WHAT AM I WILLING TO GIVE TO THE KING?

Malachi 1:6 ( ESV )

6

“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?’

• The questions of Israel to God about How have you loved us in verse 2 is now turned around. The real question should be, What about your love for me and how do you show it?

• A pattern seems to develop through the book as well. (Lord makes a statement, men ask how, Lord then tells them. 1:2-3, 1:7, 2:13-14, 2:17, 3:6-8, 3:13-15**)
• Two types of relationships are viewed here.  Father/Son, Servant/Master.
• Both positions have the idea of submission towards, yet the priest wanted to make their own rules and exceptions.
• Definition of honor?   Word is to be heavy or give weight to something. Same word is used in Ex. 20 @ a Child honoring his parents.   This is what is lacking with the Lord in His relationship to His children. The Lord is asking where is my honor?)
• Definition of fear?     To be terrified or to tremble.   This is what is lacking towards the Lord from His servants in this passage.  Despise here means, To disesteem or to disdain. The very opposite of honor.

• He is called the Lord of hosts here or the Lord of armies. How does this deal with the passage? He is the master of our souls and He alone will right the wrong of this world.

• Lord of Hosts-Used more often in the book of Malachi than any other OT book. II Kings 6:17 Do we see His armies gathered around us?
• The priests are the ones in this passage who despise His name. The very ones who should have been the leaders in how to honor His name. The Priest should have also been the ones who guarded the sancturay's entrance. They should have been the ones who said NO.
• How has His name been dishonored? Question is answered in the next  verse.

Malachi 1:7 ( ESV )

7By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.

• Definition for the word polluted in this passage. To soil, to stain or to defile.

• My altar-They had forgotten who the offerings were for and that this was His altar.
• How have we-I don't know about you but the tone seems to be that of one who almost sounds sarcastic in his tone.
• Polluted you-Note the correspondence b/w the altar and how they see that it represents His very personhood.
• They would have never had said this by their words but their actions spoke so.

Malachi 1:8 ( ESV )

8When 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.

• Blind, lame or sick-Lev. 22:22, Dt. 15:21 Dt. 17:1**.  These types of offerings were in direct violation to God's Word. How did this take place might be the question to ask. Sick-Worn out or wounded. Why was this so important? Every sacrifice was to remind Israel of the Lamb of God who would not just cover their sins but take them away. John 1:35**

• Definition of evil-Wretched or displeasing. Term is used two times in the passage.
• Governor-Possibly the Persian ruler of the time.
• Almost in an ironic voice the Lord says to present it to your governor. Modern day example: Would you give this kind of offering to your president? Ex: Pretend that your president would come to your house what would you feed him?
• We become apathetical towards God and the things of God in our lives, at the heart of the matter it is seldom Does God Love us and How? But rather have we left our first love. Rev. 2:4-5**

Malachi 1:9 ( ESV )

9And 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.

• Intercessors for the people who should have sought favor from God but they had despised His very name.
• Do you really think that the Lord of Armies would show favor to you by you acting this way? What kind of gifts have you offered Him? Have they been your very best?
• Favor-Respect

Malachi 1:10 ( ESV )

10Oh 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.

• One among you-Who would stand in the gap and do right? When it came to offending His name. Who would say enough is enough. Who would serve their Lord to the uttermost and give Him their all?
• Shut the doors to the temple. It would be better not to even have a service. (Illus: Communion at Beckham.)
• Vain offerings-Please don't even light a fire on the altar. I Samuel 15:22-23** They had forgotten the old story of Saul's incomplete obedience. By doing it His way God told Him it would be better for him not to sacrifice.  God does not just want us to go through the motions and do it our own way. No when we truly love Him we will want to show Him our love and respect by obeying what we know that we should do.

• The Lord actually takes no pleasure in them as a group of leaders who had offended His name.

• Not all our offerings are accepted by the Lord.

Malachi 1:11 ( ESV )

11For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be£ 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.

• Rising of the sun-Idea is that from one end of the earth to the other. Also has the idea of a future time. Ps. 50:1,Psalms 113:3 One day like Ruth they will come to Him. Ruth 1:16-17.
• My name will be great-Though dishonored by His own His name will be praised throughout the whole world.
• Incense will be offered-Idea of prayer will be offered up. The praise of our lips. The prayers of the saints offered up in the book of Revelation. Archaeological Bible " The aromatic odor was the only physical entity to enter to permeate the veil that sealed off the divine presence from the ministering priesthood.  Like a smoke rising up to the heavens. Ps. 141:2 "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."

• Pure offerings in contrast to the polluted ones offered up earlier.

• My name will be great among the nations. How? The Lion of Judah will come forth.

Malachi 1:12 ( ESV )

12But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.

• Profane-To wound or dissolve.
• When you say-They even knew what they were doing was not offering up their best. This is where it really gets bad. They knew that they were not giving their best to the Lord. Do we get to this point in our lives? We are just to tired.
• Despised-The word is used again in this passage.

Malachi 1:13 ( ESV )

13But 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.

• What a Weariness-Definition of weariness-What a trouble. Has His Word become tiresome and weary to you? Do you feel like you are only going through the motions? I challenge you as a brother in the Lord to keep your eyes focused on Jesus as a Living and Breathing reality in your life. The lover, the father, and the Lord of the armies of your soul. This is who we are living for in the midst of the daily grind.                                                           
• Not only had it become a wearisome thing but they even snorted at it. (The idea of to look down upon?)

• Taken by violence- Idea is that these animals were torn. Wild animals or the owners own abuse of the animal.

• Shall I accept this from your hand? The answer is a resounding NO. God does not want us to live shoddy lives before Him but giving Him the best that we have.

Malachi 1:14 ( ESV )

14Cursed 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.

• Cursed-Does not matter whether or not that they were Israelites, they would be cursed if they continued to treat their God in this way.
• Cheat-What word is used for this in other translations? Thief. NAS Swindler.
• Blemished-A marred one or perishing.
• He is the Great King-Above all rulers and above all men or earthly thrones. Phil. 2:5-11
• My name will be feared-The king will be honored. My name will be reverenced.

• Male-It had to be a male sacrificial animal without blemish. Lev. 22:18-23

Have we like the priest of Malachi's time become apathetical in our walks? Have we become complacent? Have we forgotten our first love? If so will we not confess it, do our first works and be even more obedient to the one who loves our souls?