Overview of the Book of Malachi
Tuesday, December 29
Read Malachi 1
Think About It:
The first sin Malachi named was the people’s lack of love for God. That was the first sin Jesus mentioned when He wrote to the seven churches of Asia Minor in Revelation. And perhaps it’s listed first because lack of love for God is the source of all other sin. For centuries, the Jews have recited “The Shema” as their daily prayer: “Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). But the people Malachi preached to doubted that God even loved them, so why should they love Him?
Malachi directs his message especially to the priests who instead of living exemplary lives, were guilty of breaking the very law they were supposed to obey and teach. The way they were serving the LORD was a disgrace to His name. Eight times in the section you find the phrase, “My name” referring, of course, to God’s character and reputation. The priests who were supposed to honor God’s name were disgracing it before the people and the LORD. The priests were supposed to be God’s children, yet they weren’t honoring their Father; they were called to be God’s servants, yet they showed no respect for their Master. When Malachi confronted them, the priests arrogantly asked, ”in what way have we despised your name?” So he told them.
To begin with, they were offering defiled sacrifices on the altar. The priests were permitting the people to bring God less than their best. The priests even allowed the people to cheat on their vows. If a man promised God a sacrifice but brought an animal that was sick or blemished, the priest would accept it, even though the man had a perfect animal back at home. In the Mosaic law, the vows were purely voluntary, but once they were made, they were binding. God is a great King and He deserves the best we can bring Him. What we promise, we must perform.
Our offerings to God are to be an indication of what is in our hearts, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). People who claim to love the LORD and His work can easily prove it with their checkbooks! Giving is a grace, and if we’ve experienced the grace of God, we will have no problem giving generously to the LORD who is given so much to us. How can we ask God to be gracious to us and answer prayer if we are not practicing grace giving ourselves?
Family Time:
- Who did the LORD love and who did He hate? (verses 2-3)
- Where will the name of the LORD be great? (verse 11)
