of shortfall does not have to define the next one. As you turn back to putting him first, God is able to begin, from a particular day, to bless what has been barren. Do not assume the lean season is your permanent condition. God marks turning points; ask him to make today a from this day on.

Lord, after a long barren stretch where my work has come to little, you are able to draw a line and say, from this day on I will bless you. As I turn back to putting you first, make today such a turning point. Do not let the lean season define me; begin, from this day, to bless what has been barren.