119. Defiled and Defiling.

Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. (14) Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. - Haggai 2:13-14.

THE prophet makes the priests witness against themselves and the people. This was a powerful means of forcing home the truth.

It is clear from verse 12 that the mere bearing of a holy thing did not enable the bearer to communicate consecration.

But the priests owned that the touch of an unclean person did communicate uncleanness. What a picture! An unclean person making everything unclean wherever he laid his hand! He could not move without spreading defilement on all sides.

Such were the erring people of Haggai's day in the judgement of their God, and he never judges too severely.

Such are sinful men at this day.

I. THE TERRIBLE UNCLEANNESS. Here we keep to our text.

For a New Testament exposition, read Titus 1:15.

1. Common things are polluted by men of unclean nature.

Nothing is common or unclean naturally; for every creature of God is good (1 Tim. 4:4). But in diverse ways the things of ordinary life are made to be unclean—

· By making gods of them, saying, "What shall we eat?" etc.

· By excess in the use of them. By gluttony, drunkenness, etc.

· By excess in the keeping of them. A miser's goods are accursed.

· By ingratitude concerning them. Then they remain unblessed.

2. Holy things are polluted by men of unclean nature.

· They use the gospel as an excuse for sin.

· They offer prayer in solemn mockery.

· They make praise into a musical performance.

· They turn the sacraments into hypocrisy or worse.

· There is nothing so holy but that sin can defile it.

3. Good works are polluted when they come from evil men: "so is every work of their hands."

· They can be charitable for ostentation.

· They can he religious to be seen of men.

· They can be sternly righteous in order to be revenged.

· They can be humble to gain their ends.

4. Sacrifices are polluted when offered by unclean men: "and that which they offer there is unclean."

· Their public thanksgivings are a falsehood.

· Their solemn fasts are a mere comedy.

What a wretched condition is he in who even in his holiest acts is defiling everything! He may well pause and humble himself before God, for the more he does in his present state the more does he defile.

Sin has cast a serpent's trail over the whole universe, making the creation itself subject to vanity. What does man touch which he does not degrade and pollute? Here is a wide field for thought, and abundant cause for humiliation.

II. THE ALL-SUFFICIENT REMEDY. Here we go beyond our text.

In Numbers 19, we have the type of the great remedy, and a fuller account of the uncleanness which it removed.

In the rites used for purifying the unclean—

1. There was a sacrifice (Num. 19:2-4): "A red heifer without spot:" This must be slain. Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22).

2. There was a burning (verses 5 and 6). Sin is hateful, and we must see it to be such; it must be burned without the camp.

3. There was a water of separation. Having been purged with blood of sacrifice, we must be sprinkled with water of sanctification.

4. There was an application with hyssop. Faith must receive the cleansing. "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be cean."

5. This must cleanse our whole nature (see verse 19). There was a washing of the whole man and his garments.

All that this type intended may be found—

· In the water and the blood which flowed from the side of our Lord; manifesting the doubly cleansing power of his sacrifice: and

· In the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit.

See, O sinner, your need of cleansing before you attempt anything. Before this, nothing you are, or have, or do, is dean before God. After this, all things shall be holy to you.

See to this cleansing at once, and all else will follow in due course.