Malachi 1

It was tough being an Old Testament prophet. The message Malachi had to deliver was not pleasant.

“I have always loved you,” says the Lord. (Malachi 1:2, NLT)

The Lord couldn’t help Himself; He began on a happy note. It went downhill from there.

“A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!” (Verse 6)

“How is it that we have shown contempt for your name?” The people asked as if they were clueless. Playing dumb seemed a good idea at the time.

“When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Verse 8) 

No one wanted these inferior animals. Giving them as a sacrifice to God was their way of getting rid of them.

Sacrifices were the way people worshiped God and confessed their sins. They were extremely important.

Leviticus 22:17-31 lists the requirements concerning sacrifices. Verse 20 sums them up, “Do not present an animal with defects, because the Lord will not accept it on your behalf.” The people knew the guidelines and had no good excuse for their disobedience.

In verse 10, the Lord suggests they close the doors of the temple and stop playing games with Him. He was not pleased, and He would not be accepting their sacrifices.

We would still be offering animal sacrifices today if Jesus hadn’t come. I can only imagine the messiness of the Old Testament sacrifices.

Years ago, my husband and his friend processed a deer on my kitchen counter. Every time I pulled some of the meat from our freezer, I remembered the crime scene. And with it came the scent of fresh blood. Becoming a vegetarian had never been more appealing.

Let’s fast forward to the New Testament.

“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:10-14, NLT)

Jesus took care of it for us, sacrificing Himself. I am forever thankful.