Malachi 1

Scripture 

Malachi 1:11-13   For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.  “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’  You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord.  Observation-What does it say?  The text ascribes authorship of this book to “Malachi.”  The name Malachi translates into “His messenger.”  Therefore, it’s possible the name is a pen name for the author, or it could be his actual name.  Malachi was influenced by the prophecies of prosperity found in Haggai and Zechariah.  But, despite these messages of hope and prosperity, the people of Israel had fallen into sin.  They had ignored acts of worship like tithing and honoring the sabbath.  In the opening of the book, Israel is told to look at their brother nation, Edom, who was also overrun by Babylon.  Edom had also forsaken their worship of the Lord, but God did not restore them.  This warning should evoke God’s greatness and bring them back to worship. Understanding-What does it mean?  Tax season is here.  Oddly enough, it’s a time of year that I enjoy.  When we sit down with our tax guy, it gives me a moment to reflect on how much God has blessed us in the last year.  I don’t mean to sound like we are living with an excess of cash.  Rather, we get to see how God has been faithful in making sure our bills are paid, we are fed and covered.  Our tax guy looks at what we have tithed and comments on how he doesn’t know how we can afford to give so much.  Every time he does, we tell him it’s a miracle and that God doesn’t work out finances like we expect.  Without fail, we have received a return on our taxes and it feels unexplainable.  When I was a young adult, I remember standing around with a group of men who were all a little older than me.  The subject of tithing was discussed and I clearly recall one of the younger men say, “I always pay my tithes, because I don’t want to test God in that way.”  Ultimately tithing is an act of worship, but one that God has called us to from the very beginning of time and one that he takes very seriously.  God asks for our first fruits.  Multiple times in the old testament, we see stories of when the first fruits were substituted with something less.  For example, Abel gave his first fruits, while Cain gave something less.  God found favor in Abel’s offering, but He was displeased with Cain.  Here in Malachi, we see a warning of what is to come if this worship is ignored.  
Life Application 

 

God, help me to not grow weary in worshiping you.  Help me to trust that when I bring my first fruits, you will be faithful to fulfill my needs.  Let me never forget your great works. 

 

-Tyler Galloway