Malachi 1
February 5
Reading: Malachi 1
1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2 "I have loved you," says the LORD.
But you say, "How have you loved us?"
"Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD.
"Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert."
4 If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the LORD of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called 'the wicked country,' and 'the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.'"
5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!"
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.
"But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'
7 "By offering polluted food upon my altar.
"But you say, 'How have we polluted you?'
"By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts.
10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.
13 "But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He prophesied to Israel after the exiles had returned from Babylon, after Ezra had rebuilt the Temple, after Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall. Jerusalem had been restored under the Persian Kings and you might think that the people of God had now learned all their lessons and were worshipping the Lord in obedience to His Law.
No. We discover that, even after the Lord had kept so many promises and brought Israel through so many trials, they still were not worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. They were not trusting, serving, and obeying God. Their hearts have not been changed.
The prophesy of Malachi begins with a promise, but quickly turns to rebuke. In verses 1-5 the Lord tells His people that they are special to Him. How can we see this? We can see it in that the Lord picked Jacob (Israel) and not Esau (Edom). Edom pridefully says about themselves, thinking about what happened with Israel, that they too will rebuild. But that will not happen because the Lord will not do it.
What a blessing that Israel has the Lord with them. But how is Israel responding?
In verses 6-14 the Lord delivers through Malachi a staggering rebuke. The people are acting like they honor the Lord, but only acting. They are not fooling God. They give to God the things they do not want. They find the Lord’s table polluted and the worship of the Lord tiresome. They are treating God worse than they would treat their local governor, not to mention a king.
How are you treating the Lord? With your giving? With your serving? With your worship? Are you play acting with God; or are you giving your best?