SUMMER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2014
THEME: PRIORITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Unit I – Hope and Confidence Comes From God
“GOD’S PRIORITY IN THE LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE…PURITY”
Sunday School Lesson No. III – June 15, 2014
Lesson Presented by Rev. Frank A. Davis, III Pastor-Teacher
Lesson Text:
Haggai 2:10-19
Required Reading:
Haggai 2:10-19
Lesson Motto Text:
Haggai 2:19, “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.”
Psalm 24:3-5, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
[4] He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor
sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God
of his salvation.”
Reliable Resources:
Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Standard Lesson Commentary; Willmington’s
Guide to the Bible; Precepts for Living (UMI); Word Search 9 and 10 Electronic Library; The
Maxwell Leadership Bible by Dr. John Maxwell; Life Application Study Bible.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Our lesson in Haggai has been centered around God’s people fulfilling the will of God in rebuilding the Temple of God.
Haggai was to “light fire” under the returnees to fulfill the will of God and the Persian Kings, to rebuild the temple of God!
They had been encouraged to “consider their ways” and not allow their personal interest to upstage the divine interest of
God! In spite of all challenges, God’s work was to take priority! In a series of messages during a brief period, Haggai called
the people of Jehovah, though small, to return to their original objective: Rebuild the Temple of God! This mission was to be
their priority by obedience, trust, and as we will see today, by purity.
“But what do you mean by purity?” some may ask. It seems that the Old Testament laws on purity were to encourage the
Israelites to not be simply imitators of their pagan neighbors, but focus on the true expectations of Jehovah. When one
imitates one thing, they will be influenced to imitate other things. Israel had just left 70 years of bondage in Babylon, and it
is sure they had become influenced by their former captors. Jehovah has called them back home and given them the
responsibility to rebuild His House, truly His way. Remember the motto scripture in Psalm 24:3-5 (see above). Let us
examine Haggai’s message for this week, “God’s Priority in the Lives of His People…Purity.”
Anticipated Power Points:
 A Parable of the Pure vs. the Profane. Haggai 2:10-14
 A Promise to the Pure Hearted People. Haggai 2:15-19
THE LESSON OUTLINE
I.
A Parable of the Pure vs. the Profane. Haggai 2:10-14
God said to Samuel in I Samuel 16:7b, “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
We have some questions that were posed to people in somewhat of a parable format:
A. Ask the authorities. vss. 10-11
In his third message, Haggai told them to ask their priests, who were the authorities on the laws and practices of the Lord.
Even though the people had returned to their labors on the temple, something was still missing in their lives. Haggai’s
message would soon expose it! After the priest (Lev. 10:8-11) they were also God’s teachers.
B. Analyze the answers. vss. 12-13
Again remembering that God looks at the heart of each person (I Sam. 16:7), Haggai discloses a somewhat parabolic
teaching about the clean and unclean or pure and polluted as it related to the Levitian laws (vs. 12). The real question is,
“Can holiness or purity be passed along to other items (such as bread, or stew, wine, olive oil or other food) by a secondary
contact?” The answer was “No!” “Why not?” Because “holiness is not infectious.” (Standard Commentary)
Haggai continues with verse 13 (read). It is much easier to defile that which is pure. To put all this in today’s language,
note this illustration: From Martin R. Dahlquist of Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator, “If a very healthy
person were to walk into a room of sick person, would his health heal everyone in the room? No! It’s more likely that he
or she would get sick too. Could one sick person walk into a room of healthy people and suddenly become well again? Of
course not! In fact, the healthy people might get sick.
Ritually cleansed things will not make unclean things clean. But those things that are ritually unclean will make a clean
object unclean simply by touching it.” Literally, God will judge each person who obeys, trusts and above all, walks in
purity before Him in their motives and priorities!
C. Applying the application. vs. 14
This verse sums up the internal and external motives of the people’s hearts. Dr. Warren Wiersbe shares, “The people
working on the temple couldn’t impart any holiness to it, but they could defile it by their sins. Not only was it important
that they do God’s work, but it was also important that they do His work from hearts that were pure and devoted to God.”
Beloved, are our hearts and motives pure before God?!
II. A Promise to the Pure Hearted People. Haggai 2:15-19
The familiar thought of Haggai is repeated, “consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5,7). Let nothing be done with foolish or
thoughtless energy!
Dahlquist shares: “Through the prophet Haggai, the Lord reminded the people of Israel of the failure they had experienced in
their economy and agriculture. Failure was the result of not obeying what God had commanded. They needed to be obedient.
That is, they needed to get working on the temple – this time with undefiled hands. As long as there was sin in their lives, all
their temple building would not help.”
Closing:
Beloved, God is still looking for a people that would prioritize purity in their lives as they labor for Him. “He that hath clean
hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from
the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24:4-5
Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA and Little Bethel Baptist Church, Amite, LA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 19768, New Orleans, LA 70179 - Phone: (504) 486-7876
Website: www.thestudyhour.com (See and hear lesson taught via Video)
Radio Broadcasts: CANCELLED
TV Broadcasts: WHNO TV-Channel 20, Sunday, 6:30 a.m.
Looking Ahead:
June 22, 2014
Haggai 2:23; Zechariah 4:1-3, 6-14
You are invited to attend Noon Bible Study every Wednesday as Pastor Davis teaches the lesson at Bibleway.