Malachi - Covenant Question

[GoldenEagle]

What was the difference between Malachi’s view of God’s covenant and the view of the people he addressed?

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

What was the difference between Malachi’s view of God’s covenant and the view of the people he addressed?

God bless,

GE

I propose Malachi emphasized respect of God and His holiness. This book particularly deals with 3 things regarding God's covenant to His people and the view of the people He addressed:

I. Sacrifices to God,

II. Divorce, and

III. Tithes to God.

[GoldenEagle]

A. Sacrifices - The Priests: The people of Israel and in particular the priesthood (spiritual and political leaders) didn’t think anyone would notice – blind, lame and sick offerings. But God noticed and sees all things.

Malachi 1:6b-8
To you priests who despise My name.
Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’
⁷ “You offer defiled food on My altar,
But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
By saying,
‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’
⁸ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it not evil?
And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it not evil?
Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?”
Says the Lord of hosts.

B. Sacrifices - The People of Israel: The people didn’t take the sacrifices seriously by offering acceptable, unblemished, perfect sacrifices. They brought stolen, lame and sick offerings. They even complained! (“Oh, what weariness!” verse 13)

Malachi 1:13-14
¹³ You also say,
‘Oh, what a weariness!’
And you sneer at it,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick;
Thus you bring an offering!
Should I accept this from your hand?”
Says the Lord.
¹⁴ “But cursed be the deceiver
Who has in his flock a male,
And takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—
For I am a great King,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.

Any thoughts on this first section on sacrifices to God? Do we offer up our lives as sacrifice to God as a testimony of His goodness? Or perhaps do we simply give him the leftovers?

God bless,
GE

[Willa]

We never had enough left over to give to the Lord. But when we put Him first and gave to Him first, our needs were always met. Strange how it all works out when our lives revolve around God and we give all to Him. He shares the 90% with us. Actually, we had to send it from our bank and not put it in the offering plate to give to Him first. Otherwise it was gone by Sunday. Hay! It works for us.

Also mentioned were corrupt priests.

Marrying women of other religions

Adultry, sorcery, perjurers

Those who exploit widows and orphans and wage earners and those who turn away aliens who are

unbelievers

Those who have forsaken God's ordinances.

Those who complain against God saying it does not profit them to serve Him.

We should never give to God or serve Him to get a profit. We give to Him and serve Him because He is God and we are His. He asks us to not hold on to what He gives us but to be good stewards of what really belongs to Him. He gives us jobs and the ability to work. It is He who is our Provider. It is a priviledge to give back to Him. I will serve and give to God if He never heals me or my family, or whether or not I feel blessed in the service while praising Him. Life is just not worth living without Him in my life.

All of these in Malachi seemed to be self righteous saying what have we done? They were unrepentant.

A book of remembrance was for those who fear the Lord

Judgement is coming for the proud and those who are wicked.

The promise of Elijah to come to turn the fathers' heart to their children and children to their fathers.

[GoldenEagle]

We never had enough left over to give to the Lord. But when we put Him first and gave to Him first, our needs were always met. Strange how it all works out when our lives revolve around God and we give all to Him. He shares the 90% with us. Actually, we had to send it from our bank and not put it in the offering plate to give to Him first. Otherwise it was gone by Sunday. Hay! It works for us.

Also mentioned were corrupt priests.

Marrying women of other religions

Adultry, sorcery, perjurers

Those who exploit widows and orphans and wage earners and those who turn away aliens who are

unbelievers

Those who have forsaken God's ordinances.

Those who complain against God saying it does not profit them to serve Him.

We should never give to God or serve Him to get a profit. We give to Him and serve Him because He is God and we are His. He asks us to not hold on to what He gives us but to be good stewards of what really belongs to Him. He gives us jobs and the ability to work. It is He who is our Provider. It is a priviledge to give back to Him. I will serve and give to God if He never heals me or my family, or whether or not I feel blessed in the service while praising Him. Life is just not worth living without Him in my life.

All of these in Malachi seemed to be self righteous saying what have we done? They were unrepentant.

A book of remembrance was for those who fear the Lord

Judgement is coming for the proud and those who are wicked.

The promise of Elijah to come to turn the fathers' heart to their children and children to their fathers.

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Excellent post sister. I agree.

[GoldenEagle]

C. Divorce - Spiritual: Next Malachi deals with the people on the subject of divorce both from a religious and social standpoint. Malachi instructs the people to remain faithful to God and the wife of their youth. The people were marrying others who didn’t follow the Lord and consequently were falling into idolatry.

 

Malachi 2:10-12
¹⁰ Have we not all one Father?
Has not one God created us?
Why do we deal treacherously with one another
By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
¹¹ Judah has dealt treacherously,
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,
For Judah has profaned
The Lord’s holy institution which He loves:
He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
¹² May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob
The man who does this, being awake and aware,
Yet who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

 

D. Divorce - Physical: As stated Malachi instructs the people to remain faithful to God and the wife of their youth. The men in particular would marry and then divorce their wives after a time. This was treacherous because the women often had no place to go and nobody to care for them in their old age. This was ultimately a potential death sentence.

 

Malachi 2:13-116
¹³ And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the Lord with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
¹⁴ Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the Lord has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
¹⁵ But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

 

¹⁶ “For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”

[FreeinChrist]

IMO Malachi also announce the New Covenant or New Testament if you prefer, in Malachi 3:1