IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Honor the Lord Almighty

Date: Jun. 26, 2021

Passage

Malachi 1:1-14 (ESV)

The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!”

“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?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When 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. And 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. 10 Oh 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. 11 For 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. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food, may be despised. 13 But 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. 14 Cursed 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.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:14b

Cursed 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.

INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI

Malachi's name means 'my messenger.' He was a great prophet who spoke God's message to the people of Israel around 440 B.C. This was about 100 years after the first exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. That generation flourished spiritually under the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. God had fulfilled his promise through Jeremiah that the people would return to Jerusalem and Judah after 70 years in Babylon. With great spiritual fervor the temple of God had been rebuilt. Against this backdrop of fulfillment and with eager expectation, the Israelites hoped the Lord would also fulfill his promise to shake the nations (Haggai 2:6-8), restore Israel's glory, and bring about an earthly messianic kingdom.

As time passed and a new generation came, the Israelites became cynical, worldly and cold in their relationship with God. They lost hope that God would keep his promises. They complained about God.

Malachi addresses these complaints in the form of six disputations. Malachi reminds the people that God loves them and that God is to be honored in every way, from their offerings and tithes (1:8,13; 4:9,10), to faithfulness to their spouses (2:14-16), to their obligations to love their neighbors as themselves (3:5).

Malachi looks forward to the coming of the Messiah (3:1-3) and the day of the Lord when the wicked would be judged and righteousness restored. May our hope in Jesus' second coming and our reverence for God in daily life be strengthened through our study of Malachi.


1. The Lord declares his love (1-5)

Malachi's prophecy starts as all prophesy should-with the direct word of the Lord. The Lord proclaimed his love for his people. But people in Malachi's time doubted the Lord's love for them. They asked how he had loved them. The Lord had demonstrated his love for his people in his choosing Jacob over his twin brother Esau. Much later, the Lord punished Esau for his sin and pride. We cannot always understand the Lord's ways. But when he proclaims his love, we can be sure we are loved.

2. 'My name will be feared…' (6-14)

The people doubted God's love because they held the Lord in contempt. They held him in contempt by their offerings, which were lame and diseased. They offered to the Lord sacrificial offerings they wouldn't have offered to their governors! The Lord doesn't want offerings. He wants our hearts. When we come to the Lord with a contrite heart, he accepts us, even if we make a heart offering that is worth only a fraction of a penny (Mk 12:41-44) He is worthy of our love and honor and devotion and fear, because he is our great king. His name should be feared by all nations.

Prayer: Father, Thank you for your love. Bless us to love, honor and fear you as our great king.

One Word: The Lord is our great king.

Daily Bread

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

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Intro Daily

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references