The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.
The people hearing these words were building a temple that looked like nothing beside Solomon's. Into that discouragement God claims all the silver and gold on earth. So why did an Owner that rich leave His people building with so little?
A small work and a rich Owner
God asked these builders for wood, while the next words name silver and gold as His. One writer sets the two side by side and asks why God kept the gold back.
George DavisonThat "wood" would stand in contrast to the silver and gold of verse 8, "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of hosts". Why did He not give it to them? He could have given them all the gold of Solomon again if He had so desired... If the power of those days is not seen now, that is not because God could not bring it in. He could do it at any moment. But if God wants us to go on with what looks small, you can be sure He will support us. And we will discover how precious our present place is, because it makes room for Christ.
Ownership that ruin cannot cancel
This temple's later history holds attack, corrupt patrons, and open blasphemy. None of that touches the claim in this verse.
William KellyThe hostility of Antiochus IV, the corrupt patronage of Herod the Idumean, the blasphemous claim of the antichrist to be God — none of them destroys God's title and rights. It stays His house all through, whatever the unfaithfulness of His people, and however complete Satan's triumph looks.
The treasure of the nations carried in
This verse stands beside the promise that the one all nations desire will come. One writer ties the silver and the gold to that day.
Edward DennettThe Lord of hosts declares that He owns the silver and the gold; all of it rightfully belongs to Him. When Christ was born, wise men from the east came and laid their costly gifts at His feet. In the same way, the nations will one day come and offer their treasures to the Lord in His temple at Jerusalem. Christ, the desire of all nations, will receive their homage. They will delight to bring their finest treasures to adorn and serve His house, and to glorify His name. By doing this they will confess that the silver and the gold are His.
Another writer asks what all that wealth amounts to once Christ Himself appears.
William KellyBoth the nations and the Jews have despised Him, but He will then come as the centre of everything desirable — at once its giver and the one who draws it out. He draws out for God's glory what people value most. But what is all that wealth, which is Jehovah's and will then be owned as His, next to the glory itself?
Owner and steward
If the metals are His, then no one who handles money is more than a caretaker. One writer shows what happens when a man forgets it.
The Bible TreasuryNabal claimed full and absolute right over everything God had given him, calling it "my bread," "my water," "my flesh." God gave him the chance to serve His anointed, the future king; but he had no faith, and he lost everything, even his own life. God alone has absolute right over all things. He says, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine," yes, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." Man is only a steward, and must give account of everything to God.
Another writer weighs how that money actually gets spent.
J. T. MawsonMoney and the things of this life are called "the mammon of unrighteousness" because the rights of the rightful Owner of all are refused. God says, "The gold and the silver are Mine," but how much of it is poured out in selfish pleasure, and how little of it is used for His work and glory!
Enough for every work He commands
If God owns the wealth, who supplies the one who serves Him?
Raymond K. CampbellThe Lord may use His people as His instruments to supply His servant's needs. Even so, the servant must always look to the Lord alone... He has said: "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine" (Haggai 2:8), and "every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills... the world is mine, and the fullness thereof" (Ps. 50:10, 12). So it is a small matter for God to meet the needs of His servants, as many have gladly proved over the years.
Summary
- Mine — in weakness. The verse lands on builders with almost nothing. God owns the gold and kept it back, so that a small work would make room for Christ.
- Mine — through ruin. Hostile kings, false patrons, and the final enemy never cancel God's title. The house stays His whatever men do to it.
- Mine — gathered back. The nations will bring their treasure to Christ, as the wise men laid gifts at His feet. In giving it, they confess whose it always was.
- Mine — so you are a steward. Nabal said "my bread, my water, my flesh" and lost everything. Every person handling money holds what belongs to Another and will give account.
- Mine — so nothing lacks. The servant looks to the Owner, not to donors. Supplying the need is a small matter to the One who owns the silver and the gold.