The collapse of the nation of Israel was brought about because the priests refused to intervene.
They didn’t teach the people from The Book of the Law. Israel’s priests had been so busy worshiping pagan gods with the people that they hadn’t even paid attention to what the LORD expected.
“’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?’” (Malachi 1:6 ESV).
In what ways were they dishonoring the Lord? What had they been doing wrong?
What does it mean to “honor” God? Strong’s #3519. כָּבוֹד kāḇôḏ, כָּבֹד kāḇōḏ: “A masculine singular noun meaning honor, glory, majesty, wealth. This term is commonly used of God.”
How can we apply the meaning of the term for “honoring God?
“Turning from the people to the priests, Jehovah asks, whereas His love to the people was so great, where was their love towards Him? If the priests, as they profess, regard Him as their Father (Is 63:16) and Master, let them show the reality of their profession by love and reverential fear (Ex 20:12; Lu 6:46). He addresses the priests because they ought to be leaders in piety to the rest of the people, whereas they are foremost in “despising His name.”1
Imagine in your local church if the pastor and all the leaders despised God. How would that impact your church? We don’t talk much about reverential fear of the LORD, but our love and commitment to Him inspire us to respect and to exalt Him and His holy Name, for His kindness and love endure forever.
Imagine in your local church, if the pastor and all the leaders despised God. How would that impact your church and your life? #Faith #LovingGod Click To TweetIn what ways was it obvious that they had shown no love to God? What was one thing He required?
Sacrifice carried out according to what God had prescribed was required, a sign of Jesus’ coming sacrifice and Jesus’ obedience, which would cover ALL the sins of those who believe.
Kindness and Love as He had instructed, loving our neighbors, loving the refugee/foreigner — these were required. Faith was necessary, lest they and we forget all of the encounters that Israel had experienced with the LORD of hosts and all they had learned of Him.
But they hadn’t done these things, rather they had turned their backs on their God, YHWH.
Then they were carried off to a faraway land full of unbelievers in their God, THE God. And the priests hadn’t yet taught the people about what was acceptable and what wasn’t. And so, their sacrifices were not given with a pure heart and clean hands. Now they were in a time and place of hardship.
One day, the One who ultimately would fulfill the Promise would also teach it again: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord” (Malachi 3:3 ESV).
And, when that cleansing is performed by God the Son, it will be complete forever and ever.
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:5 ESV).
God is just. God is love.
This final verse shows us His compassion toward the deceived, the seduced, the insecure, the oppressed, the widowed, the fatherless, and the sojourner/refugee who is thrust aside.
“Do not fear me,” says the LORD of hosts.
God is just. God is love. "Do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts (Malachi 3:5). #Faith #LovingGod Click To Tweet
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This post is especially relevant in light of the recent Barna study indicating that only 37% of Christian pastors possess a biblical worldview and the majority—62%—hold a hybrid worldview known as Syncretism. A scary thought considering James 3:1.
Thanks for sharing that stat, Ava! I knew the stats were bad on this, but this shows exactly how bad it is worldwide. We’ve lost the essence of the Gospel within the church. Malachi is timely in these end times. The Lord knew and spoke to this. We are just like them.
Definition of syncretism: the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. “interfaith dialogue can easily slip into syncretism”
We definitely have this in our culture. As people try to understand one another, Christians can easily slide into positions that are not Biblical and which are actually against God’s Law.
This is what had happened to the Jewish people in Babylon. They had merged their beliefs with the beliefs of Persia, Zoroastrianism, “one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. It originated in ancient Persia. It contains both monotheistic and dualistic elements, and many scholars believe Zoroastrianism influenced the belief systems of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.”
Judaism had to weed out the Zoroastrianism influences, which they were familiar with. So did Christianity if any of it crept in. Paul always had a keen eye watching for flawed doctrine. Doubtless the impact may have filtered into some of their Jewish practices, especially those they had learned in Persia.
Everything needs to be weighed against and alongside the Scriptures. If the practice in consideration differs on any point, on any instruction, the believer must side with what the Scriptures say in every case.
Thanks Melinda. One of our pastor from years ago once told us that he did not believe in hell or Satan. I was shocked by his revelation. I am praying for our churches.
Amen! That is shocking. If the priests/pastors are led astray there is no guidance for the people.
When we choose self over God, we will be judged and there will be consequences. There are false teachers everywhere. We must be alert and stand strong with the full armor of God.
What was happening then is repeating here as our culture becomes increasingly secular and our churches less Biblical. Read what Ava shared above, followed up with the notes I added in my response for more info about how this is impacting us.
A picture of our times. Thanks, Melinda, for this good work. God bless.
These end of the OT books are apocalyptic, speaking right to us as we await the return of Christ, just as these books spoke directly to those awaiting Messiah’s first appearing. Come, Lord Jesus!
I shudder when I realize how similar we are today to these dark times. As you say above, come Lord Jesus!
Melinda, this is an eye-opening message. The priests “didn’t teach the people from The Book of the Law,” reminds me how important God’s Word remains through the ages, even relevant to today. We are to teaching the Lord’s commands and ways within our churches and within our families to the next generations “lest they depart from your heart” (Deuteronomy 4:9). It really starts here, then succumbing to other gods and not walking in the Spirit (Gal.5), and so on is less likely due to the power of God’s Word!
Unfortunately, I don’t have to “imagine it.” Some of my very first pastors and teachers were like those rebuked by the prophet and God Himself: lovers of money, power, the approval of men. (I know I myself have struggled with the last.) Like Ava said, those who teach will be judged more strictly.