12 “But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. 13 You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.
14 “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!
Malachi 1:12-14 (NLT)
Finish up
In these verses Malachi finishes up this rebuke of the way and attitude of the people’s (especially the priest’s) worship. In this NT era, we know that the sacrifices themselves don’t achieve forgiveness but were pointers to the coming sacrifice of Christ. It’s the heart of faith that matters. When they offered sacrifices to please the Lord, to give thanks, and praise His name, He was indeed pleased. But they disdained the whole idea. They “turned up their noses” as the NLT translates it.
Slothful sacrifice
He puts the finishing touches of describing how useless their offerings and sacrifices are. They were hollow, even sacrilegious as they slothfully thought, “It’s too hard to serve the Lord”. They showed disdain and contempt…ultimately for the Lord.
He knows
What I find in this rebuke is: He knows. I doubt the people or priests actually said these things aloud. They were thinking them in their hearts…and God knew it. If He knew their thoughts, surely He knows ours.
Consider our offerings, service, and singing. Are they pleasing to the Lord? Are they offered from a pure heart of faith, love and devotion? You give in the offering at church, you donate money to missions or a charity, we serve on the music team or lead a Bible study, we pray every morning and read and even meditate on the Bible. All are excellent and should continue. Remember, God knows our hearts. As we saw yesterday, His name will be magnified – regardless.
It makes me think what kind of sacrifice I offer to my God.
“…offer your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Roman’s 12
For those reading, this is exactly why I moved the Daily Word to a blog format – so everyone could share comments and encourage one another. Thanks Grace, Jenny and others who’ve done so. I know it takes some boldness – but its for a good cause.