Friday Faithfuls Two: Malachi

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

The final book in the Prophets...Malachi.

It is an interesting read; God  is admonishing his people to serve him whole heartedly.  Repeatedly, he states an area in which they have fallen short, only to have them respond, 'What?  How did we do that?'

They were clueless.

Not recognizing the Lord's love for them. Bringing offerings that were cast-offs, not sacrifices.  Worshiping out of obligation and not relationship. Leaders who taught what they thought instead of what God had said.  Not being impartial in matters of law.  Intermarriage with foreigners who followed other gods.  Marital unfaithfulness and divorce.  Believing they were entitled to good things from God even though they continually failed to abide by his laws, decrees and statutes. Not returning to God the tithe as he instructed.  And, finally, they even declared it was futile to serve God as it appeared that the wicked were blessed.

And yet, when God pointed these things out, they were all, like, "Um, when did we do that?" 

Keep in mind, all those things were being done/not done by the very people who considered themselves to be God's Own.  They were not considering their ways.  All of those things kind of lump together as 1) God owes me something and 2) I can do what I want...what seems best to me.

This gives me prickles, because I think many folks who consider themselves God's Own today are just as clueless.  And I don't think it will go any better for people today than it did for the folks then.

This was the last word from God to the nation for something like 400 years...until John came preaching in the wilderness.  They lost their intimacy, so they substituted legalism...and didn't even recognize when God himself came to them.   

So here's a warning that is just as valid today as it was then...

"So I will come near to you for judgment.  I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.  -- Mal. 3:5