The Preacher...sermon post...Malachi 1.6-2.9

We cover the 2nd of 7 of God's burdens shared with the Israelites after they have returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon.  They have returned to build a new temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel and rebuilt the city walls under the leadership of Nehemiah.  These great accomplishments are also accompanied by an old friend, a disregarding and disobeying of the God who made it possible for them to be back in the Promise Land.

God speaks through Malachi the 1st burden.  God has loved them but they have not loved him back.  How do we know?  They are continuing in their disobedience.  They are complaining about their present situation and disregarding God's covenant permanent redemptive plan of His people.  We can do the same today even as the people of God.  We make conclusions on what is presently happening and relying on what man says rather than holding firm to what God has said is the final outcome.

The 2nd burden is directed to the priests, the religious leaders of the day.  It is hard to preach this content because it is pointing back at myself while the words are coming out of my mouth.  It is beneficial for the congregation to know because it reminds us all of what our religious leaders are suppose to be like.

God is suppose to receive honor - an abundance of glory with weight.  God is suppose to be approached in fear - a shaking in reverence with awe.  Instead, God is being despised, held in contempt and disdain, by the religious leaders of the day.  How?  One example is the minimizing of the requirements given by God for the sacrifices that were brought to His table.  

Instead of sacrifices that reflected the best of the flock, sacrifices were brought that were "seconds" or even "thirds" and the religious leaders where saying that was okay.  Why was this so important?  Because those sacrifices were forerunners or a picture of "the" Sacrifice that was to come who was blameless, spotless and without sin.  If we were to disregard the instruction from God about bringing these physical sacrifices how would we grasp the Sacrifice that God would provide in His one and only Son?  

Malachi 2.9b - "...inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction."  The religious leaders of that day were not practicing what they preached and were picking and choosing what to teach on, disregarding God's words at times.  Does this sound familiar to our day?

Sometimes it is good to set the standard for the one who stands before us on a regular basis as our spiritual leader.  Malachi 2.5-7 gives us this list.

• One who fears God.  (in shaking reverence of Him)
• One who stands in awe of His name.  (in worship of Him)
• One who has true instruction in his mouth.  (brings us His words)
• One who has no wrong found on his lips.  (practices personal confession of sin)
• One who walks with God in peace and uprightness.  (a lived out holy life)
• One who turns many from iniquity.  (warns us of sin)
• One who guards knowledge.  (teaches us Biblical doctrines)
• One who people trust with the instruction.  (we hear it but also see it in action)
• One who is a messenger of the LORD of hosts.  (the call of God is evident)

No one is perfect (me especially included) but I look for those who feed me who fit the above criteria rather than what is cool or the latest or what is pithy in the moment.  Sadly, too many religious leaders of our day do not fit the Biblical criteria set out by God.

Adam