““A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’”
Malachi 1:6
As a result of losing sight of God’s love, the people began to forget the greatness of God, and they despised His name. Malachi 1:6–2:9 is directed specifically to the priests, who should have been teaching the people to honor God’s character and His reputation. Instead, they treated these things as having little value.
The Lord’s name represents all that He is—His attributes, His deity, and His majesty. Malachi used the phrase “My name” at least eight times to convict the priests of their neglect. When they asked, “In what way have we despised Your name?” Malachi answered them in two ways.
First, the priests were offering the Lord what we might call “the leftovers” (Malachi 1:6–14). They brought sick and lame animals—offerings they would not even present to their governor. How could they dare to give such offerings to the Lord?
Before we judge them too harshly, we should examine our own lives. Are there areas where we are giving the Lord our leftovers? Do we treat His name as something of little value? It is easy to give Him Sunday—and perhaps one evening during the week—but the Lord desires that we present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him, every day of our lives (Romans 12:1). We can easily forget that every area of our lives should be consistent with the honor of His name.
Second, these priests were taking the best for themselves. They had lost sight of the privilege of being God’s representatives and had turned aside from His law (Malachi 2:1–9). Malachi 2:5–7 outlines six essential characteristics for anyone who desires to represent God faithfully.
First, there must be a reverential fear of the Lord. When this is lost, our light grows dim and our influence in a dark world is greatly diminished. Second, we must know the truth and proclaim it. Scripture exhorts us to present ourselves to God as workers who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and to preach the Word faithfully (2 Timothy 2:15; 4:2). Third, we are called to turn away from sin and remain separated from it: “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). Fourth, we are to walk daily with God in His Word and in prayer. Fifth, we must point others to Christ, not to ourselves. Sixth, we must never forget that we are the Lord’s messengers.
Anchor For Today:
The priests in Malachi’s day failed in these essential responsibilities and dishonored God. May the Lord help us grow in our reverence for who He is and for the gracious calling into which He has brought us.