How We Might Dishonor God?

How Might We Dishonor God?

Malachi offers us a conclusion to the old testament scriptures. We find Israel chastened for disobedience... yet now restored [albeit in a much reduced status on the international stage]. Restored to the land yet still subservient to Persian overlords. Because of this the people questioned the nature of God's love for them.

God answers that His ongoing love is shown through His persistence in choosing them as a people... redeeming them... revealing Himself to them... correcting then foregving them... and continuing to use them to fulfill His holy purpose, We looked at that in detail last time I spoke on Malachi.

Today, I would like to move to the next section where God informs Israel they are dishonoring Him... to which they cry out "In what way have we dishonored you"? In going through this material, let's ask ourselves "am I [are we] dishonoring God"?

Honour & Respect Vs. Contempt

Malachi 1:6-8 (a) we are presented with a set of contrasting attitudes: honour and respect on one hand and contempt on the other.

Honor = Lit. to make heavy. It is used in both negative and positive ways: for example "a heavy burden", or "a person who weighs his words"... in context we might say "to take seriously".

Respect = Also means heavy, but this word is only used in positive ways. for example "give glory to". To esteem something [or someone] as valuable and treat accordingly. To appreciate and acknowledge their worth... which is where we get the concept of worthship / worship.

Contempt [often translated despise] = to esteem something, or someone, as having no importance or value and treat accordingly. This hearkens back to the example of Esau introduced in verse 2-3. Esau despised his birthright, considering it worth less than a bowl of stew... Esau only saw worth in what would satisfy his immediate need... hunger.

Carefulness in Worship

When Israel asks for examples. God zeroes in on sloppy, lazy priests and defective sacrifices which did not meet His standards [as carefully spelled out in scripture].

In some ways, this criticism is a reversal of previous criticisms offered during the glory days of Israel. Through prophets like Isaiah, Amos, or Michah, YHWH had told them their sacrifices [even if scrupulously performed, with the finest of sheep] were worthless because of the lying, stealing, injustice, sexual immorality, idolatry, and corruption in their nation, and in their lives.

In our day people read these same prophetic criticisms and interpret them to mean that careful attention to detail in matters of worship is not a priority to God... what He's concerned about is our personal morality and whether we FEEL emotionally connected to Him.

In this same way many wrongly interpret Jesus' teachings highlighting the spiritual principles behind the law, as making the same point. Carefulness in how we conduct our worship is presumed to be less valuable.

Sabbath keepers are often criticized as seeking salvation through ritual observance, or works. I think its worth noting that non-Sabbath keeping Christians have plenty of rituals themselves... but more based on their own traditions rather than a careful inspection of actual biblical instruction.

What's Most Important?

Careful attention to specific instructions in matters of worship, or the broad sweeping mandates of moral behavior driven by a biblical ethic?

Matthew 23:23-24 by the rules of human logic there can only be one top priority, but God is not bound by human logic. He wants both. The Pharisees are criticized for obsessing over tithing and missing the serious weight scripture puts on moral behavior. But, He says you need to get that into your lives WITHOUT neglecting careful attention to details.

In a similar manner... when Jesus was asked "what is the most important command".... He gave us two answers 1) love God 2) love neighbor... because how can a person say he loves God if he does not love his neighbor. God can have multiple top priorities... He wants it all.

God does not want ritual that is not backed up by lives conforming to His high standards of moral behavior. But, He also expects careful attention to details and instruction is matters of worship. Which is more important than the other... the answer is both!

Bringing and Making Sacrifice

On one hand, the people were to blame for bringing defective animals as sacrifices. On the other hand the priest were to blame because they were not teaching, upholding, or enforcing the standards. You as a new covenant worshipper can relate to this from both angles:

Priest: God has chosen you to serve as a future ruler and a priest alongside Christ in the KOG. You are presently in training for priesthood and therefore should be learning [through application and discernment] the standards of both moral behavior, and careful worship. Learning so you might DO so in your own life... but also learning so you can offer guidance, teaching, and example to others... now and in the KOG.

Priests could also be understood as parallel to the ministry within the Church. Their job is:

· to prepare you, to help you become a well-equipped priest yourself.... and

· to help you prepare yourself, to become the sacrifice itself... a spiritual sacrifice [think of this in a similar way to Jesus serving as both officiating priest and the sacrifice itself].

Examples of Spiritual Sacrifice in New Covenant

Sacrifice has not disappeared from the new covenant it has been transformed. Christ has made the atoning sacrifice for sin once for all... this is not something you do... it is something  you accept as having been done for you. But, there were other types of sacrifices in the old administration. There were peace offerings, fellowship offerings - offered to God but meant to be eaten and shared with others. Likewise, there are other offerings within the new covenant administration which you as a humble worshipper offer to God:

Ephesians 5:1-2 - forgiveness and love towards fellow members [which encompasses the entire gamut of moral behavior]. Malachi will sternly address their moral behavior in Chapter 3.

But new covenant spiritual sacrifice is MORE than moral behavior:

Philippians 4:18 - financial support of the Church. Malachi will circle around to this in Chapter 3. In Nehemiah's account of these same days... when the priests and Levites did not receive their portions they had to go out in the field and work to feed their families... which then meant the people were not given the instruction and guidance they needed.

I don't know which came first but... standards were not upheld... then there were fewer teachers, to teach, uphold, and enforce those standards... creating a downward spiral of not valuing, not upholding, not teaching the standards. This was also a big part of Nehemiah's reforms.

Hebrews 13:7-10 teaching itself was identified with the sacrifices offered at the altar and shared as a meal with others [fellowship offering].

Hebrews 13:15 proclamation of God's character and works [song, prayer, and teaching]. Nehemiah spent a lot of effort to reform of how the temple service was conducted.

But, I want to zero in on carefulness in worship as a type of sacrifice since that's where Malachi's teaching is focused.

Romans 12:1-2 let's think of this in relation to God's Sabbath, His festivals, and annual high days.

· He asks you to present yourself before Him in sprit and body.

· He wants it done in a manner that set it apart as holy and dedicated to Him. We come before Him on the 7th day, and the other appointed days.... to please Him.

· This is true and proper worship based on the rational and logical presentation of scripture.

· Do this in conformity with His instructions not in conformity with the patterns of the world.

· We receive instruction which is the beginning of the renewal of our mind [way of thinking].

· Then we go forth and do what we have learned [testing and approving]

We do not have a lot of ritual in the Church of God. Because the priesthood and the sacrificial system have been so fundamentally altered under the new covenant... most ritual is obsolete. that topic is thoroughly covered in the book of Hebrews. However, in that same book we are told "there remains a keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God" Hebrews 4:9.

The weekly Sabbath as well as the 7 annual Sabbaths and festivals are commanded by God... but they are also a form of personal sacrifice made unto God. Is your sacrifice in this regard of high quality... or is it leftovers... made up of what you are willing to spare?

Blemished Sacrifices

Malachi 1:13-14 bringing sacrificial animals that were blind, lame or diseased showed an attitude problem. Why would people do such a thing? The good animals were important. They could be sold for profit, or bred to increase the herd. These outcomes were more important to them than service and sacrifice unto God.

They had forgotten they wouldn't even be there if God had not forgiven them, redeemed them from punishment, given them back the lands of promise. They were out of touch with the spiritual power that was upholding and sustaining them.

Let's apply this to our sacrifices: based on our financial reports support for God's work is strong... we are providing plenty of teaching and instruction [at least in quantity]... we are a little weak in areas of song and prayer [but that has a lot to do with critical mass and personel... that's something you could pray about]... then there is the Sabbath [and the annual high days].

Let's Be Careful Concerning God’s Sabbath Days

On the seventh day God asks you to present yourself... to assemble together before Him... that is the literal meaning of the word CHURCH/ecclesia... to gather yourself together with the rest of the assembly. Can we even call ourselves a Church if we don't gather together? Are we part of GOd's assembly if we don't gather together with it? Can we love one another without presence.

The Sabbath is a day of rest [I don't hear of many situations where people have difficulties getting time off work, so abstaining from work isn't a big problem these days]... people seem all in with a day off work and resting... but the Sabbath is also a day of assembly and instruction... that is its holy purpose Leviticus 23:3.  

The defective animals were the ones that the people didn't have much use for otherwise. In the same manner, will God be pleased with your sacrifice of time, presence, and attention?

Malachi 1:8(b) imagine if you said to your boss "I'll show up for work on days when I'm willing, or when I'm feeling it, or when I don't have other priorities I need to take care of"... "oh, and by the way... I'd also like you to be generous with me and give me a nice raise".  What would happen?

Malachi 1:9 God says... you wouldn't do that to some human overlord [who doesn't even love you]... but you do it to Me all the time. You don't show Me honor and respect through attention to detail in worship... yet you expect my kindness, favor and blessings to pour forth upon you.

Malachi 1:10-11 God is not saying He wants no sacrifices... no ritual in worship... He says My name will be honored... everywhere, not just here... if you won't offer pleasing sacrifice I'll find others who will. What God disliked was them thinking they were making sacrifices when they weren't really... they were merely giving things they couldn't otherwise use in better ways.

Malachi 1:12-13

Conclusion

Keeping the Sabbath in a manner pleasing to God involves personal sacrifice. Being present, on-time, respectful, and careful on the 7th day does not absolve you of any sins or misdemeanors of the previous week. Only Christ's sacrifice does that. Carefulness in how we worship God is not more important than sin and salvation... neither is it less important. God wants both.