Bible Study - Apathy - Just Going Through the Motions? Malachi 1 - June 3, 2012

Bible Study – Apathy – Are You Just Going Through the Motions? – June 3, 2012

This begins a new series of study entitled “Apathy – Who Cares?”

Our scripture is Malachi 1:1-14.

This four (4) week study will focus on the Book of Malachi. The word “Malachi” means “my messenger” or “my angel.” The book is an oracle which can mean “burden.” Bible scholars are not sure when Malachi was written but some score it about 430 B. C.

Some Bible scholars do not think that Malachi was the name of the person who spoke the message for GOD. Since Malachi means messenger, the writer used the title of his role for his name since the message was so burdensome. But regardless, the message was relevant then and is relevant today.

It was written after the restoration period following the Israelite’s exile in Babylon. The restoration began when Cyrus, King of Persia issued a decree in 539 B. C. stating that the Israelites could return to their native lands. The temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed. Therefore, the first order of business in 536 B.C. was to rebuild the temple. The temple was completed in 516 B.C. In about 445 B. C. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem to supervise the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The Book of Malachi was written about 430 B.C. During this roughly 86 year period from the time the temple was completed to the time Malachi was written, the Israelites had gone from being excited about the coming of the Promise Messiah to apathy and disappointment. They were just going through the motions of worship because the Messianic prophecies had not been fulfilled. This sadly included the priests as well as the Israelites.

This raises a very important question, “As Christians, are we just going through the motions of worship?” Do Christians attend a worship service because their security is in the church? I am not putting down worship but raising the motive for our worship. Do we attend worship because of our relationship with CHRIST or our relationship with the brick and mortar church?

Let’s read Malachi 1:1-5:

The Lord’s Love for Israel 1 an •oracle: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi. 2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you ask: “How have You loved us?”“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is the Lord’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob, 3 but I hated Esau. I turned his mountains into a wasteland, and gave his inheritance to the desert jackals.” 4 Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of •Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country and the people the Lord has cursed forever. 5 Your own eyes will see this, and you yourselves will say, ‘The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.’

Malachi, GOD’S messenger, began by telling the Israelites that GOD’S message to them was difficult for him to deliver because it was a burdensome message. It was heavy to lift. First of all, they needed to know and understand that GOD loved them. Malachi used the statement and answer technique to reveal both reality and truth to the Israelites to get their attention and urge them to examine their hearts, attitude and relationship toward GOD.

GOD stated, “I have loved you.” The statement “I have loved you” carried the idea of, I loved you in the past and I still love you in the present even after you have been despicable toward ME.

GOD knew the apathy and indifference the Israelites had in their hearts toward HIM and that they would ask, “How have YOU loved us?” Their actions toward worship revealed their attitude toward GOD. In essence, their hearts reflected the attitude of “What have YOU done for us lately?” The Israelites were using political and economic conditions as the measure of GOD’S care for them.

Even though GOD had brought them back to Jerusalem and the temple had been restored, they did not acknowledge that GOD was active in their lives. In essence, GOD had abandoned them. They refused to acknowledge their cynical nature toward GOD.

So often we blame GOD for not caring about us when we are in bad or difficult situations. We want GOD to respond immediately to us regardless of our cynical attitude toward HIM. Christians often think, “Since GOD is GOD with all this power, why doesn’t HE come to our aid?” This attitude can lead Christians to become apathetic or cynical toward GOD. We may be the problem.

Then HE reminded them of HIS sovereignty by using an example of the birth of twins to Isaac and Rebekah, Esau and Jacob (Genesis Chapter 25). Esau was born first and Jacob was born second. According to Hebrew tradition and law Esau, as the first born, would automatically receive special rights, privileges, inheritance and blessings. But GOD chose Jacob to receive these special blessings. HIS example was not about the individuals but about the nations their descendants would build. GOD favored Jacob/Israel over Esau/Edom for the lineage of CHRIST, the Promised Messiah. GOD looks upon the heart and the potential of people and people groups.

Some Bible scholars, who look at the statement, believe that the use of the word hate means that GOD loved Esau less which would translate to hate. We have to keep in mind that GOD knows the beginning and the end.

We do know that Esau’s birthright was of little or no value to him and he gave it to Jacob for a bowl of porridge. Later, Rebekah, Esau’s and Jacob’s mother, devised a plot to get Isaac to pass his blessings to Jacob instead of Esau. They tricked Isaac into thinking that Jacob was his brother Esau and Isaac blessed Jacob. But GOD had already chosen Jacob and his descendants to carry the blessings promised to Abraham and Isaac. Rebekah did not have to step in with her deceptive plot to accomplish what GOD had already chosen as the lineage of JESUS.

Esau’s descendants created Edom but Edom as a nation was improvised. Esau had married pagan women. The Edomites would vow to rebuild but GOD would devastate. GOD opposed them because they did not repent. Jacob and his descendants sinned but they repented. GOD chose Jacob and gave his descendants special protection to ensure the birth of CHRIST through his lineage. GOD changed Jacob’s name to Israel, thus his descendants became the nation of Israel.

GOD made it clear in verse 5 that through the lineage of Jacob other nations will be blessed. GOD chose Jacob and his descendants for the line of promise given to Abraham and Isaac to continue. CHRIST is the blessing to all who accept HIM as their Savior regardless of their earthly heritage.

GOD is GOD and HIS ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We must trust HIM in all matters but if our hearts have become cynical then HE needs to get our attention and deal with us individually and as a nation.

GOD’S plans always trump mans best laid plans. GOD revealed HIS sovereignty over human efforts when HE thwarted the plans of Edom to rebuild after they had been devastated.

Our next scripture reveals the problem GOD had with the Israelites.

Let’s read Malachi 1:6:

Disobedience of the Priests

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your •fear of Me?o 1Sa 2:30; Dn 5:23; Hg 1:8 says •Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?”

GOD began with two statements, which HE knew they could relate:

-         A son honors his father.

-         A servant honors his master.

GOD knew the Israelites would agree with HIS statements and asked, “But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your •fear of Me (Reverence/respect)?o 1Sa 2:30; Dn 5:23; Hg 1:8 says •Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.”Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?”

You expect your son to honor you as his father and a servant to honor his/her master and you say that I am your Father and Master. If I am your Father and Master, where is MY honor or your reverence and respect due ME? GOD referred to Himself as “Yahweh of Hosts” which means “GOD Almighty.” HE directed these statements to the priests.

It is a sad day when the religious leaders compromise their walk with GOD and the message of truth. Have many of our Christian religious leaders have compromised their walk with CHRIST thus compromising the message GOD wants them to deliver? GOD was telling the priests they were giving lip service and going through the motions. They had compromised their walk with HIM such that they could not recognize how far they had strayed from the truth. It was time for a Spiritual renewal, beginning with the priests.

GOD knew the priests would ask, “How have we despised Your name?” The priests were clueless regarding how they have despised GOD after all they were offering sacrifices. GOD revealed the answer to the question in Malachi 1:7-8:

-         7 “By presenting defiled food on My altar.”You ask: “How have we defiled You?”p Ezk 22:26When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible (Utter disgust or hatred).”q Ezk 41:22; 44:16

Even the priests recognized that the food offered on the altar where the animals were sacrificed to GOD was contemptible. So they did not demand the worshipers to offer their best to GOD. GOD gave them another example in verse 8 -

-         8 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong?r Lv 22:18-25; Dt 15:21; 17:1 Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Hosts.

 GOD asked if it was wrong to offer a blind, lame or sick animal for sacrifice. Then HE made the profound statement, “Would you bring such an animal to your governor!” The obvious answer was no! If you would not offer such an animal to an earthly authority, why would you even consider offering such an animal to ME? Don’t you realize that I have authority over all things including the governor? The LORD of Hosts means HE is over the heavenly army and has authority over the earth, universe and heaven. HE is GOD Almighty.

Let’s read Malachi 1:9:

9 “And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us?s 1Sa 13:12; Pr 19:6; Dn 9:13 Since this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor?”t Nm 6:25-26 asks the Lord of Hosts.

As the consequence of their actions, when the priests ask GOD to show them favor, will HE be gracious to them? No, because they were not following GOD’S law regarding sacrifices as recorded in Leviticus 1:3:

 “If his gift is a •burnt offeringd Gn 22:2; Lv 3:5 from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male.e Ex 29:1 He must bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that hef Or it may be accepted by the Lord.g Lv 19:5; Heb 9:14; 1Pt 1:19

Leviticus Chapter 22 has much more regarding sacrifices.

Let’s read Malachi 1:10: (GOD was speaking)

10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,u 2Ch 28:24 so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar!v Pr 1:17; Isa 1:14 I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Hosts, “and I will acceptw Lv 22:19-21 no offering from your hands.x

GOD’S instructions were very clear regarding sacrifices and worship, which the priests chose to ignore. GOD made in clear that HE was disgusted with them for going through the motions of worship. Their hearts were not in true worship. As far as HE was concerned, someone needed to shut the doors of the temple because their actions were disgusting to HIM.

Notice that GOD told them to shut the door. GOD would not shut the door. GOD wanted them to recognize and acknowledge their deplorable condition and take action. After all, what they were doing was useless because HE would not accept their offering from their hands.

Is this the condition of some of our churches today? Are Christians going through the motions of worship and playing Christian? I believe in some cases we are just going through the motions. America, it is time to wake up and be the Christian Nation GOD desires for you to be.

GOD continued in our next scripture. In essence, HE repeated a portion of what HE had already stated. But we know when we want someone to get what we are saying we often have to repeat it. GOD wanted them to hear HIS message and respond to HIS message.

Let’s read Malachi 1: 11-14:  (My additions)

11 “For My name will be great among the nations,y Ps 113:3; Isa 45:6; 59:19; Mt 8:11 from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incensez Or Burnt offerings and pure offerings will be presented in My name in every place because My name will be great among the nations,”a Or is great . . . are presented . . . is great says Yahweh of Hosts.
12 But you are profaning (worthless or insignificant) itb Lv 22:2; Ezk 13:19; 22:26; 36:20-23; Mal 2:10-11 when you say: “The Lord’s Table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.”
13 You also say: “Look, what a nuisance (a burden)!” “And you scorn (you sniff at)c Lit blow at it,”d Ancient Jewish tradition reads Mee 1Sa 2:29 says the Lord of Hosts. “You bring stolen,f Or injuredg 2Sa 24:24 lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks the Lord.
14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.h Lv 22:18-25; 27:9-10; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21-23; Ecc 5:4-7 For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My namei Or Because I am . . . Yahweh of Hosts, My name will be feared among the nations.

GOD told the Israelites that there are people who are or will worship according to HIS commands spanning from the rising to the setting of the sun. Bible scholars believe this statement includes the Gentiles. The question is did HE mean it included the Gentiles then or later? If the Gentiles practiced the worship of GOD according to HIS commands, they are included. If the Jews outside of Jerusalem practiced worship according to GOD’S commands, they are acceptable to GOD.

Since CHRIST gave HIS life to redeem all of mankind who will believe upon HIM, salvation through CHRIST is available to all people. GOD continued HIS message to the priests by saying, “When it comes to you priests, you are disgusting. You know offering such imperfect animals is not according to MY laws but you do it anyway. You know that it is disgusting, a waste of your time and effort. You consider the sacrificial system a nuisance but you still go through the motions. You are deceiving yourself as well as those who bring these blemished animals to you to sacrifice. You are fooling yourselves and giving those who bring these blemished animals a warped sense of who I AM because I require and deserve your best.” When we do not give of our best to GOD, it reveals the attitude of our hearts. 

GOD continued, “You accept what a deceiver worshipper brings you regardless of its condition. The deceiver has kept the best for himself but he brings ME that which is of little value. This reveals the corrupt and insincere heart of the deceiver. You priests encourage this practice, which you know it is wrong, by accepting the defective animal. If your relationship with ME was what it should be, when a deceiver brought a defective animal to you for sacrifice, you would see this as an opportunity for you to teach the deceiver about true worship. But because you do not honor or respect ME, you say nothing and go through the motions. Your apathy towards ME in turn spreads to those who come to worship ME and compounds a bad situation.”

This is a sad state for any nation to get into. Those to whom GOD entrusts the message of truth must remain faithful to HIS message regardless of the consequences. When the hearts of Christians grow cold and we are just going through the motions, it is burdensome and useless. Attending a worship service where truth is not presented in the power and under the authority of the Holy Spirit compounds the burden on Christians.