“Honoring God: A Call to Faithful Leadership”

Malachi 1:6-2:9

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.

The Lord Rebukes the Priests

2 “And now, O priests, this command is for you.

2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.

4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.

5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.

6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Introduction:

Malachi is a powerful prophetic message that addresses the shortcomings of the priesthood and calls for a return to true worship and faithful leadership.

The historical context of Malachi's message is crucial for understanding the depth of his words.

The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon, and the Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt.

However, the spiritual passion that once characterized the people seemed to have waned.

Malachi confronted the priests, who were responsible for leading the people in worship, with a strong message of rebuke and an urgent call to honor God.

1. The Dishonorable Offerings (Malachi 1:6-9)

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.”

The first point we draw from this passage is the importance of offering true and honorable worship to God.

In Malachi's time, the priests had fallen into a state of complacency and negligence in their duties.

They offered blemished and defiled animals as sacrifices, treating their service to God as a burden rather than a privilege.

This dishonorable behavior demonstrated a lack of reverence and devotion, tarnishing the sacredness of the worship experience.

Application: As believers today, we must examine our hearts and ensure that our worship is not reduced to mere ritual or empty gestures.

God desires sincere devotion, where our hearts are fully engaged in worship, and our offerings reflect our reverence and love for Him.

2. The Failure of Leadership (Malachi 2:1-7)

“And now, O priests, this command is for you.

2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.

4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.

5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.

6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”

Malachi's second point addresses the failure of the priests to fulfill their responsibilities as spiritual leaders.

The priests had a duty to teach the people, to uphold the law of God, and to act as messengers of divine truth.

However, they had deviated from their calling.

They showed partiality in administering justice, failed to rebuke sin, and neglected to impart wisdom and knowledge to the people.

Their lack of faithfulness resulted in the people stumbling in their relationship with God.

Application: This passage reminds us of the responsibility that falls on leaders within the church and society.

Whether pastors, teachers, parents, or influencers, we are called to lead with integrity, humility, and a commitment to truth.

James 3:1

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

We must prioritize teaching and guiding others in the ways of righteousness, always pointing them toward a deeper relationship with God.

3. The Covenant of Leadership (Malachi 2:8-9)

8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

In the final section of our passage, Malachi emphasizes the covenant nature of leadership.

The priests were meant to be messengers and guardians of the divine covenant, representing God's love, faithfulness, and justice to the people.

However, their failure to honor their covenant obligations resulted in God's rejection of their offerings and a withdrawal of His blessing.

Application: We, too, are part of a covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we are called to be ambassadors of Christ, carrying His message of salvation and love to the world.

Just as the priests of Malachi's time were held accountable for their unfaithfulness, we must recognize the weight of our covenant responsibilities and lead in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Conclusion:

The words of Malachi challenge us to examine our hearts, to reevaluate our worship, and to embrace our role as faithful leaders in the kingdom of God.

Let us not repeat the mistakes of the priests in Malachi's day but strive to honor God in all that we do.

May our worship be sincere, our leadership be marked by integrity, and our lives be a reflection of God's covenant love.

May we always remember that our ultimate aim is to bring glory to the One who is worthy of all honor and praise. Amen.