Malachi Long Way to Go
God has restored Israel to their home, but it is MUCH different than the home they left. God LOVES Israel, but they still have a LONG way to go before they are what He called them to be.
Malachi is speaking to the people who, after returning from captivity and rebuilding the Temple, are not following all of the Lord’s commands. Specifically, their heart is NOT in their service and they are taking ‘alternate routes’ in honoring Him.
I don’t know how I’m going to turn this into a story, but I feel compelled to do it anyway. Let’s join Malachi as he speaks for the Lord in his time. Holy Spirit, lead this journey. Help me see what it is that You want me to learn from this story. Help me to put it into story form.
♥ ♦ ♥
Malachi is among the Levites who serve in the Temple. He LOVES being able to come before the Lord, on behalf of himself and the people. But there is a LOT of grumbling going on.
Israel is NOT the beautiful place everyone believes it should be. Crops are failing because of drought, and the neighbors are pushing back against them. There is no national prosperity. The people believed that the restoration of the Temple would usher in all the blessings of God. Yet, the Temple is standing, the priests are offering the sacrifices, and STILL problems persist!
“WHY? What more do You want from us?” the people call out.
God is about to answer that question through His man Malachi.
Malachi is tending the fire as the morning sacrifice is burning. After he tosses a little more wood into the fire, he stirs the coals. The fire leaps back to full strength. Satisfied, Malachi turns to taking care of the hide left behind. He shakes his head in disgust as he notices the obvious blemish on the hide.
“There is no way the priest missed this mark” he says to himself.
It would be one thing if this was the first time this happened, but it is getting to be at least a weekly occurrence. Malachi knows that this animal is NOT acceptable to the Lord, but what can he do about it?
God has been waiting for that very question in Malachi’s heart. “I’ll tell him what he can do about it” reasons the Lord. “It’s time to bring him in on the solution.”
Malachi returns to his place in the Temple. Here he spends time with the Lord and waits for his task to require him again. As he is waiting, he hears the Lord’s voice. Malachi know this because God has spoken to him in his spirit many times before. Today is different though. God has a task for Malachi.
“Malachi, tell the people that ‘I have loved them.’”
“Have, Lord? Have You stopped loving them” Malachi asks with fear clutching at his heart.
“No. I have NEVER stopped loving Israel. But my people believe I have stopped. They ask; ‘How have you loved us?’ (Malachi 1:2b). My answer to them is this; ‘Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ declares the Lord. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.’ If Edom says, ‘We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,’ the Lord of hosts says, ‘They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called “the wicked country,” and “the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.”’ Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, ‘Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!’” (Malachi 1:2c-5).
“Lord, I know You love the people of Israel, but our lives are hard right now. The people are not following Your ways. I have seen it myself this very morning. But what can I do about it?”
The Lord is ready to give Malachi exactly what he is to say to the priests.
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food, may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations” (Malachi 1:6-14).
“This is exactly what I was talking about” says Malachi. “How can we expect to receive good from You when we don’t bring You our best.”
God nods His head. He is pleased at Malachi’s understanding. He has words now specifically for the priests.
“And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction” (Malachi 2:1-9).
Malachi’s heart hurts with the words of the Lord, but he knows it is no more than they deserve. The priest’s behavior has given rise to the people falling away from the righteous offerings. He has to bring this to the priests right away! If he doesn’t, God may end up destroying them again.
Malachi stands before the priests that very day. With courage he calls out to his brothers. “God is angry with us, for we have polluted his altar by offering what is NOT the best of the flock and expecting Him accept it from our hands. In truth, we are receiving His grace in Him not striking us dead, as he did to Nadab and Abihu so long ago. Hear His words and return to His ways!”
Malachi recounts all the words of the Lord to the Levites. Many hearts are convicted and promise to make this right before God. Sacrifices are prepared that very day; sin offerings and burnt offerings flow from the hands of the Levites.
A month goes by and God directs Malachi’s eyes to two more sins of Israel. It isn’t that these sins were not going on before, but God opens Malachi’s eyes to see them. This sin is rampant among all the returnees.
“Malachi, stand before the people and call their sin out. The sin of marrying foreign women and of divorce. They think they can do these things and STILL bring offerings to me, as if nothing has happened. I will NOT accept anything from the hands of the man who practices such sins.”
Malachi goes to the north entrance of the Temple. This is the gate by which the people bring their sacrifices. He calls out to them as they draw near to offer their sacrifices. His voice carries across the area, clear and loud. Everyone stops to listen.
“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!
“And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. ‘For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless’” (Malachi 2:10-16).
Malachi doesn’t see an immediate response, but God does. He sees the hearts of the people separating themselves. He also sees them repenting of their sins and mending the relationships with the wives of their youth.
God puts another message in Malachi’s heart. This one is for all the people and He has Malachi call it out morning and night for a month.
“You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ By saying, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.’ Or by asking, ‘Where is the God of justice?’” (Malachi 2:17).
This message bites into the hearts of many. Not only do the sacrifices ‘clean up’, but the teachings of the Levites change. They are not one hundred percent in line with the Lord’s original words to Moses, but they are working their way towards it.
Malachi knows that the people have to change if they are ever going to see God’s full favor. Right now, they are living as a subjugated people. They are not even allowed to choose their own leaders. “When will we be truly free, Lord? I am grateful that I was not born in captivity, but there is SO MUCH MORE that You want to bring to Your people; if they would only listen and obey. Are we ever going to be ready?”
THAT is another question that God has been waiting for Malachi to ask. “It’s time to share more of Our ultimate plan” says the Father.
“But he won’t understand” comments the Spirit.
“In time they will. And having these words will be another ‘proof’ of Father’s plan” says the Son.
The Father nods. “They will hold fast to these words, but won’t recognize their meaning and intent until AFTER they are fulfilled.”
Malachi is meeting with the Lord in his usual daily spot when the Lord speaks to him.
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years” (Malachi 3:1-4).
“O yes Lord! Let Your messenger come! Is he coming soon” asks Malachi with excitement.
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:5).
“YES Lord! Remove them from our midst. Let me be a witness for You against such evils.”
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:6-12).
Malachi covers his face with his hands and cries out. “O Lord, forgive even me for robbing You. There have been times when even I have held back on the tithe, a little. I will pay ALL that I vowed. And I will make amends with any I have wronged; especially You Lord.” Malachi rocks back and forth for a few minutes before speaking to the Lord again. “I have no right Lord. but I pray that You will bless my life again as I repent of my sins. Wash me and make me clean.”
“Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape’” (Malachi 3:13-15).
“Lord NEVER let these words pass my lips!” Malachi rises from his place. “I will share Your words with the people, this very day.”
Malachi makes his way back to the north entrance of the Temple complex. He begins to proclaim the Lord’s words to the people. MANY hear and are cut to the quick as well. They fall down right where they are and begin calling out for repentance. Malachi has never seen anything like it before.
Over the next few weeks, the Temple sees a serious increase in sacrifices brought to the Lord, and they are ALL of the highest quality. No more blemishes either.
God looks on with Love as the people turn back to Him. He turns to one of the angels. “Write down their names in a remembrance book; those who fear and esteem My name.”
God speaks to Malachi regarding these people and the book that He has written. “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him” (Malachi 3:17-18).
Malachi is overjoyed to hear this news! He prays that his name is written in that book as well.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 4:1-3).
“Lord PLEASE don’t let me be among those that are burned up.”
“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel” (Malachi 4:4).
“Yes Lord I will! And I will call for all who will listen to do the same.”
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (Malachi 4:5-6).
Malachi goes to the Temple daily and calls out the words of the Lord to the people for two full months. He also writes these words down so that they will be for everyone beyond him as well.
♥ ♦ ♥
I didn’t realize how many of the ‘minor prophets’ had prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. I wonder if Malachi understood that God was talking about the Messiah. The people of Jesus’ day didn’t even realize the truth until after His resurrection. Many tried to hide that truth; and still are trying to do so today. With all the prophecies spoken about His coming, I don’t see how anyone can refute it!
We are living in a time like Malachi, to some degree. We have many who have a ‘form of godliness’ but don’t have a relationship with Him. They try to do the ‘right things’ and say the ‘right words’ but miss Him completely. And then we have those who try and say; “It doesn’t matter what I do. God loves me anyway.”
News flash: God has standards by which HIS children are to live. NOT everything is permissible. There are some things that God has clearly said are sin. To believe that we can do those now, just because we think maybe God was being too strict, or didn’t really understand us, WON’T WASH.
God is not calling us back to live under the Law of Moses, but neither is He abandoning all His requirements for our lives. What He clearly calls sin, is still sin. No matter how much we want to say otherwise. And God’s words are as relevant for today as they were the day they entered into His mind before creation even began.
Come to Him and let Him work out in you the things that He knows are harming you. I can personally tell you that He is ABLE to do WONDERS in our lives. If I lived in bible times, I probably would not have made it to adulthood. My stubbornness would have been my undoing. God addressed that with me and turned it into godly persistence instead. He also changed my temperament. I used to be easily angered and carry those hurts for a LONG time. Now He has taught me how to turn loose and love instead.
NO! I’m NOT perfect!!! He still has a long way to go in helping me lay aside everything that is hurting me. But only by remaining in relationship with Him can WE accomplish all that needs to be done to make me into the woman He intended for me to be from the beginning; one who is HIS PERFECT DAUGHTER.
Father God, thank You for continuing to work on me. Thank You for not giving up on me, even when I wasn’t giving You my very best.
I have been struggling with the last few books of Your original work. Trying to finish them instead of rushing on ahead. I KNOW there are still lessons I need to take from what still remains. Help me find joy in these final books, instead of simply moving through them to ‘get to the good parts’. I am looking forward to telling Jesus’ story. I wasn’t sure about it, but now I’m excited to see where You take me with it.
