20250527

no difference?

Malachi 1:1-2:9

Malachi 1:1 A burden: The word of Yahveh to Israel through Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 “I have cared for you,” says Yahveh. Yet you ask, “How have you cared for us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” This is Yahveh’s declaration. “Even so, I loved Jacob,
Malachi 1:3 but I hated Esau. I turned his mountains into a sinister desolation and gave his inheritance to the open country jackals.”
Malachi 1:4 Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” Yahveh of Armies says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country, and the people Yahveh has cursed forever.
Malachi 1:5 Your eyes will see this, and you will say, ‘Yahveh is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.’
Malachi 1:6 “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 respect for me? says Yahveh of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised your name?”
Malachi 1:7 “By presenting defiled food on my altar.” “How have we defiled you?” you ask. When you say: “Yahveh’s table is despised.”
Malachi 1:8 “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? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks Yahveh of Armies.
Malachi 1:9 “And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us? Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favor?” asks Yahveh of Armies.
Malachi 1:10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors so that you would no longer kindle a purposeless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says Yahveh of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
Malachi 1:11 “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in my name everywhere because my name will be great among the nations,” says Yahveh of Armies.
Malachi 1:12 “But you are profaning it when you say: ‘Yahveh’s table is defiled, and its product, its food, is contemptible.’
Malachi 1:13 You also say: ‘Look, what a nuisance! ‘ And you scorn it,” says Yahveh of Armies. “You bring stolen, lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands?” asks Yahveh.
Malachi 1:14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to Yahveh. For I am a great King,” says Yahveh of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.
Malachi 2:1 “Therefore, this decree is for you priests:
Malachi 2:2 If you don’t listen and don’t take it to heart to honor my name,” says Yahveh of Armies, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.
Malachi 2:3 “Notice, I am going to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread animal waste over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices, and you will be taken away with it.
Malachi 2:4 Then you will know that I sent you this decree, so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says Yahveh of Armies.
Malachi 2:5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.
Malachi 2:6 True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.
Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth because he is the messenger of Yahveh of Armies.
Malachi 2:8 “You, on the other hand, have turned from the road. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says Yahveh of Armies.
Malachi 2:9 “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my roads but are showing partiality in your instruction.”

no difference?

The LORD speaks through his prophet to address two complaints the people had in his day. First, the Israelites complained “we are no different than anyone else.” To which the LORD said. “You are right, you are no different than anyone else, except that I have chosen you, and loved you. Remember Esau. Remember that I chose Jacob, and have invested in him.” There is a difference.

Secondly, the people complained “our worship is no different than anyone else’s.” The LORD responded, “It has become a drudgery because my priests do not take it seriously any more. I will punish them for that.” Worship is supposed to bring people into the presence of God. If it becomes just a form of entertainment, it cheapens the experience. God cannot allow that to continue. When it comes to true worship, there must be a difference.

LORD, make us holy, unique, different, so the world might see the difference, and come to you.