Posts Tagged ‘Malachi 1-4’
Scripture reading for October 5th: Malachi 1-4
“You have said harsh thing against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘what have we said against You?’” “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evil-doers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’” (Malachi 3:13-15)
In times of trouble and apostasy, it is easy for God’s people to begin to think that they don’t count for much. Evil is prospering everywhere and wicked people seem to get by with murder and stealing. Even those in the church who are complacent seem to be getting by. What profit is there in going to church and serving God anyway? This was a question of the people in Malachi’s day.
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.” “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day I take up my treasured possession. I will spare them just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18)
There were some who continued to trust God. They met together and encouraged one another to stay strong. God was listening to them and making a note of each person! It is encouraging to know that God is interested in the faithful! He is a God of encouragement and hope and lets the faithful know it! (Romans 15:13) God promises help for the faithful! They will escape the coming judgment. There will be a visible difference between the righteous and the wicked on that coming day!
“‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the Lord Almighty. . . .’But you who revere My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. . . .Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet when I do these things,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 4:1-3)
Scripture reading for October 5th: Malachi 1-4
Malachi was the final voice of a prophet in the era of the Old Covenant. After him, God was silent for 400 years until John the Baptist came on the scene. Malachi was like a street preacher of his day. He would go out where the people were and ask questions of them. He loved to pose questions and then answer them. With this style he sought to provoke God’s people to repent and do what God had commanded and required.
There were several issues that Malachi hit hard in his preaching. One issue concerned the priests who were sacrificing blind, crippled and diseased animals. God was and is holy and He demands pure sacrifices; His priests were dishonoring Him. (Malachi 1:6-14) God is a great king who is worthy of our best!
Another issue was priests who were breaking their covenant vows with their wives and also with God, Himself. They were sacrificing to God on the Sabbath, but then going up to idol temples, sacrificing to idol gods and having sex with the temple prostitutes. God was watching and angry! He warned them through Malachi that this practice would defile them and sow violence and divorce into their homes. (Malachi 2: 11-16) This also dishonored God and broke their vows to Him as well! This behavior hinders the development of godly offspring, God’s plan for covenant marriage.
God warned them as well of another evil practice. The law of God strictly forbids stealing but these people were stealing from God. They were not giving God their tithes, bringing them under a curse. The devourer was eating their crops and taking away their sustenance. (Malachi 3:8-12) The remedy was simple–return to God by bringing Him His tithe! God tells them that they can test Him in this, the only place in Scripture where testing God is allowed or encouraged! God promises to open the windows of heaven for those who honor Him with the tithe! He will also rebuke the devourer and bless their provisions.
God was going to send His messenger of the covenant to His temple. He would be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap, purifying the Levites. This process would bring about righteous obedience in the offerings and personal behavior. Who could stand when this “messenger” comes? God was going to be quick to testify against those involved in sins of adultery, perjury, sorcery, and oppression of orphans and widows! (Malachi 3:1-8) The people better prepare for this messenger and the refining fire! This fire would reduce those who opposed the Lord to ashes but the righteous would go free! (Malachi 4:1-3)
Malachi had a message that still rings true today for us. Jesus is coming! He is coming with fire this next time. Those who believe in Him will have their works tested by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Those who oppose Him will be defeated by fire and eternally judged by fire! We need to heed the time and return to the Lord before time runs out!