AboutRev C.Brian Ross Expertise I am happy to offer answers to anyone with a question that refers to the Christian Faith in its widest possible sense. I believe that the Bible is the living Word of God, and seek to base all of my life on its teaching. I also have some knowledge of some of the cults, and of Islam and Judaism. Of course, my answers are just one man's thoughts, and I would always advise a questioner to check with others, and with the Word of God.
Experience Served as a full-time parish minister in Scotland for about six years, and then spent the last thirty as a teacher (now 'retired') of Religious Education in Secondary Comprehensive schools (ages 11-17) while continuing my own preaching and teaching ministry. I also believe that learning is a life-time process, and have recently completed a Master's degree in Divinity.
Organizations Former Presenter on Revival FM - a local Christian, community radio station, broadcasting in west central Scotland, and online at revival.fm Involved with a number of organisations that support Christians who are currently suffering persecution in some 70 countries around the world.
Publications Various articles in Christian magazines. I also have two blogsites - www.crazyrev.blogspot.com and (with audio messages) www.revcbross.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials Diploma of The Bible Training Institute, Glasgow;
Licentiate in Theology of the University of Glasgow;
Associateship of The Philosophical Society of England;
Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) in History from The Open University;
Post-grad Certificate of Education - Religious Education and History;
Post-grad Cetificate in Learning and Teaching;
Post-grad Diploma in Management and Learning in Education;
Master of Science Degree from the University of Strathclyde;
Master of Divinity Degree (Hons) from Trinity College and Seminary (accredited by the University of Liverpool)
Question In the second chapter 10-17 what does it mean when they say
holy meat in the skirt?
Answer Hi Dana.
Thank you for your question - a very interesting one!
The reference has to do with ceremonial cleanliness. This has nothing to do with the washing or showering that you and I attend to on a regular basis. However, there were certain conditions in which, in ancient Judaism, and in accordance with Levitical Law, one was "unclean". If you recall the parable that Jesus told about the man who was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho and who was set upon by thieves and left for dead, you will recall that the priest and the Levite passed by on the other side. This was not just callousness. These men would have been on their way to the Temple to attend to their duties. If the man was, indeed, dead and they touched him, they would have been ceremonially unclean, and would have been unable to fulfil thoer duties. It was also the case that, if I was "unclean" and I touched anything/one else, then that thing/person became "unclean" as well!
In the Haggai passage to which you refer, the priests were asked by Haggai (at the direction of YHWH - the LORD) if the skirt (hem of his robe) of a priest who was carrying holy (clean) flesh, accidentally touched something "unclean", would that item be considered to be "clean". The answer is "No". The questioning continues with the opposite situation - if someone who is unclean touches something clean, does that contact contaminate (ceremonially) the clean item. The answer given is "Yes".
The lesson from this, in a New Testament context, is that while sin can drag down a "good" person, only a complete change of heart, as offered by the Lord through the sacrifice of Jesus, can lift a "bad" person up. Another way of looking at this is that holiness is not contagious, but sin is! We might illustrate it from the natural world - if one of my school-pupils contracts measles, and comes to school, there is going to be an outbreak of measles. However, placing a healthy child into the midst of a roomful of children who have measles is not going to cure one of them!
In practical terms, for the Christian, this is a solemn warning about the places to which we should go, and the people with whom we should spend our time. Whatever we do, we must be sure to have put on the whole armour of God (Eph.6:11ff) that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
