Unfaithful priests… (3 things)

• 1^st – Jacob and Esau… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – Questioning the love of God… vs. 1-2
    • The burden of the Word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi…
      • It was a burden because it was not good news – God once again had to rebuke His people…
      • It is written to Israel – specifically the remnant that remained in the Land!
    • But the BURDEN began with a simple truth – I have loved you…
      • God had always been faithful to Israel – from the very beginning (hold that thought)…
      • YET YOU SAY – in what way have you loved us!
      • In the trials of the moment – the people had begun to doubt that love…
      • They expected the love of God to look a certain way – prosperity / power / privilege…
      • And when they instead faced poverty / persecution / and humiliation it made them doubt!
      • It is interesting to me to see how Hallel responds to my love for her…
      • If I give her what she wants – suckers / donuts / not take any naps – I ‘love’ her…
      • But when I insist that she eat her vegetables / take a nap – I am not being nice…
      • Her perception of my love is seen through the filter of her expectations!
      • It is a VERY dangerous thing for us to come to God with expectations…
      • We think that if God loves us that means He should give us what we want…
      • But like a loving father to an ignorant child – the Lord knows better…
      • He only gives us what we need – and that often is the very opposite of what we want! 
  • 2^nd – The example of Esau… vs. 3-4
    • To prove the point God had always loved them – He compared Jacob and Esau…
      • God turned the inheritance of Esau into a wilderness for coyotes to wander in (jackals)…
      • And even if the people of Edom tried to rebuild – God would destroy them again…
      • They were known as the people of wickedness – whom the Lord was always angry with!
      • Laid out in detail in the judgment of Edom found in the book of Obadiah!
    • Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau…
      • Romans 9:13 – before they were even born having done neither good nor bad – God chose!
      • When we first look at the lives of these men that can seem confusing…
      • Esau seemed at first to have been a ‘pleasant’ enough guy – a hard working man…
      • Yet looking at the life of Jacob – Genesis 25-49 (mentioned 164 times)…
      • He was not a nice guy – he cheated and lied his way through most of life!
      • But – God knew that Esau would be a worldly man – not interested in the Lord…
      • God knew that Jacob – would one day be Israel – governed by God!
      • God does not see us as we are today – He sees us as we will be one day – 6
      • How amazing that when God looks at us He does not see sinners…
      • He sees the saints that we will one day be – by the Grace of God!
      • The next time you look in the mirror and ask – why me God…
      • Remember God looks at a very different mirror – He looks at the heart…
      • He looks at the man / woman of God He is making us to be!
  • 3^rd – The comparison… vs. 5
    • When Israel saw the judgment of Esau – their close relative…
    • They would say the Lord is magnified – seeing the judgment of Edom beyond their borders!
    • No doubt the decedents of Esau were sinful and rebellious – and deserved judgment…
    • But SO DID ISRAEL – they had been just as rebellious over the years – maybe more so!
    • Yet while Edom lay in ASHES – God continually showed GRACE to Israel!
    • Herod the Great was from Idumea – or he was an Edomite….
    • The last of the Edomites was his family – from there they disappear from history…
    • But Israel is still a nation even to this day – still loved by God!
    • Proving that just as God had loved Jacob – He still LOVES His people Israel!

• 2^nd – Defiling the Altar… vs. 6-14
  • 1^st – No respect… vs. 6
    • The Lord turned His attention to the Priests…
      • A son honors his father – and a servant respects his master…
      • Although the Priests claimed God was their Father and Master – there was no honor!
      • The priests who were supposed to respect the Lord – despised His name!
    • The kept all the trappings of their faith – but there was no true relationship with God!
      • Neither as a Father – nor even as a Master – they were practicing empty religion!
      • Many Christians today think as long as they look good – then God is good with them…
      • But plastic Christianity is only skin deep – it has not power to change the heart!
      • The question He asks is what is the fruit that is coming from our lives…
      • Are we living a hypocritically fake life – or an abundant fruitful one…
      • God does not want us to play Christian – He wants us to live transformed lives!
  • 2^nd – Defiled sacrifices… vs. 7-8
    • YET (priests) YOU SAY – how have we despised Your name…
      • The answer was in the defiled sacrifices that the priests offered to the Lord!
      • The priests would offer blind and lame animals as sacrifices to God…
      • The Lord even challenged them – offer those to your governor – see if he will accept them…
      • How much less were they an acceptable offering to the Lord of Hosts!
    • All sacrifices to the Lord were to be without blemish…
      • The term WITHOUT BLEMISH is used 44 times in the OT to describe a sacrifice…
      • The offerings presented to God always had to be ‘perfect’ – without any defects…
      • Because the people we supposed to give their best to the Lord – not the leftovers!
      • If I went out and bought some new gym clothes – because mine we falling apart…
      • Then offered to give you my old clothes – because I do not need them anymore…
      • What would that say about our relationship – how much do I value you!
      • I am always amused when people donate things to the church…
      • We tend to get the things people could not even give away at the garage sale!
      • So often when people give to Jesus – it is almost as an after thought / the leftovers…
      • But what does that say about the priority Jesus has in our lives / His importance to us!
  • 3^rd – Shut the Temple doors… vs. 9-10
    • The people came to God asking Him for Mercy…
      • When the people sinned they would take their animals to the Temple…
      • The point of the sacrifices was to cover sin – restore a broken relationship with God…
      • But when they offered a sacrifice of blind and lame animals – despising the altar…
      • Why would God respond by showing MERCY – and forgive their sin!
      • Better to just close the Temple – shut the doors – extinguish the Altar…
      • God was not pleased with them – He WOULD NOT accept their offerings!
    • Forgiveness is not about ritual or religion…
      • A lot of people think if they say the ‘sinners prayer’ they are all set with God…
      • But the truth is God will only accept an offering given with the right heart…
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  • 4^th – Giving a pure gift… vs. 11-14
    • From the rising (east) to the setting (west) of the sun – My name will be honored…
      • The Jews thought they had the corner market on God – like God needed them…
      • If they were not worshiping the Lord – then no one would worship God…
      • SURPRISE – the Lord would find those who would honor His name – among the Gentiles!
      • And they would bring a PURE offering to the Lord – they will come with the right heart!
    • Yet the people of God profaned the Altar…
      • The Jews complained it was weariness (cost to much) to bring good sacrifices…
      • So they brought the stolen / lame / sick – those were GOOD ENOUGH for the Lord…
      • They felt obligated to give to the Lord – but they did not want to!
      • People would even take VOWS – FREEWILL offerings (not required) – Leviticus 22:21
      • But when they brought the sacrifice – they offered blemished animals…
      • Showing their heart was to impress men with their VOW – not honor the Lord!
    • If we want to give to the Lord – we need to give in purity…
      • If someone hesitates to give to the Lord – ‘it costs to much to give’…
      • We need to remember we are not required to give anything to God…
      • God does not need our money – He is the creator of all heaven and earth!
      • Like a little child who wants to help out his dad – it is not needed…
      • But God does love to get His kids involved in His work…
      • When we give with that kind of heart – it is a gift given in purity!
      • II Corinthians 9:7 – “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
    • Giving to not to impress men…
      • When an offering plate comes around people like to make a show of their gift…
      • People prefer to drop in LOTS of coins – so you can hear how generous they are!
      • Or a name ends up on a plague – or an announcement made about a donation!
      • They are not giving to God – they are giving for the recognition of other men!
      • Jesus says they have their reward – temporary praises of others – Matthew 6:1-4…
      • That is why we do not pass a basket – an ‘offering plate’ – give anonymously!

Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

3^rd – Warning to the priests… vs. 1-9

1^st – The curse for the Priests… vs. 1-3

If the priests did not listen / take it to heart – to give Glory to God…

Then God WOULD send a curse upon them – He ALREADY had cursed them…

He would turn all of their blessings into curses…

God would corrupt their seed (descendants) – make their crops fail…

And spread dung (refuse) in their faces – and they will be taken away like dung!

Deuteronomy 18:3 – the priests were to be given the stomach of the sacrifices…

But instead of being given the food (blessings) – they would only get the dung from inside!

It is a blessing to be called by the Lord to serve…

But it also comes with HUGE responsibility – because you represent Jesus…

People do not see the Lord – but they do listen to and follow – pastors/leaders…

If that person is having a bad day – people might mistakenly think God is too!

That is why they will receive greater judgment – because of their influence on others!

James 3:1 – “Let not many of you become teachers… we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

2^nd – The covenant of Levi… vs. 4-9

God had given a promise of life and peace to the Priest (sons of Levi)…

And the priests assumed that promise was their birthright…

But it was not an unconditional covenant – they had their part to fulfill…

They were to fear the Lord – and revere His name before the people…

They were to live Godly lives – and help turn others away from a life of sin…

They were to teach the people the Truth / Law – instruct them in how to follow the Lord…

Because the priest were the messengers of God to His people!

But these priests had departed from THE WAY…

And had caused many people to stumble – because they corrupted the covenant of Levi!

It was the people who were brining the lame and sick animals to sacrifice – not the priests…

But rather than correct the people – they instead showed partiality…

The priests lost sight of their calling – and gave into the whims of the people…

They forgot they were the messengers of God – and started trying to please the people!

As a result of them bending to the will of the people – they lost the respect of the people!

God is still looking for faithful men to be His messengers…

The problem is people today do not want to hear the truth – because it hurts…

They do not want to hear about sin / judgment – they would rather be entertained…

Because of this a lot of churches have gotten away from teaching the Word of God…

These churches are more interested in ‘filling the pews’ – than ‘making saints’!

They resort to gimmicks to try and get the attention of people – II Timothy 4:3

But the church is not a theatre / or a concert / or a place to tell funny jokes…

The power of salvation is in the Word of God – so we need to speak the truth!