I am almost done reading through the Old Testament as I find myself in the book of Malachi. About 100 years after the Jews return from exile, Malachi, the prophet, comes on the scene. He has a “burden of the word of the LORD” to give to the people of Israel. What was supposed to be a God-fearing, God-honoring, and God-loving people has turned out to be just as corrupt as their ancestors. As God rebukes them, through Malachi, He speaks these words:
“But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Please, bring it near to your governor! Would he accept you? Or would he lift up your face?” says Yahweh of hosts.”
Malachi 1:8 (LSB)
It’s not the fact that the Jews stopped sacrificing to God altogether. As a matter of fact they continued the same-old practices. They had priests, statutes, ceremonies, and even had the temple rebuilt. However that meant nothing to God. If anything it was even worse. For their sacrifices were supposed to be holy, first fruit, ripe, perfect, etc. yet rather they were “blind” and “lame and sick”.
Is It Not Evil?
I like that God asks the question so as to make them think about it. Isn’t it evil to offer your polluted sacrifices though I demanded perfect ones? Of course it is. We know what God thinks about sacrifice without obedience (1 Sam 15:22). Yet the Jews in that day had grown so cold, so indifferent towards God, so complacent, and so evil that they lied to themselves thinking they could offer such hypocritical sacrifices to their God.
Fast forward to 2023. Isn’t it evil to come to church with a bitter heart? Isn’t it evil to pray to God while you have unfinished conflict with a brother or sister in Christ? Isn’t it evil to play “church” while your heart is as black as ever? Of course it is. We know what God thinks about sacrifice without obedience (1 Sam 15:22). Yet Christians today have grown so cold, so indifferent towards God, so complacent, and so evil that they lied to themselves thinking they could offer such hypocritical sacrifices to their God. You see?
The Point
I think the “burden of the word of the LORD” is very similar for our day and age as well. The rebuke is not to those who don’t sacrifice at all but rather to those who do so with hypocrisy. Therefore take a moment to examine your own heart. Have you been “sacrificing” your time, money, energy, work to God but with some “blind” and “lame and sick” offering? Maybe you have been dragging yourself to church lately instead of joyfully leaping. Maybe tithing seems like a drag and a nuisance to you rather than a thankful “It’s the least I could do.”
Let us not be hypocritical in our Christian walk. We are “to present [our] bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1 LSB) Take a close look at those 3 qualities. Living. Holy. Pleasing. Pray to God to reveal to you what those mean and how you can, through the Spirit of Christ, conform to this command of scripture.
Jesus Christ
Now don’t run off gritting your teeth and clenching your fists saying: “I can do it!”. Let me save you a life full of trouble: No you can’t. John 15:5. So you want your life to be a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to God? Then simply throw yourself onto Christ with a heart full of faith. He will make you living. He will make you holy. He will make you pleasing. Don’t fret on doing this yourself. He died on the cross to give you life and to give it to you more abundantly. John 10:10. That is a gift. Now I never remember working for my gifts. Else that defeats the whole purpose of a “gift”. I simply receive the gift. Would you do that? Receive? Admit you don’t have it within yourself and simply take what is yours through Jesus.
Action
- Thank God for His perfect and convicting Word that cuts the soul and spirit while at the same time heals you and brings you life.
- Confess to God your recent hypocrisy in your walk. Make it specific.
- Ask God to fill you with the Spirit of Jesus and teach you how to “Abide in [Him]” for all things needful.