Friday, July 16, 2021

Malachi 3:12

Malachi 3:12 says, And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when that the nation of Israel would be called blessed and would be a delightsome land when they were once again obedient to their covenant relationship with Him.  Verse thirteen adds, Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  God said that His people had spoken stoutly, or loud and strong against Him.  They asked Him when they had done this.  They were so far away from God that they didn't even know when they spoke against Him.  As followers of Christ, we should always know what God's word says, and we should be so close to Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we never speak against Him.  We definitely should never speak strongly against God and not even realize that we are doing so.  Verse fourteen continues, Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  God said they had spoken stoutly against Him when they asked what good it did to serve Him.  They said that there was no profit in serving God, though He had given them the land they lived in and had always met their needs.  Some people who profess to be Christians turn away from or at least speak out against God when they suffer any problem in the world instead of continuing to give Him the praise He deserves.  Verse fifteen concludes, And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.  God said that His chosen people now called those who were filled with self-pride happy and those that worked wickedness were set up as people to be admired.  No matter how rich a person may be today, if they are full of self-pride instead of giving God the glory for their success, then we do not need to look up to them as an example.  We certainly do not need to look up to them if they have become successful through wicked, or ungodly actions.  Verse sixteen declares, Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  Not everyone spoke out against God.  Some still gathered in His name and listened to His words.  Their names were written in God's book of remembrance.  This is where we need to be today, gathering in God's name.  When we continue to worship and praise God no matter what through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our name will be written in the Lamb's book of life.  It is faith in Jesus Christ that allows our name to be written in God's book of life, but we are still called on to be obedient to Him.  God will never forget those who are truly His.  Verse seventeen adds, And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  God said that those who were faithful to Him would be His forever.  He would spare them as a man spares His own son.  This would be made possible because God did not spare His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Verse eighteen concludes, Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.  God said that when He restored His people that they would be able to discern between the righteous and the wicked and between those who served Him and those who didn't.  This still applies to us as Christians today. 

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Malachi 3:7

 Malachi 3:7 says, Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?  God said that His chosen people who had entered into a covenant relationship with Him had turned away from the covenant and His ordinances for years.  God said that if they would return to Him that He would return to them, but they asked why they should return.  God will always stand ready to retore His people to Himself if they stray away and will even call them to return.  It is then up to them to acknowledge that they have turned away from Him and need to return.  Verse eight adds, Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  God asked a question.  Would a man rob God?  It seems that this would be a ridiculous question to ask of those who were supposed to be in a covenant relationship with God, but He answered by saying that they had robbed Him.  They then asked when they had done this.  We need to ask ourselves the same question today and look to God for the answer.  We are not the ones qualified to answer the question.  Only God is.  Verse nine declares, Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  God said the whole nation was cursed because the whole nation robbed Him.  This was not just an isolated incident with a few of His chosen people.  God said the whole nation was robbing Him.  We need to make sure that even if everyone else in the nation is guilty of robbing God that we as an individual are not.  Everybody is doing is not an excuse or justification for not obeying God.  Verse ten adds, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  God called on them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse, not because He needed anything, but to show the obedience of His people.  We really have nothing to offer God that is not already His except our obedience to Him through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We must put God and His commandments first if we are to successfully spread the gospel.  God said that if they brought the tithes  that He would pour out blessings that they would not have room to receive.  If we have needs today as followers of Christ, the way to have those needs met is to put God and His work first.  Verse eleven continues, And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when they faithfully brought His tithes into the storehouse that He would protect and provide for them.  God has not changed this promise.  Verse twelve concludes,  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that if they followed His command and put Him first that all nations would call them blessed.  If we want the rest of the world to call us a blessed nation, it must start by our being obedient to Him and putting the things of God first.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Malachi 3:1

Malachi 3:1 says, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.   God said that He would send His messenger to prepare the people for the coming Messiah.  This is a prophesy of the coming of John the Baptist, called by God to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ.  The people were told that the Messiah would come suddenly, and we are told that He, Jesus Christ the Messiah, will one day return suddenly.   It is our task as followers of Christ to share God's gospel so that people can accept His salvation and be prepared for His return.  They were told that the Messiah would come to the temple, the place of worship, and that those who put their faith in Him would delight in Him.  We know that when Jesus Christ went to the temple that the religious leaders did not delight in Him, but those who accepted Him as the coming Messiah did.  When we gather together in God's name today, we should delight in our relationship to Him.  Verse two adds, But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:  The people of Israel and Judah were asked who could stand before the coming Messiah, since He was coming as a refiner of the covenant between God and His people.  The answer was and is that no one can stand before God by their own merit, but must come through faith in the refined covenant brought by Jesus Christ.  Verse three continues, And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  God said that when Jesus Christ came that He would purify the sons of Levi, the priests of Israel.  We also know that as followers of Jesus Christ that we are called a priesthood of believers, so our relationship with God should be purified by our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four states, Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. God said that after the Messiah came and the temple was purified that the offerings of His people would be acceptable again.  If our offerings to God are to be acceptable to Him they must be presented through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can offer everything we have to God, but unless we offer it through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ it will not be acceptable.  Verse five adds, And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would be a witness against sorcerers, adulterers, and those who mistreated workers and widow and orphans.  God has always called on His people to help the less fortunate who are in need and to deal honestly with everyone.   He still expects this of Christians today.  Verse six continues, For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  God said this was to happen because He was the LORD, and He did not change.  We must accept God for Who He is, and if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be consumed by the forces of evil in the world nor in the coming judgment of God. 

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Malachi 2:10

Malachi 2:10 says, Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?  God asked did everyone not have the same Father, and the answer is that yes we do.  We may never accept Him as such, but God is the Creator, the Father, of every person, whether they acknowledge it or not.  God then asked why people dealt treacherously with one another, profaning His covenant. The answer is that God also gives each individual self-will.  We either choose to follow God through faith in Jesus Christ or we choose not to.  Verse eleven adds, Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.  God said that Judah had dealt treacherously with Him and Israel had committed an abomination.  All those who were to be God's chosen people had turned away from Him and followed idols, giving their daughters in marriage to those who were idolaters.  Verse twelve continues, The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.  God said that people who did this would be cut off from Him.  This would be true of both those who taught such things and those who believed them.  Those who teach falsely about God will be held accountable, but so will those who believe what they teach.  Verse thirteen declares, And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.  God said that the people came to the altar with false humility, covering it with tears that meant nothing.  God does not want our false tears but wants our honest rejoicing when we come to His altar.  If we do shed tears, they should be genuine tears of a truly contrite heart and should lead us to rejoicing at the grace of God.  Verse fourteen adds, Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.  God said that the men had not been faithful in their relationship to their wives.  I believe this could mean more than just adultery but could also mean ignoring the relationship with God as a couple joined as one.  Verse fifteen continues, And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.  God said that in marriage that the husband and wife were made one, not physically but spiritually.  This was so that they could produce Godly seed, or children.  Marriage is much more than one man and one woman, because God must be the center of the marriage.  Verse sixteen states, For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.  God said that He hated the putting away of wives by divorce, especially when the husband had often been cruel to his wife even before doing so.  In that day, the husband was the one who could divorce the wife, but today, when either can do so, God still hates it, unless it is for certain prescribed reasons, of which adultery is the chief.  Verse seventeen adds, Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?  God said that the people of Judah and Israel wearied Him when they questioned His authority, and so does anyone who does so today. 

Monday, July 12, 2021

Malachi 2:1

Malachi 2:1 says, And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. God had a commandment for the priests, those who were supposed to represent God to the people and the people to God.  This is what we as a priesthood of believers are supposed to do today.  Verse two adds, If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. The commandment to the priests was if they did not take God's word to heart, or if they really didn't believe it and give glory to God, then He would send a curse on them.  Simply claiming to be a priest was not enough.  God then added that He had already sent a curse on these priests.  This also applies to those today who claim to represent God to the world but who don't really put their faith in Him.  Verse three continues, Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.  This was very descriptive of how God felt about the actions of those who called themselves priests of Israel.  God hasn't changed His judgment of false priests.  Verse four states, And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  God reminded them that He had established His covenant with Levi who represented the priests, and He was reestablishing it with those who would be true to Him.  We have a covenant with God through Jesus Christ, and simply claiming to accept Him is not enough.  We must be true to our calling as Christians.  Verse five adds, My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  God said His covenant with Levi was for life and peace, as long as Levi and the priests who came after Him would represent Him to the people and the people to Him.  If we would have life and peace today, we need to remain true to God.  Verse six continues, The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.  God said that Levi remained true to his calling and He remained true to His covenant with Levi.  Therefore, Levi walked in peace and equity, and did not turn away to iniquity.  We must do the same.  Verse seven says, For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  God said priests should speak the truth of God's law since they were messengers of the LORD.  Verse eight adds, But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that the priests of that day had departed out of God's way.  They had also caused the people of Israel to stumble at God's law and corrupted the covenant of Levi.  We as Christians have a covenant relationship with God, and we should never cause anyone to corrupt God's covenant.  Verse nine continues, Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.  God said He had made the priests contemptible to the people, since they had not kept His ways and had been partial in the law.  We cannot show partiality when it comes to God's law and still expect His blessings. 

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Malachi 1:6

Malachi 1:6 says, A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?   God stated that a son honored his father and a servant his master, but then asked where was His honor from the priests of Israel.  God aided that the priests despised His name, and we know that when Jesus Christ came, this was especially true.  The religious leaders despised His name.  We cannot afford to do the same thing today.  Verse seven adds, Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.  When God said that the priests offered polluted offerings, they asked when they had done this, just as they had asked when they had not honored God.  Anytime we offer less than our best out of a sincere heart to God, we offer a polluted offering to Him.  Verse eight continues, And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when they offered the blind and lame for a sacrifice that what they were doing was evil, and asked if the governor would be pleased with such an offering.  We cannot give more to the rulers of the world than we give to God.  Verse nine declares, And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. When they prayed to God, they were asked if God would regard their requests graciously if they had no real respect for Him is what I believe the question means.  We cannot see God as a source for what we want while at the same time not having any real reverence for Him.  Verse ten adds, Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.  Just as people would not shut a door for no reason, they should not offer sacrifices for no reason, or without any real concern for what they represented.   When they did, God said He would not accept their sacrifices, and He still won't today.  God does not have to accept our leftovers just because we bring them to Him.  Verse eleven continues, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that since His chosen people, the Jews, had rejected Him that His name would be made great throughout all the world of the Gentiles.   Jesus Christ came to save not just certain people, but everyone who put their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve says, But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.  God said that the people of Israel had profaned His table by their cheap offerings.  We must bring the best that we have to God, including the best that we can be as individuals, or we profane God's table, or altar.  Verse thirteen adds, Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.  God said that the people of Israel had declared serving Him to be a weariness.  We should never grow weary in doing God's work and following His will for our life.  Verse fourteen concludes, But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.  God warned against promising one thing to Him and then giving something less valuable.   God will always expect us as followers of Christ to give Him only our best, especially when we have dedicated something to Him.

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Malachi 1:1

Malachi 1:1 says, The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.  This message to Israel given to Malachi to present to them was referred to as the burden of the word of the LORD.  God's word can be a burden to those who do not accept it, because it will call them to repent of their sins and put God above everything else.  God's word can also be a burden to those who accept it, because it requires them to share in the responsibility of reaching out to the lost people of the world with God's message of salvation, but it will be a light burden, because they Holy Spirit helps them bear it.  This message was for Israel, God's chosen people, and I believe because of their rebellion against God, they had become a burden to Him.  Verse two adds, I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,  God said that He had loved the people of Israel, but that they questioned when and how He had loved them.  They gave the example of Esau and Jacob, asking if Esau was not Jacob’s brother, but saying that God loved Jacob and not Esau.  Their contention was that God's love was arbitrary, but God loved Esau just as much as He loved Jacob.  Esau just did not love God.  If we suffer God's punishment, it will not be because God does not love us or loves someone else more.  God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of everyone, not just certain people, and He did so out of love for each person.  Verse three continues, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.  God's chosen people placed the blame for what happened to Esau on God, and not on Esau himself because of his attitude toward God.  This is the same argument people use today when they rhetorically ask how a loving God can send people to hell.  God has done everything possible to keep people from going to hell if they accept His salvation, but as with Esau the choice is theirs whether or not to put their faith in God.  Verse four states, Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.  God said that the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, said that even though they were impoverished that they would return and rebuild cities in the desolate places.  They did not say that God would do this through them, but that they would do it without God's help.  We may think that we can accomplish great things without God today, but just as God told the Edomites, what we build or accomplish without Him will be torn down by Him.  Verse five adds, And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.  God said that they would see His work in Israel and that He would be magnified.  As followers of Christ today, whatever we do should magnify or glorify God and never be done to magnify or glorify ourselves.