Daily Devotional Thursday 2nd January 2020

by William Moody

Malachi 1:6–14

The Priests’ Polluted Offerings

“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?’ 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. 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. 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 be1 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.

Footnotes

[1] 1:11 Or is (three times in verse 11; also verse 14)

(ESV)

God challenges His people over the lack of honour that he receives (v6). Again God’s Word on this is challenged (v6b). There is often a large gap between how God sees things and how His people see things. Why is this?

Contempt for God was shown in the people’s worship (v7-8). God’s response is to reject and despise the people’s approach (v9-10).

God regards the pollution of the sacrifices so serious because it demeans G0d and what He deserves. Disgracing the sacrifices was also so serious as these all pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

God’s comes back with His desire to be glorified among the nations through His people’s worship (v11). The people’s attitude to worship was so wrong and they had lost sight of who they were worshipping (v12-13a).

Among those who come to Him God’s demands their best, even perfection (v13b-14). This is what God deserves and brings home to us that we can only approach God through Jesus who lived and died as a perfect sacrifice.

How does this passage challenge your approach to worship and to approaching God? Take time to pray about this.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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