The Great King Deserves Our Best Series

The Great King Deserves Our Best

Malachi 1:6-14

I. The Priests Despised the Name of God (v. 6)

A. By forsaking the covenant relationship

“Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?” – Deuteronomy 32:6

“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, Israel is My son, My firstborn.” – Ex. 4:22

1. God adopted Israel as His children

2. God has adopted each believer as His children

B. By forsaking the responsibility

“But why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say?” – Luke 6:46

1. God is our Master

2. We are His bondservant

C. By forsaking our reason

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name: who were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” – John 1:12-13

We have an obligation due to His grace to:

1. Love Him

2. Honor Him

3. Obey Him

II. The Priests Defiled the Provisions of God (v. 7-8)

A. Their offering was a picture their spiritual condition (v. 7)

“No polluted man can offer pure bread on God’s alter.” – G. Campbell Morgan

1. The priests were giving God their worst

2. They were keeping the best for themselves

B. God brings an accusation against the people (v. 8)

1. They were offering God less than what man required

2. They revered man more than God

C. God Gives them a recommendation (v. 9)

1. He calls them to put off hypocrisy

2. He calls them to lock the temple doors

D. God Gives them a picture of sacrificial worship (v. 10)

1. What are we to bring to God ?

1. We are to bring our bodies to God (Romans 12:1-2 – TURN AND READ)

2. We are to bring our offerings

“Indeed, I have all and abound. I am full having received from Epaphroditas the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” – Philippians 4:18

3. We are to bring our praise

“Therefore by Him let us continually off the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” – Hebrews 13:15

4. We are to bring our works for others

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16

III. The Priests Degenerated God’s Prominence & Preciousness (v. 12-14)

A. They promoted an attitude of weariness (v. 12)

1. Weariness in giving

2. Weariness in service

3. Weariness in worship

“They misrepresented the Lord in their sacrifices.”

B. They provoked the people to try and deceive God (v. 14a)

1. They promised God their best

2. They gave God less than their best

C. They forgot that He is a Great King worthy of our best (v. 14b)