Project 119: Malachi 2:1-16

 |  Project 119  |  Tim Sanderlin

“Where Are You?”

Here we go again—Israel is doing exactly what God has asked them not to do. But what’s new? All throughout the Old Testament, God commanded them not to marry people from other countries who worship false gods, and what do we see here? They do just that. We see the wrath of God often in these minor prophetic books because the Israelites seem to almost try to make themselves enemies of God.

The main portion we will focus on today is found in verse 13. The Israelites continue to push the Lord away; they insist they do not need Him. They believe God is one who withholds goodness and does not want them to be living their “best life” (as the kids say these days). Does this lie sound familiar? In the garden, the serpent plants this very deception in our heads. “He does not want you to have everything because He likes to hide things from you.” The Israelites buy into this falsehood, closing the door of their hearts to the Spirit of the Lord.

We see that they live their lives far from Him, yet we find them flooding the Lord’s altar with tears, because He no longer recognizes their offerings. What a senseless thought for them to have, right? They run from Him, but ask for Him to bend His ear towards them when they cry out.

When I look back in my life and realize the times I have felt far from Him—the times I called for Him and He seemed to send me to voicemail—it is evident to me (through this passage) that it was not God who was hard of hearing. The Lord didn’t deafen Himself to me; I become so out of touch with Him that I could not hear His voice when He was speaking.

But we find hope through another Old Testament prophet! When we truly desire God, the Giver and not just the gifts, we will find Him:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)

Malachi 2:1-16 (ESV):

The LORD Rebukes the Priests

1 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Judah Profaned the Covenant

10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.12 May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union?And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”