God’s Punishment of Priestly Pollution

Be comforted by how God has loved His people

Malachi 1:2 (ESV)

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

God’s love calls us

Deuteronomy 7:7–11 ESV

7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.

God’s love keeps us

Malachi 3:6 ESV

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Be compelled by how God has revealed His greatness

Malachi 1:5 ESV

5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

God’s power cannot be threatened

Proverbs 21:1 ESV

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Isaiah 43:13 ESV

13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

Matthew 19:26 ESV

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 28:18 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

God’s glory will not be thwarted

Isaiah 48:11 ESV

11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Psalm 115:1 ESV

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Be concerned when God’s name is profaned

In verses 7-8 the Lord rebukes their actions.

Malachi 1:7–8 ESV

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.

Deuteronomy 15:21 ESV

21 But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.

In verses 12-13A the Lord rebukes their attitudes.

Mal 1:12-13

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.

13A But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts.

NICOT

“to profane” is synonymous with “to despise” or “to defile” in verses 6 and 7.

They have made common, or of no consequence, that which is holy and profound.

To deem the Lord’s name ordinary is, in fact, despising it, because He alone is worthy of all honor!

Be careful when God’s Word is perverted