How we cite our quotes:
Quote #7
You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. (NRSV Haggai 1:9-10)
Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. (KJV Haggai 1:9-10)
After nine Minor Prophets have schooled Israel and Judah on how God really cares more about doing good than killing bulls, Haggai says the real problem is their failure to rebuild the temple so they can get back to sacrificing without delay. We’ll give him a pass because he was preaching during the time that the new Temple was being built so he couldn’t really avoid discussing it.
Quote #8
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. (NRSV Malachi 3:2-4)
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (KJV Malachi 3:2-4)
It’s been a hard knock life for the priests in Jerusalem, but no worries: God makes them endure unspeakable suffering so they can be pure when they offer sacrifices at the temple. Gee, thanks. Is there another way to get people to act justly other than making them suffer first? Did he try other ways that didn’t work? (Hint: yes, like rescuing them from Egypt, giving them the Torah, giving them the promised land, killing their enemies.) Do you sometimes have to be harsh to get someone to change? This brings up a cascade of issues beyond the scope of this humble discussion: corporal punishment and domestic violence, for starters.