Malachi was the last of the Jewish prophets, a messenger in the Old Testament, who received the word of the Lord for the Israelites. He was sent to them around 100 years after they had returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile and rebuilt the temple and wall of the city through many difficulties. Many generations later, they finally began to have a peaceful and prosperous life in their Jewish homeland and that is when a particular set of problems began to arise. These were not the same problems which led to the exile to Babylon such as paganism, etc. but instead these were unacceptable practices within their worship of God both in the priesthood and the nation. Problems of the sort that easily sneak into our lives if not guarded against.
Chapter one of Malachi begins with a statement of love from the Lord. “I have loved you and have favored you!” This is the message for Judah that had come out of captivity after their severe discipline for paganism. But they answered not in the form of thankfulness and praise, but in a question: 'How have you loved us? We are certainly not all rich and life is difficult for us.' They were feeling entitled to riches in exchange for their correcting their behavior and obeying God's Laws, in spite of His rewards of a peaceful life with enough to grow their family and a traditional life in their homeland.
God's response is, “You say that I have not loved you? Look at your history! I have chosen you over other people, yet where is My honor? My Reverence? A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?” (1:6) In other words, actions speak louder than words!
They had said that it is vain to serve God, and it is of no profit to keep His ways and to worship Him because they were not all very rich by now and they had to work hard for what they did have. They asked if it is because had kept His ways that they walked mournfully before Him? They taught that the ones who are happy are the proud and insolent men that work wickedness for they domineer everywhere, and are in places of trust and profit, and none dares to resist them. They taught by example to despise God and insult His justice and guardianship, yet they expected to be protected from danger while the truly righteous fall.
In answer to His query in verse 6, the priests want to know just how they have despised His name. The Lord answers plainly that they offer the refuse animals for sacrifice, not the pure ones. They give to Him what no one else wants!
This message was to Judah. It was not easy for them to hear because they were being corrected by God. But how do we apply it today? There is also an important message here for us as today's born again Christians who live for Christ (Colossians 2:11) and are graphed into the vine through circumcision of the heart.
Let's take a closer look. They were told they were to bring their very best to God, and they were bringing whatever was easily available and no one else wanted - that which was injured, lame, or sick - to God. Is that what the God of the Universe, the Great King deserves? Now, this is really important for you and I to think about. They were commanded to bring the best to God in their worship and in their sacrifices. You and I know that He deserves much better than even the best we have to give, but He takes delight in us giving Him our best! We also know that we are required to give sacrifices of our time, of ourselves, and of how we serve other people, which brings us to some interesting questions. Are we giving our best to God? Are we giving our best to God every day: in our prayer, in our study or our service to others. When we say, "I don't have time. I’ve got my career, I've got my family and I've got this and I have that. And you know, to relax, I need to play two hours of video games every night and it..." Stop a minute. Is the Lord's table contemptible? Are we giving our best to God?
God never changes. His love, grace, mercy and benevolence does not change. Neither does His requirements for His family members. The boundaries have never changed. The rules have never changed. He deserves so much more than what we can give, yet our heart-felt obedience to Him is all He wants. We can only do that if He is more important to us than anything, which can only happen once we realize Who He really is and what He has done for us! The only way to get there is giving top priority to a relationship with the Lord God where we invest our time, love, and adoration.