Give God What's Right Not What's Left
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Malachi operates sometime after Zechariah and before Nehemiah.
The temple is rebuilt, some semblance of worship is resumed.
There are some issue, but I wish to suggest there is one main issue: God is not seen as great.
The Mention of the “the LORD”
The Mention of the “the LORD”
The term (1st, 2nd, & 3rd person) mentioned 99 times (across 55 verses)
If we add “my” or “mine” the number goes to 121.
When the people heard this message they would’ve heard the prophet mention God or refer to God 121 times. [Husband and wife analogy]
The Mention of the “the LORD of Hosts”
The Mention of the “the LORD of Hosts”
‘YHWH shaba’ (23 times)- when you heard host you heard a large military assemble gathered
When used with YHWH, think everything that can be assembled (stars, moons, peoples, lands).
The Mention of “my name”
The Mention of “my name”
This is mentioned 9 times
It is clear that the focus is on God and His name.
“ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
“For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.
“If you do not listen, and if you do 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; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.
The offering itself cannot be standard
The offering itself cannot be standard
Notice the connection between the offering and God’s name
Mal 1:11 c.f.
Notice that the bad offering showed contempt for God’s name
“ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
“You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’
I can’t glory in what I offer because God owns everything, He is that great.
The heart cannot be the standard
The heart cannot be the standard
It’s not that the heart is not important, but is it trained?
When we consider the accusations made against Israel from God we see the heart was problematic.
Notice how God equates “not listening to His word” to “giving honour to His name
“And now this commandment is for you, O priests.
“If you do not listen, and if you do 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; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.
The central thought the prophet presents is “God’s name is great”
The central thought the prophet presents is “God’s name is great”
This is what God wants from them
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
I believe this may be pointing towards a future time with Christ*
God wants us to see His greatness.
Consider the following terms
Consider the following terms
“despise” Mal 1:6 - to esteem something lightly, to consider something as worthless
“defiled” Mal 1:7 - things inconsistent wit covenant behaviour or attitude
“not pleased” Mal 1:10 - does not bring joy or satisfaction
Is God’s Name Great
Is God’s Name Great
When I worship?
When I serve?
When I give?
Do we regard his name as great, if we do then we will give Him what is right and NOT what’s left.