Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Malachi talks about worship? I thought it was all about tithes and offerings.


Malachi was given a burdensome revelation from God. His message is heavy, not light, and carries many warnings of impending punishment or, even worse, the message that God not only isn’t pleased with the people, He’s not going to meet with or reside with them anymore. The statement that He would just as soon have the Temple doors closed so they can’t enter implies that when they do enter, He won’t be there to answer or respond. The people have offended God greatly, and He’s not going to take it anymore.

Malachi begins with the ominous statement that this revelation is a heavy burden (in the Hebrew the word for revelation means "burden"). Malachi, whose name means “My messenger,” was going to carry a message of warning and a direct accusation against the people and the priests of Israel. The people of Israel have been struggling under oppression, and while they’ve been allowed back into their homeland, many still feel as if God doesn’t care about them. If He doesn’t care about them, why should they care about Him? Malachi begins his message by answering the question, “Does God really love us?” God’s response is that He chose them and rejected Esau (Edom). Even though Edom thinks she will rebuild and become great again, God reminds the people that He’s pronounced judgment on Edom and won’t allow them to rebuild, but will ultimately overthrow them. God will do this so Israel and the world) will be able to look on it and know that He is God, He is in control, and that His name will be praised, even beyond the borders of Israel. In other words, God desires for all men to know His fame, and He wants His people to know His love and care for them.

Having given proof that God still loves them, Malachi drops right into the indictment against the people. It’s natural for a son to respect his father, yet the people of Israel have no respect or honor for God. The people don’t understand this, since they still are going through all the motions of the sacrifices they are to offer to God for His good pleasure. However, God hates their offerings. Why? Because they aren’t bringing Him their best. They’re bringing Him whatever they feel like bringing – usually the sick and the damaged – feeling that since they at least are offering something that God must be pleased. God responds in anger that they have no respect for Him anymore, that they are bringing to Him offerings that they wouldn’t even dare to give to a ruler or someone in authority. Why would they give God something worse than they would give each other and still expect God to accept what they offered and be happy with it? God had reached the point where He says that they may as well close the doors of the temple and stop the sacrifices they’re offering because He won’t be there to accept them – since they’re an offense to Him as it is. God desires the worship and praise of all people, and he wants it to be authentic, from the heart worship, not a going through the motions so I’ll bring whatever I feel like bringing worship (which isn’t God-worship at all but self-worship).

It gets worse from there. Not only do they not offer their best for sacrifices, they disrespect even the very act of the sacrifice, turning up their noses at it, considering it common or profane. God calls their attitude and actions “tiresome.” Why should He accept blemished and worthless sacrifices offered by people who don’t even care what they bring to Him? How authentic is that kind of offering of worship? God calls the people hypocrites for going through the motions without having the right heart for what they are doing. Should they continue, God promises great punishment and condemnation for their actions. Why? Because He is the greatest King, and He will have His name be awesome among the nations.

What are the implications for us today? This heavy burden was saved for us to read and learn from for a reason, so how would this apply to us today? It starts with this question: “What kind of offering of worship to we bring to our God on a daily or weekly basis?” When we gather together on a Sunday morning, are we really bringing our best for our God, or do we come out of obligation? Do we see times of corporate worship as incredible opportunities to worship together the God Who loves us, or is it so common to us that we go through the motions with ease, focus more on our conversations with friends than our conversations with God, or even have no problem skipping out or leaving for any reason? God is basically telling us in this message that if we aren’t going to bring Him the best of what we have, if we don’t come to worship having Him as the sole object of our worship and our reason for being there, we might as well stay home. God looks for and will meet and bless the people who seek Him first and offer Him proper offerings of worship and praise, but will refuse to meet with people who are there out of obligation, who don’t bring their best but choose to turn up their noses, as it were, to the true, authentic offerings being offered. What does the way we live our lives the rest of the week say about whether our offerings of worship are authentic or not? God is looking at the total package, not just at what happens during an hour and a half on a Sunday morning. And remember, He is looking at our hearts and our motivations, not just at our outward actions. He knows whether we’re being real or not, whether it’s authentic or merely going through the motions.

God is looking for people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Those whose worship isn’t in spirit or in truth He labels hypocrites and promises condemnation if they don’t repent and return to authentically worshiping Him. Those whose worship is real, however, He showers down His love and blessing. God wants more than anything for His name to be the greatest and the most worshiped in all the world. He takes it very seriously, and we have been created to give Him that praise and honor. Not doing so robs Him of that honor and that glory, and in the coming chapters Malachi delivers even weightier messages concerning robbing God and its consequences.

thoughts from Malachi

Whenever I think of Malachi, I think of the last book of the Old Testament, the 400+ year silence before the birth of Christ, and tithes and offerings (test Me and see). This time, I'm reading Malachi from a worship perspective, seeking to relate Malachi's message to our worship today. God has some very strong words for our offerings of worship, and I'm looking forward to getting deeper into the message God sent to us through His messenger (in Hebrew, Malachi means "my messenger").