I Am a Great King

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Malachi 1:7-14. Malachi relayed to the children of Israel what the LORD had to say to them. The LORD scorned them because they offered dirty bread on the altar and then asked Him, “Where have we contaminated you?” He told them by doing that they shamed the LORD’S Table.

The priests were offering sacrifices to the LORD, but they weren’t holy, without spot or blemish. They were using animals which were blind, sick and lame. He tells them to offer them to the governor and see if he would accept their damaged goods and be pleased with their offering.

Leviticus 1:10 tells us what the offering was supposed to be like, “And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.”

How many times do we do the same thing? We don’t offer God our best, but we give Him whatever we have left over or don’t want for ourselves, and then we expect God to bless our offering. How do you think that makes Him feel? Does it make Him feel like He is important to us, we treasure Him, and we think He is worthy of honor, worship and praise, or does it make God feel like we don’t really care about Him?

I’m not trying to condemn you; this struck me as something we all need to consider, including me. I don’t want to do anything that would make the LORD feel that I don’t love Him, treasure my relationship with Him and respect who He is. I’m sure I fall short of this every day, but that is the desire of my heart.

God told them after the way they had treated Him and His holy offerings, they needed to plead to God and see if He would be gracious to them. Malachi asked, “Do you think He will even consider your people?” The LORD then asked them, “Who is there among you that would even shut the doors for nothing? You don’t even kindle fire on my altar for nothing.”

I remember when I was growing up we would volunteer to do work around the church and the church yard. These days it seems that most of the positions at church are salaried. Have you noticed this or am I the only one who has observed these changes?

The LORD told them that because of this He had no pleasure in them, nor would He accept an offering from their hands. It sounded like the LORD was disappointed with the children of Israel during this time. I’m sure He gets disappointed with us sometimes as well.

The LORD told the children of Israel from the rising of the sun to the going down of the sun His name would be great among the Gentiles. He told them incense would be offered in His name and He would be great among the heathen. He told them if they wouldn’t worship Him like they were supposed to, He would find somebody who would.
He scolded them because they had disrespected His name by using unclean animals for sacrifices and using bread that was not fresh on the table. He told them to consider what disillusionment it was. The LORD told them they had slain His name; because they brought sacrifices that were torn, lame and sick. He questioned them asking why He should accept their defiled offering.

The LORD warned them, “Cursed is the deceiver, who has in his flock a male who is pure and without blemish, and vows, and sacrifices unto the LORD a damaged offering.” He reminded them, “I am a great King, and my name is appalling among the heathen.”

God loves us and He gave His best for us by giving His only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins. In Romans 5:8 we are reminded of this, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In light of His great sacrifice, should we give Him any less than our best? He is a great King. He is worthy to be praised and honored with the best that we have to offer.

What are some of the things we could offer the LORD today as a sacrifice and offering to Him? We may give money to help support our church. We may offer our time to serve others or to serve at our church. We may do things to help those less fortunate than us. Widows and orphans are another group that is mentioned in the Bible as those we should help. We can offer the sacrifice of praise to God. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice. Our offering or sacrifice may seem minute compared to His sacrifice, but we can still do things to honor God and show our love and appreciation to Him.

Daily Bible Reading:

Malachi 1:7-14

7 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.

8 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.

9 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.

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

14 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.

 

Things to think about:

• What was the LORD’S concern in this Scripture?

• What kind of offerings does the LORD want us to give?

• Have you acknowledged God as the King of your life?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study this Scripture in the book of Malachi, we see where the children of Israel highly disappointed You by not offering their best sacrifices. Help us as we study this Scripture to see that You gave us Your best and You want our best in return. Please forgive us of the many times we have failed You by not offering You our best. You are a great King and You are worthy to be praised. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Have you read

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. Malachi was considered to be a “Messenger of the LORD.” God delivered His message to the people of Israel through Malachi. Malachi was one of the twelve prophets from the Old Testament. The book of Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament of the Bible.

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD includes eight Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary from the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for discussion or contemplation, and a prayer for the day to go along with the lesson. This book is great for a personal daily devotional or for a group Bible study.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

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