Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile
True Hope
Malachi 1:1–11
True Love (1–5)
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, written around 430 B.C. He was writing in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah after the captives had come back to Israel and the temple had been rebuilt. However, there was a spiritual lethargy among the people. The Israelites were questioning God’s love for them, but in verses 2–5 God lays out how He has in fact shown love to them.
We may be tempted to do the same thing. We may question whether or not God loves us because we look at our circumstances and they don’t seem to show His love. However, we need to look at things the way God sees them.
It is easy for us in America to look at our situation and think we would be better off if things were different. We may not have gotten that promotion at work or lost a job or even a loved one. How does God love us when bad things happen?
First we need to remember our circumstances do not dictate God’s love for us (Rom. 8:35). God loves us even when things don’t seem to be going our way. Do not fall into the trap that some have of thinking that if God loves us we will be well-off financially or that we will be “happy.” It is common in America to hear the phrase “God wants me to be happy” to justify all sorts of sinful behavior, from cheating on taxes to getting divorces. God doesn’t want us to be happy, He wants us to be obedient and joyful in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:16).
Second we don’t have to look far to see that God does in fact love us. There is no clearer indication of this than in Romans 5:8 which states, “But God demonstrates His love for us in this — while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love for us is shown through the death of Christ, not through our circumstances.
True Worship (6–10)
In spite of God’s love for His people, the Israelites were living in disobedience. The priests were offering unsatisfactory animals on the altar. In the sacrificial system, God only asked for the first fruits to demonstrate dependence on God and love for Him. Bringing a blind or lame animal meant the offerer was putting his own interests over obedience to God.
We also need to be on the lookout for “bad priests” today. There are many pastors who do not teach God’s Word. For example many pastors teach that God’s blessings are manifested in financial well-being. Others teach that God does not love all people and others teach that living an actively homosexual lifestyle is not sinful. We need to be on our guard against false teachers and be sure to know what the Bible teaches so we won’t be led astray.
True Greatness (11)
The Jews were not honoring God with their sacrifices because their offerings were worthless. However, God pointed out that one day all nations would honor Him with their actions and attitudes. This does not suggest that all nations are currently doing this through their own religious systems. Other religions are not honoring to God at all — they are all false.
There is only one way to God the Father and that is through Jesus the Son (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Any religion that does not teach this is false.
Instead this passage is saying there will be a day when God is truly honored in all the nations when Jesus returns. The Second Coming of Jesus is when the nations will be judged but those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord will be saved and, as we can see today, the name of Jesus is being taught and proclaimed in nations throughout the world. This is a task we need to continue to promote with our lips, pocketbooks and actions. We need to be supporting missions around our cities, nation and world because God’s name deserves to be honored by all peoples and it is through the proclamation of the gospel that this happens.
Share with others: