III. Taking Worship Seriously (Malachi 1:6-14)
Share
III. Taking Worship Seriously (1:6-14)
1:6 God continues his case against Israel: A son honors his father, and a servant his master. So, the Lord asks, Where is my honor? . . . Where is your fear of me? To fear the Lord is to honor him, to take him seriously. Instead, his priests despised his name—that is, his character and position. They thought little of him.
1:7-9 How had they done this? After all, they’d been regularly coming to worship and bringing their sacrifices. But, they’d been presenting defiled food on [his] altar (1:7). Their chosen sacrifices were blind, lame, and sick animals (1:8). Instead of giving God their best, they gave him their junk, their leftovers. If the President of the United States were coming over for dinner, you wouldn’t dream of serving him leftovers! And, as if to make the same point, God says that the Israelites wouldn’t present such gifts to their governor (1:8). In spite of being quick to give God so little, the people still expected his blessings (1:9).
Do you want a first-class God while offering second-class worship? Do you give him your leftover time, talents, and treasures after you have little or nothing left? Are you unwilling to be inconvenienced by involvement in the church? Do you avoid sacrificing for fellow believers? You don’t have to say you despise the Lord: to convey the same point, all you have to do is give him your leftovers while also asking for his blessings.
1:10-11 There’s nothing impressive about dunking a basketball after you’ve lowered the rim from ten feet to six, yet Israel had lowered the standard of worship—and they were excited about dunking the worship ball. But God wasn’t impressed: I am not pleased with you . . . and I will accept no offering from your hands (1:10). He is no ordinary king; he is in a class by himself: My name will be great among the nations (1:11).
1:12-14 The Israelites said the Lord’s table is defiled and called it a nuisance (1:12). Sacrificing those lambs and spilling their blood was a messy, smelly business. It made them weary. But, they had forgotten that the sacrificial system was God’s gracious means of dealing with their sin so he could give them the provisions of his covenant. They were despising that which was the source of their life and blessing!
Paul dealt with a similar defiling of the Lord’s table when some of the Corinthians took Communion in an unworthy way and died (see 1 Cor 11:20-22, 27-31). So, how do you approach the Lord’s Supper? Do you consider it a boring ritual? Remember, it’s not a matter of merely eating and drinking. Through worshipfully participating in it, you’re actually preaching a sermon: “You proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26).
On Sunday afternoon, many people will devote themselves to watching a one-hour spectacle that will last at least three hours. But no one will ask for early dismissal. They have decided that a football game warrants their prolonged and undivided attention. How much more is the unique God of the universe worthy of your undivided attention and devotion? He is a great King, and his name will be feared among the nations (1:14). Don’t give him your leftovers. Give him your best so you can experience his favor.