Malachi 1
Message to Malachi for Israel verse 1
The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi
LORD shows love to Israel by electing Jacob verse 2- 3
I have loved you
says the LORD
Yet you say
Wherein have YOU loved us?
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? – says the LORD
yet I loved Jacob
AND I hated Esau – and laid his mountains and his heritage
waste for the dragons of the wilderness
LORD manifest love by treatment of Edom verse 4- 5
Whereas Edom says
We are impoverished
BUT we will return and build the desolate places
Thus says the LORD
They shall build – but I will throw down
They shall call them
The border of wickedness
AND
The people against whom the LORD
has indignation for ever
AND your eyes shall see
and you shall say
The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel
LORD has conversation with disobedient priests verse 6- 9
A son honors his father
and a servant his master
IF then I be a father – where is MINE honor?
and IF I be a master – where is MY fear?
says the LORD of hosts unto you
O priests – that despise MY name
AND you say
Wherein have we despised YOUR name?
You offer polluted bread upon MINE altar
And you say
Wherein have we polluted YOU?
In that you say – The table of the LORD is contemptible
AND IF you offer the blind for sacrifice – is it not evil?
AND IF ye offer the lame and sick – is it not evil?
Offer it now unto your governor
will he be pleased with you – or accept your person
says the LORD of hosts
AND now – I pray you
beseech God that HE will be gracious to us
this has been by your means
will HE regard your persons?
says the LORD of hosts
LORD not pleased with sacrifices verse 10
Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought?
NEITHER do you kindle fire on MINE altar for nought
I have NO PLEASURE in you – says the LORD of hosts
NEITHER will I accept an offering at your hand
Gentile nations will honor the LORD verse 11
FOR from the rising of the sun even
unto the going down of the same
MY name shall be great among the Gentiles
AND in every place incense shall be offered to MY name
and a pure offering
FOR MY name shall be great among the heathen
says the LORD of hosts
Priests are guilty of dishonoring the LORD verse 12- 13
BUT YOU have profaned it – in that you say
The table of the LORD is polluted
and the fruit thereof
even HIS meat – is contemptible
YOU said also
BEHOLD – what a weariness is it!
AND YOU have snuffed at it
says the LORD of hosts
AND YOU brought that which was torn – lame – sick
thus YOU brought an offering
Should I accept this of your hand?
says the LORD
LORD curses the deceiver verse 14
BUT cursed be the deceiver – which has in his flock a male – and vows
and sacrifices unto the Lord a corrupt thing
FOR I am a great King – says the LORD of hosts
and MY name is dreadful among the heathen
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 I have love you, says the LORD. Yet you say, Wherein have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Says the LORD; yet I loved Jacob. (157 “loved” [’ahab] means to endear, to have great affection, have loyalty toward, to breath after, or have an affection toward someone you have a close relationship with.)
DEVOTION: The LORD is comparing HIS relationship between Jacob and Esau. Remember that Esau was the firstborn and older brother of Jacob. The LORD chose Jacob over Esau. The LORD can choose one person over another as HE knows the beginning from the end. HE knows who is going to follow HIM and who is not because HE doesn’t live in time. The doctrine of Election is a very hard doctrine to explain and understand fully when it relates to the LORD.
We live in time and don’t understand how someone, even God, can know the future. Our understanding of love and hate is not the same with the LORD. It is a matter of choice. One is chosen and the other is not.
When we used to play sports with pick up teams we had to pick one at a time. If we were the captain we would always try to pick the best player first and so on until the last player was picked. It wasn’t that we hated the last one picked but we liked the first one picked better. That is human choice. The LORD knows more than we will ever know about Jacob and Esau.
When we pick someone to be our spouse we chose them because we love them, not because we hate everyone else. But from the perspective of the one we didn’t chose it seems like we hated them sometimes. It is a wrong conclusion. God gives everyone a choice to be a follower or not. HE knows their decision but doesn’t make the decision for them.
The LORD judges Edom who was descendants of Esau for their actions toward Israel. They didn’t treat Israel well. God was just in HIS dealings with Edom. HE judged Israel as well.
HE chastened them at times and they responded to HIS chastening. The Edomites didn’t respond well to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Once we become a genuine follower of Jesus Christ we have a close relationship with the LORD. We need to believe this TRUTH!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? And if I be a master, where is my fear? Says the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, Wherein have we despised your name? (5240 “despised” [namibzeh] means held in contempt, disdained, vile, or think lightly of.)
DEVOTION: Parents can cause problems for their children if they are not raised right in their relationship to the LORD. Teachers can cause problems in their students if they don’t train them right in the Word of God when they teach them in Sunday School. Pastors can cause problems for the children of the church if they don’t have the right programs for them to learn and enjoy their time in church. Members of the church can cause problems if they mistreat the pastor’s children or the other children in the church. We all have a part in training the future generation in the LORD.
The priests in Malachi’s day were leading the people in the wrong direction. They were going through the motions but there was no heart in their obedience. The LORD called them on their lack of truthfulness.
The religious leaders were causing the people to hold the LORD’S name in contempt. They were offering sacrifices that didn’t meet the standard the LORD had set. They were not obeying the LORD and in doing so they were training the people that they didn’t have to obey the LORD. They were giving the LORD a bad name.
When they were confronted they told Malachi that they were not thinking lightly of the LORD. Their actions proved a different story. Too often when the LORD confronted HIS priests they came up with excuses for not doing things right. The LORD didn’t accept their excuses.
We have to find out what the LORD expects of us as HIS priests today. If we are not living up to HIS standard and teaching others the same, we will answer to HIM.
CHALLENGE: We are to train up a child or young believer in the way they should go. This goes for parents, teachers and pastors.
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: 8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? Says the LORD of hosts. (5066 “offer” [nagash] means to turn towards, bring near, to cause to approach, to present, or to step forward.)
DEVOTION: The LORD is very conversational in HIS teaching. HE talks to the priests through the prophet Malachi. HE wants them to understand things from HIS perspective. They have their perspective and HE has HIS. HIS perspective is always HOLY and PURE. The perspective of the priests is fallen humanity.
The way the LORD teaches is the same way Jesus Christ taught when HE walked the earth at HIS first coming. HE asked questions. The Pharisees would ask questions and HE would answer them with a question. It is a good teaching method. It causes the person to think about an answer to the question. The LORD wants us to think about what we are doing. HE knows that a lot of times we act before we think. At other times we act intentionally.
HE wants us to know the difference. If we are acting intentionally when we sin and not in ignorance then we know we deserve chastening. HE wants the priests to know that they deserve chastening.
HE compares what we do to HIM with what we would do to a fellow human being. HE wants us to think about how we treat people who have authority over us on earth with HIM who has authority over us for eternity.
What questions would HE be asking us today regarding our actions? How would we answer HIS questions?
CHALLENGE: Remember HE knows our deepest thoughts. Nothing is out of HIS sight. We can’t fake HIM out.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. (3372 “dreadful” [yare’] means to fear, frightful, revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, to inspire reverence, honor, respect, or be awed.)
DEVOTION: This is written in the time period of Nehemiah. He was the governor who built the walls of Jerusalem. The Temple had been built under the ministry of Ezra. Now the land had the Temple and the walls around Jerusalem.
However, the people were not honoring the LORD. This books starts by condemning the priests for their actions. They were bring sacrifices that were polluted, blind, lame and sick. They thought that the LORD would accept anything as long as they were offering sacrifices.
Malachi told them to offer these offerings to their governor. The LORD was not pleased with their offerings. HE had commanded clean wholesome animals to be offered to on HIS altar. The priests thought that the LORD would bless them no matter what they offered. They were wrong.
The LORD has no pleasure with the leftovers. HE wants the firstfruits. HE wants the best of the flock. HE wants to be honored for all that HE does for HIS people. IF the leadership don’t care, then the people will not care. Malachi starts with the leadership. The LORD wants the leadership to honor HIM.
This verse that ends the chapter curses the priests for their offerings. They will not receive any blessing. They were promising a male from their flock but giving either nothing or imperfect animals. They were offering corrupt things to the LORD. This was very wrong.
The verse continues to make the statement that the LORD is a GREAT KING and because HE is a great king the heathen are going to FEAR OR STAND IN AWE of HIS name. The chosen people didn’t honor HIS name but those outside of Israel were going to honor HIS name. It is a sad commentary.
The truth for today is that those who are not active in the church sometimes have more respect for the LORD than those who attend church every Sunday. Remember that judgment BEGINS at the house of the LORD. Those in leadership are going to receive the greater judgment.
Pastor what kind of offering did you offer to the LORD this last Sunday? Was it the best of the flock or just leftovers? Was it fresh meat or leftovers from days gone by? Did your people leave the service with a full meal? Today we have no excuse for not offering the LORD our best. There are so many tools available to all pastors that the meals they serve should be filling. Sad to say that many in our pulpits are not drinking at the well of LIVING WATER. Remember to pray for the leadership of the church you are attending.
Our responsibility to those who have rejected Jesus Christ is to continually show what a genuine Christian is like according to the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Our witness should never change whether they respond to the gospel or not.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
LORD will not answer prayers verse 9
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Priests verse 6
Offering on God’s altar verse 7, 10, 11
Table of the LORD verse 7, 12
Sacrifices verse 8
Incense verse 11
Vow verse 14
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 4- 14
I have love you (Israel) verse 1
LORD of hosts verse 4, 6, 8- 11, 13, 14
LORD says of Edom: They shall build, but I
will throw down, and they shall call
them, the border of wickedness and
the people against whom the LORD
hath indignation forever verse 4
Indignation verse 4
LORD will be magnified verse 5
Father verse 6
Master verse 6
Table of the LORD verse 7
Gracious verse 9
No pleasure in Israel verse 10
Not accept offering of Israel verse 10
God’s name great among Gentiles verse 11
Lord (Owner, Master) verse 14
Great King verse 14
Name dreadful among heathen verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 9
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Edom verse 4
We are impoverished
Gentiles verse 11
Heathen verse 11, 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wickedness verse 4
Dishonor God verse 6
Unfaithful priests verse 6
Despise the LORD verse 6
Polluted offerings verse 7, 8, 10, 12- 14
Contemptible use of table of the LORD verse 7, 12
Offer blind as sacrifice verse 8
Evil verse 8
Not pleasing God verse 8
Heathen verse 11, 14
Profaned name of the LORD verse 12
Bring improper offerings to LORD verse 13
torn and lame and sick
Complained that offerings were weariness verse 13
Deceiver – sacrificed corrupt things verse 14
Broken vows verse 14
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Love of God verse 2
Honor father verse 6
Honor God verse 6
God is master verse 6
Fear of the LORD verse 6
Pray verse 9
Grace verse 9
Pure offering verse 11
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israel verse 1, 5
Malachi verse 1
Burden of the word of the LORD
Loved the LORD
Esau verse 2, 3
Jacob’s brother
LORD hated Esau
Jacob verse 2
Loved of the LORD
Governor verse 8
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
1:2 Malachi begins by affirming God’s love for the benefit of those who were questioning it, either by their words or their actions. The modern reader will wonder whether an affection or an action is in view and whether the time of God’s love is past or present. Like most versions, the NIV has translated the Hebrew verb form (a qāṭal or perfect conjugation) with a present perfect (cf. REB, “I have shown you love”), suggesting a past situation or activity in continuity with the present.18 Terms for “love” were common in ancient Near Eastern treaties as synonyms for covenant loyalty. In Mesopotamian texts, divine love also motivated selection of a king (see also Neh 13:26). Likewise in the Hebrew Bible, especially in Deuteronomy, ʾāhab, “love,” often is found in texts dealing with choosing and with faithfulness.22 Wallis explains that it involves “the passionate desire to be intimately united with a person,” but it also has “a strikingly pragmatic character” and “includes a conscious act in behalf of the person who is loved or the thing that is preferred.” Here in Malachi it refers to the Lord’s election of Israel for a special and exclusive relationship, redeeming them from bondage in Egypt and from exile in Babylon, and continually acting in faithfulness to that relationship (cf. Deut 7:6; Amos 3:2). Although God certainly had affection for Israel,25 the focus here is on his repeated actions in accordance with a continuing relationship.
It is appropriate that Malachi, the last of the writing prophets, should contain an echo of God’s affirmations of love from the beginning of Israel’s history in Deuteronomy. This echo also encompasses all the demonstrations of that steadfast love from the time of Moses to the end of Old Testament revelation. The reader of Malachi should also recall the Lord’s affirmation of love with which “the Book of the Twelve” or Minor Prophets begins. Watts notes that God’s love (ʾāhabâ) for Israel is only explicit in the Twelve in Hosea (3:1; 9:15; 11:1, 4; 14:3–4) and here in Mal 1:2. All that has happened in and to Israel has not overturned the Lord’s love for his people (cf. Mal 3:6). The reminder here at the end of the prophets (and the end of the OT in the Protestant Christian Bible) serves as a summary of God’s faithfulness that would be preeminently demonstrated by his provision of a messianic deliverer in Jesus Christ.
Like a Pauline epistle, the Book of Malachi begins in the indicative mood before moving to the imperative. Biblical faith includes both, but obedience is always a response to what God has already done. As C. J. H. Wright explains, “God did not send Moses down to Egypt with the law already tucked under his cloak.”30 Rather, the giving of the Law is prefaced by “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Exod 19:4). The knowledge that one has been chosen by God for an intimate relationship and that God will always act in accordance with that relationship should make a profound difference in the way we handle obstacles, failure, disappointment, strife, and human antagonism (cf. Rom 5:1–11). As someone has said, “Smile, God loves you—and after all you’ve put him through, that’s really something” (cf. Hos 3:1). To a large extent spiritual health and growth consist in a growing appreciation for God’s love (cf. Eph 3:14–19).
The people of Israel who returned from exile in Babylon had been awestruck by God’s faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham. “You have kept your promise because you are righteous,” the Levites had prayed (Neh 9:8). Even when Israel had rebelled against him, God had demonstrated his forgiveness, grace, compassion, patience, and love in not deserting them (Neh 9:17; cf. Mal 3:6). Even when their rebellion occurred over and over, the Lord “delivered them time after time” (Neh 9:28). Though Israel had repeatedly refused warnings to “return to your law” (Neh 9:29; cf. Amos 4:6–11), in his great mercy the Lord “did not put an end to them or abandon them” (Neh 9:31). Therefore, in the presence of continuing hardship, the restoration community had confessed their sins, praised God for his grace, and reaffirmed. (Taylor, R. A., & Clendenen, E. R. (2004). Haggai, Malachi (Vol. 21A, pp. 246–248). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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11 God told his faithless priests that he had others who in different places and in later times would bring acceptable offerings and give him with love and devotion the worship he demanded. Of course, Christians do not bring incense and sacrificial animals to the Lord as ancient Israel did. But Revelation 5:8 reminds us that incense corresponds to prayer, and Hebrews 13:15–16 states that “a sacrifice of praise” is “the fruit of lips that confess his name.” So Christians are among those spoken of in Malachi 1:11, those of the far-off nations living in the distant future, who in Malachi’s day were thought to be without hope because they had no contact with the religion of Jerusalem and its priests (cf. 1 Peter 2:9). (Alden, R. L. (1986). Malachi. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 713). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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1:11. In the Hebrew, this verse begins with kî (“for, because”), not translated in the NIV. It indicates that what follows is the reason the Lord refused to accept the priests’ offerings (v. 10). Scholars differ on whether the Hebrew passive participle mūggāš should be rendered will be brought (future tense, as in kjv, nasb, niv or “is brought” (pres. tense as in rsv and many commentaries). If the present tense is followed, then Malachi was referring to practices in his day. In that case the offerings refer either to those brought by Jews who were still dispersed among the nations or to offerings made by Gentiles. The first of these is rejected because the phrases from the rising to the setting of the sun and in every place indicate a practice more universal than the limited extent of the Jewish dispersion. Also the sacrifices given by Jews in the Dispersion could not be called pure offerings since they could be made only in Jerusalem. (Furthermore there is no evidence that Jews in the Dispersion offered any sacrifices.)
Those who accept a present-tense rendering of the verb mūggāš usually choose the second of the options just described. In this view God was endorsing pagan worship. However, this view must be rejected for several reasons. If it were adopted, it would be the only place in the Bible where pagan worship is considered legitimate, which would directly contradict numerous references that specifically condemn such worship (e.g., Ex. 23:24, 32–33; Deut. 13:6–11; 29:17; 1 Kings 18:19–46; Ps. 96:5; Isa. 48:5; 66:3; Hab. 2:18–20). Not even Paul’s reference to the Athenean worship of an unknown god (Acts 17:22–31) supports this interpretation that pagans worship God’s “name” with “pure offerings.” Also such an interpretation does not accord with the rest of Malachi, which strongly emphasizes strict obedience to the Mosaic Covenant.
Taking mūggāš as future (“will be brought”), however, corresponds with other Old Testament prophecies and with the Book of Malachi itself. The prophets predicted a time when Gentiles will see the light and become worshipers of the Lord (Isa. 45:22–25; 49:5–7; 59:19). The Messiah will become King over the entire earth. Believers in all nations will worship Him (Isa. 11:3–4, 9; Dan. 7:13–14, 27–28; Zeph. 2:11; 3:8–11; Zech. 14:9, 16). Malachi also spoke of the coming of the future day when the Lord will return and will bring about pure worship in Israel (Mal. 3:1–4). It seems preferable then to associate the “pure” Gentile worship mentioned in 1:11 with Israel’s pure worship. But will Gentiles in the kingdom give offerings “in every place”? No. This problem is alleviated if the preposition be (usually meaning “in”) before “every place” is rendered “from,” as in Isaiah 21:1 (cf. Theological Wordbook of the OldTestament. 2 vols. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980, s.v. “be,” 1:87). (Blaising, C. A. (1985). Malachi. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1578–1579). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Now Malachi directs his message especially to the priests (1:6; 2:1, 7–8), who, instead of living exemplary lives, were guilty of breaking the very Law they were supposed to obey and teach. The way they were serving the Lord was a disgrace to His name.
Eight times in this section you find the phrase “My name” (1:6, 11, 14; 2:2, 5; see also 3:16 and 4:2), referring, of course, to God’s character and reputation. The priests who were supposed to honor God’s name were disgracing it before the people and the Lord. The priests were supposed to be God’s children, yet they weren’t honoring their Father; they were called to be God’s servants, yet they showed no respect for their Master. When Malachi confronted them, the priests arrogantly asked, “In what way have we despised Your name?” (1:6, nkjv), so he told them.
To begin with, they were offering defiled sacrifices on the altar (vv. 6–14). The word “bread” means “food” and refers to the sacrifices provided in the Law of Moses (Lev. 1–7). These animals had to be perfect; nothing imperfect could be brought to the altar of God and accepted (Deut. 15:19–23; Lev. 22:17–33). After all, these sacrifices pointed to the Lamb of God who would one day die for the sins of the world (John 1:29; Heb. 10:1–14), and if they were imperfect, how could they typify the Perfect Sacrifice, the Son of God?
In short, the priests were permitting the people to bring God less than their best. If they had offered these defective beasts to their governor, he would have rejected them, but the animals were good enough for the Lord. These priests had forgotten what was written in their own Law: “Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf” (Lev. 22:20, niv). What does this say to professed Christians who spend hundreds of dollars annually, perhaps thousands, on gifts for themselves, their family, and their friends, but give God a dollar a week when the offering plate is passed?
Our offerings to God are an indication of what’s in our hearts, for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). People who claim to love the Lord and His work can easily prove it with their checkbooks! Giving is a grace (2 Cor. 8:1, 6–9), and if we’ve experienced the grace of God, we’ll have no problem giving generously to the Lord who has given so much to us. How can we ask God to be gracious to us and answer prayer (Mal. 1:9) if we’ve not practiced “grace giving” ourselves?
Malachi told these disobedience priests that it would be better to close the doors of the temple and stop the sacrifices altogether than to continue practicing such hypocrisy. Better there were no religion at all than a religion that fails to give God the very best. If our concept of God is so low that we think He’s pleased with cheap halfhearted worship, then we don’t know the God of the Bible. In fact, a God who encourages us to do less than our best is a God who isn’t worthy of worship.
The day will come when the Gentiles will worship God and magnify His great name (v. 11). Malachi looked ahead to the time when the message of salvation would be taken to all nations, and beyond that, he saw the establishing of the kingdom on earth when the Gentiles would “flow into it” (Isa. 2:2; see also 11:3–4, 9; 45:22–25; 49:5–7). God’s call to Abraham involved the Jews becoming a blessing to the whole earth (Gen. 12:1–3), just as His call to the church involves taking the Gospel to all nations (Mark 16:15).
The priests even allowed the people to cheat on their vows (Mal. 1:13–14). If a man promised God a sacrifice but brought an animal that was sick or blemished, the priest would accept it, even though the man had a perfect animal back home. In the Mosaic Law, vows were purely voluntary, but once they were made, they were binding (Lev. 27; Num. 30; Deut. 23:21–23). If the governor wouldn’t accept cheap offerings (Mal. 1:8), would a great king accept cheap substitutes? (v. 14) God is a great King and He deserves the best we can bring Him. What we promise, we must perform.
Why did the priests deliberately disobey their own law, pollute the altar of the Lord, and encourage the people to worship God in a cheap, careless manner? For one thing, the priests themselves weren’t giving God their best, so why make greater demands on the people? “Like people, like priests” (Hosea 4:9; Jer. 5:30–31), for no ministry rises any higher than its leaders.
But there was another reason why blemished sacrifices were acceptable: the priests and their families were fed from the meat off the altar, and the priests wanted to be sure they had food on the table. After all, the economy was bad, taxes were high, and money was scarce, and only the most devoted Israelite would bring a perfect animal to the Lord. So the priests settled for less than the best and encouraged the people to bring whatever was available. A sick animal would die anyway, and crippled animals were useless, so the people might as well give them to the Lord! They forgot that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22; Ps. 51:16–17; Micah 6:6–8; Mark 12:28–34). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be amazed (pp. 143–146). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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1:11 from the rising of the sun even to its setting. The phrase is a way of referring to the whole earth (cf. Pss 50:1; 103:12; Is 45:6; 59:19; Zec 8:7), as the subsequent phrase, “in every place,” indicates (cf. 1:5). Although no indication is given as to the time when such worship of God will fill the earth, this cannot be a reference to any historic Jewish worship outside the borders of Israel. Malachi’s zeal for Israel’s sacrifices, coupled with his negative attitude toward foreigners and their gods (vv. 2–5; 2:11), points to the millennial era, when they will worship in the rebuilt temple, and incense plus offerings will be present (cf. Eze 40–48). At that time, and not until that time, the Lord will receive pure worship throughout the world and His name will be honored everywhere (cf. Is 2:24; 19:19–21; 24:14–16; 45:22–24; 66:18–21; Mic 4:1–3; Zec 8:20–23; 14:16–19). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Mal 1:11). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 11. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, &c.] From east to west, which is all habitable; not so north and south, as Kimchi observes, the extremes of which are not habitable. Abarbinel thinks that מ in ממזרח is causal; and that the sense is, because of the motion of the sun in rising and setting, the Gentiles acknowledge God to be the first mover and cause of all things; and who, though they worship the host of heaven, yet ultimately direct their worship to the supreme Being, the Cause of causes; and supposes this to be a reproof of the priests, who might have learnt better even of the very Heathens; but the former is to the true sense, which declares the large extent of true spiritual worship in the Gentile world: my name shall be great among the Gentiles; through the preaching of the Gospel, attended with the spirit and power of God to the conversion of many; whereby he himself is made known, and the perfections of his nature, and his several names, and particularly that of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus; who, as such, is invocated, and greatness and glory are ascribed unto him for the gift of his Son, and the mission of him into the world, to be the Saviour of Gentiles as well as of Jews: and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name; some Jewish writers understand this of Israelites, the disciples of the wise men, studying in the law, and putting up their evening prayers to God, in every place where they live among the Gentiles; which are as acceptable to God as if they offered incense, and a pure offering; this way goes Jarchi, to which agrees the Targum; and this sense is given in the Talmud, and other writings of theirs; but Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Abarbinel, interpret it of the Gentiles, though in different ways, and foreign from the sense of the text; which is, that not in Jerusalem the worship of God should be as formerly, but in all places in the Gentile world, and where particularly prayer should be made to God; see John 4:20, 21, 23; 1 Tim. 2:8. comparable to incense for its fervency, fragrancy, and gratefulness, Psal. 141:2; Rev. 8:3, 4: and a pure, offering; meaning either the Gentiles themselves, their souls and bodies, Isa. 66:20; Psal. 51:17; Rom 12:1. or their sacrifices of praise, good works, and alms-deeds, Heb. 13:15, 16. which, though imperfect, and not free from sin, may be said to be pure, proceeding from a pure heart, sprinkled by the blood of Christ, and offered in a pure and spiritual manner, and through the pure incense of Christ’s mediation: for my name shall be great among the Heathen, saith the Lord of hosts; which is repeated for the certainty of it. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, pp. 757–758). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Acts 16
Paul travels to Macedonia, Achaia, and Greece, carrying the Gospel.
INSIGHT
During World War II, many soldiers “got religion” while in their foxholes under enemy fire. Because many of those “foxhole conversions” were not genuine, some people become skeptical of anyone who professes Christianity under stressful circumstances. Yet there are many, including the Philippian jailer, who will testify that some “foxhole conversions” are genuine. Be sensitive to the Lord when you are under stress. He may use that very situation to help you get your life into perspective. (Quiet Walk)
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Joy in Believing
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8)
After His resurrection, the Lord acknowledged the legitimate need for evidence of such a mighty miracle, honoring the request of Thomas to see for himself that He had, indeed, returned from the grave. Nevertheless, Thomas could and should have believed the evidence from the other disciples when they testified of the empty tomb and the previous appearances of Christ. Consequently, the Lord Jesus gave a mild but loving rebuke to His doubting disciple. “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
It is not that the Lord wants us to be credulous, believing something with no basis except blind faith. Today we have an abundance of solid evidence, more even than the disciples themselves had, and there is no excuse not to believe. Nevertheless, we must believe; “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:24-25).
We cannot yet see Him with our eyes, as Thomas did, but we see Him with our hearts, and that is enough. As we read of Him in the Word, we see Him on the cross, taking “our sins in his own body” (1 Peter 2:24) and it breaks our hearts. Then we read of the empty tomb and the linen clothes, and are like John, who “saw, and believed” (John 20:8). Then we “rejoice with joy” (literally, “exult with exceeding gladness”), which cannot be told vocally any more than He can be seen visually. One day soon we shall really see Him in His glory, and “when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OF CHRIST
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1 Corinthians 15:27
The Bible ascribes to Christ certain divine attributes. For instance, omnipotence. Hebrews 1:3 says that He upholds “all things by the word of his power”–no stronger statement than that is possible. “All things are put under him” (1 Corinthians 15:27). Then omniscience is attributed to Him. In John 2:24-25 you will find the claim, “he knew what was in man.” It was not necessary for anybody to tell Him
Then omnipresence is attributed to Him also. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I.” In Matthew 28:20 He says, “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end.” And in John 3:13 there is a very striking statement: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” He said those words while He was on earth “the Son of man who “is in heaven.” And, indeed, the apostle Paul writes that He “filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23)–again a very comprehensive statement.
Another divine attribute is His eternity: “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). We also have statements about His immutability: He cannot change. Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Then, of course, the Bible asserts His preexistence. Colossians 1:17 tells us, “And he is before all things.” In John 17:5 He prays, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
A Thought to Ponder: The Bible ascribes to Christ certain divine attributes.
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 267-268, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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There are three main reasons why we should “give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard” (2:1), and this whole letter (Hebrews) is simple an exposition of them. The first is the source and the authority of the message, the second is the precarious and dangerous position and condition of all who listen to the message, and the third and last reason is the greatness of the message and the wondrous blessings it has to give.
(p. 35)
The gospel says, “Give the more earnest heed” – “Cone now, and let us reason together” (2:1; Isa. 1”18). It claims to be truth, and truth is always something, primarily, that comes to the mind and asks us to think. (p. 37)
(A Merciful and Faithful High Priest by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Daily Hope: Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
I have been a Pastor since 1983 when we moved from Cedarville University to Western New York to pastor a new church after the church planter became ill and had to resign. From the initial steps of ministry until today, the intricate workings of man in relationship to his surroundings and God have filled my life. The term “Preacher” has been a significant title in my adult life.
The author of Ecclesiastes identifies himself as, “The Preacher” which in the Hebrew is translated from the word Qoheleth. This word is only found here in Ecclesiastes (1:1,2,12; 7:27; 12:8-10). Its original meaning has the connation of one who addresses an assembly, to call or teach those assembled.
The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses the word “Ekklesiastes” which means one who calls an assembly, congregation, or church together to speak or teach. Therefore, the title was left as Ecclesiastes in the English Bible.
I accept the authorship of Ecclesiastes to be that of Solomon. This king of Israel was given wisdom by God (1 Kings 3: 5-15) and became the greatest king in Israel’s history. While his father, David, was more famous than Solomon, he reigned during a time when the nation expanded and developed to its greatest heights. As Solomon grew older, he wrote of the vanity of chasing things that ultimately slips from our hands! The word vanity is translated from “hebel” which means breath or vapor. Subsequently, Solomon is stating that life apart from God is like a vapor and becomes meaningless. Solomon, through a series of tests and experiments demonstrates the everything in this world is useless apart from God. Solomon states that these objects turn into idols and the pursuit of them become worthless and unfulfilling without the Lord (12:13).
Often in ministry, the Preacher’s responsibility is to create discord in the listener to cause evaluation and change. The tension in Ecclesiastes is intentional and pointed to cause reflection and repentance. While beginning this study in the book of Ecclesiastes, my prayer is that we will be sensitive to the Spirit as He speaks to us and like the churches in Revelation 2-3, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…”
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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