Giving God His Due

Malachi 1:6-14

– The second dispute between God and Israel focuses on Israel’s worship. We will see in our text today that God does not delight in any acts of worship that are not motivated by a profound sense of His greatness and glory

I. The Attitude God Expects (v. 6a)

1. Attitude of a Child toward their Father
   1. ‘Honour’ – same Hebrew word used in the 10 Commandments (Ex 20:12)
   2. ‘Honour’ means ‘weightiness’; to feel the ‘weight’ of a parent’s authority
   3. Perfectly modelled by Jesus in His willing submission to the Father (John 17)
2. Attitude of a Servant toward their Master
   1. ‘Fear’ – reverence or respect
   2. Relationship between an employer and an employee

Application:   Through their thoughtless and careless religious activity, Israel had broken the Fifth Commandment.   Is it possible that we have also become so familiar with God that we sometimes think about Him and respond to Him in ways that do not adequately recognize His majesty?

II. The Actions that God Demands (vv. 6b-10)

1. An Undefiled Offering
   1. God accuses the Priests of offering ‘polluted food’ on the altar, but they seem totally oblivious to their sin
      • We may fool ourselves into thinking that we’re pleasing God through external religious activities
      • God is never fooled – he sees the motive of our heart (Matthew 15:8)
2. God accuses the People of bringing Him their leftovers – sick, blind, lame animals
   1. Law required that sacrificial animals be perfect and spotless – an Old Testament prefiguring of Jesus Christ!
   2. The people of Israel were treating their earthly Governor with more respect than their heavenly Father

Application:

– The fact that God rebukes the priests shows the great responsibility that leaders carry in God’s Church– James 3:1.

– “If our concept of God is so low that we think He’s pleased with cheap, halfhearted worship, then we don’t know the God of the Bible.” – Warren Wiersbe

III. The Aim of True Worship (v. 11)

1. Worship exists for the glory of God
   1. It’s not about my preferences or your preferences – it’s about God’s preferences!
   2. God’s desire is that His glory would cover all nations – Israel’s election was a means to a far greater end!
2. Worship is intimately connected to Mission
   1. We evangelize the lost in order to raise up more worshippers for our God
   2. “Missions exists because worship does not” – Dr. John Piper

Application:  How can you and I live our lives here on earth so that more worshippers will be raised up for the glory of God here in Welland and all around the world?