Robbing God ∙∙

Robbing God ∙∙

“You say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it.” – Malachi 1:13

Malachi 1:6-13

 6 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “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! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’”

 8 “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!”

 10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.”

 13 “You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the LORD,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled, and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept such offerings from you?”

Respect is one of the more gracious human sentiments, embodying appreciation, admiration, esteem, or honor. It involves recognizing the significance of someone or something, holding them in positive regard, and acknowledging their value. The foundation of respecting others lies in self-respect, which is about valuing oneself, that is, feeling good about yourself without conceit.

There’s an inspiring tale of a young middle school girl who stood out from her peers. Known for her quiet friendliness, she always had encouraging words for everyone around her. She made it a point to warmly greet school staff and teachers. She displayed impeccable manners in class by not interrupting or talking back and maintained a demeanor of grace and politeness amidst peers who often behaved rudely or obnoxiously. Driven by curiosity, a fellow student inquired about her consistent display of kindness. Her reply encapsulated the essence of respect. She explained, “I want to be respected for who I am. So I begin by respecting others first.”

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father is worthy of our utmost efforts and desires our best. Presenting Him with anything less, such as damaged goods or mere leftovers, is disrespectful.

Father reflecting on the book of Malachi, I am reminded of my moments of unfaithfulness, sometimes bordering on faithlessness. My heart often wavers, and my dedication is inconsistent. You are deserving of so much more. Encourage me to improve. Thank you for forgiving and accepting me as I am.

INSIGHT

The Father calls for those who are His children to lead exemplary lives that set a standard for others. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the writers of the Old Testament and New Testament set forth this goal. However, the reality often falls short of this ideal, and things do not always work out. We frequently find ourselves disregarding and contradicting the very words we profess to follow and teach. This is a common struggle for the children of the King.

Navigating through the Scriptures in these reflections is akin to witnessing a pendulum swing between grace and judgment. Malachi stands out from other Old Testament prophets by vividly conveying the visceral emotions of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He uniquely captures the essence of the Father’s frustration, anger, and divine wrath. Serving as a mouthpiece for the Father, Malachi’s expressions of grief and indignation convey the sentiments of the King himself.

Malachi 1:6 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “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! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’

In the military, soldiers are taught to salute the uniform, regardless of the person inside it. But the Father’s standards are far higher and more difficult than that.

Have you ever contemplated why churches have secondhand pianos? Could it be that their former owners have replaced them with new pianos and donated what they no longer wanted to God? I have never owned a piano, so I can never give Him a secondhand piano.

Malachi 1:8 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!”

We would never consider doing something like this to human authorities. They would laugh at us or worse. And what about the IRS?

What about the authority of the Father, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies authority? We often blur the lines, permitting ourselves a slightly altered perspective. In our selfish haughtiness, we rationalize. Do we actually think He does not see what we do and know what is in our hearts? Do we really believe that when it comes to the all-seeing, all-knowing God, it is “out of sight and out of mind?”

When we gather together to worship Him, what does the Father require? If our hearts are not right and we are just going through the motions, He is not impressed. He refuses to accept our paltry attempts. He tearfully says, shut them down!

Malachi 1:10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept your offerings.”

Just imagine Him coming to the door of your heart, home, or local church and wrapping yellow tape around it. The tape reads: “Crime scene, do not cross!”

Really? Yes really! Our disdainful and worthless efforts are like stealing from Him. And that is precisely what He calls it.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!

What does it mean to rob God? The Hebrew word translated as rob or cheat is qabaʿ. The precise semantic domain of qabaʿ is uncertain. However, it clearly has a pejorative sense and connotes something like seizing forcefully, robbing, cheating, or defrauding.

The people were in total denial. Stealing from God showcases our arrogance and underscores our profound disrespect towards Him. This often manifests as a smug, superior, pretentious, above-it-all attitude.

Malachi 1:13 “You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the LORD,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands.”

This situation is directly relevant to our lives. I recognize a significant tendency towards arrogance and disrespect within myself. Occasionally, thoughts like, “I can get away with it,” or “He’s likely not watching me or paying attention” cross my mind. Yet, the truth remains that He is omniscient, eternally aware of everything. He knows our actions even before we undertake them. Our Father is all-knowing, yet He is also all-loving and all-forgiving.

His omnipotence means He has the power to halt our misguided, foolish actions at any moment. As Tom Constable puts it, “To rob Him, one would have to be stronger and smarter than He.”

He is the Sovereign above all. He is the King of Kings and Lord of lords, deserving of nothing less than our utmost devotion and excellence.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-20-2

© Dr. H 2024