Consider what had happened

In the previous passage, the illustration was given that “holiness” is not transferred, but “uncleanness” is transferred. In today’s passage, it is pointed out that conditions worsened after the rebuilding of the temple had been halted. It is written, “But now, do consider from this day onward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the Lord…” (v 15-16). (1) The word translated “from this day onward” (ma‘elah) can be translated either as “before this day” or “after this day.” From the context, “before this day” seems preferable. That is, it is saying to recall the fifteen years during which they began rebuilding the temple but then left it neglected. (2) During those fifteen years, the harvest in the fields greatly decreased. When they came to a heap of twenty measures of grain, there were only ten; and when they came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. (3) The cause of the poor harvest was the people’s unbelief. Therefore, God struck the crops with (a) blight, (b) mildew, and (c) hail.

The promise of blessing

It is written, “Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded, consider” (v 18). (1) Here, the command is given to consider the period from the start of the rebuilding work until this day (the three months from the 24th day of the 6th month to the 24th day of the 9th month; ref 1:15). During those three months, the people obeyed the word of the Lord and carried out the rebuilding work. Yet even during that time, there was no abundant harvest. (2) “Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit” (v 19a). This question anticipates the answer, “No.” The seed is not in the barn, and there is still no harvest from the vine, fig, pomegranate, or olive. The reason is that the uncleanness of the people has been transferred to the produce. (3) “Yet from this day on I will bless you” (v 19b). However, the harvest of the following year will be greatly blessed. The reason is that during these three months the people expressed their trust in the Lord. “From this day on I will bless you” is not a human prediction of the harvest, but a promise of the harvest from the Lord. Let us note that there is a correlation between the spiritual condition of the people and the condition of the harvest in the fields. Remember that both spiritual blessings and physical blessings are gifts from God.