Read Malachi 2:1-9
Our last reading exposed the priests who were taking shortcuts and not honoring God in their sacrificial practices. Perhaps other areas of ministry were also suffering, but the prophecy was concerned with “shortcut” sacrifices that dishonored God.
We realize we, too, often fall short of giving God the priority he deserves. Today’s reading speaks to what happens when we do that. Malachi warns the priests that God will curse them for not following God’s ways and ignoring his instructions.
What did God promise them for their disrespect? “I will punish your descendants and splatter your faces with the manure from your festival sacrifices, and I will throw you on the manure pile.” The “yuck factor” is definitely in play here. Is “doing your own thing” worth being covered in manure? I don’t think so.
God wants us to stand in awe of him. He wants our devotion. The hard part of all of that is setting aside our own agenda to be in alignment with God’s will for our lives. He knows what’s best for us, yet we often ignore that and go our own way. Why is that?
Clearly, we’re not alone. People for ages have been ignoring God’s decrees and “doing their own thing.” Even the priests. You would thing the holy men of God would have known better than to disregard God. Weren’t they the ones charged with helping the people draw closer to God?
If the priests were corrupt, was there any hope for the people? Malachi’s words give everyone insight into the weaknesses we see in our leadership. This is what God expected from the leadership of his priests. “The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Yes, that’s a lot of responsibility. But God empowers those to whom he calls.
Don’t discard this teaching because you’re not a priest. There’s wisdom here for all of us. We need to take heed to God’s instruction for our lives. We’ll find clues for what he expects from us sprinkled all through Scripture. That’s why it’s so important for us to devour God’s word. That’s how we know God’s character and learn the importance of seeking his will for our lives.
Let’s pray. LORD, you are great, and your mercies endure forever. I am thankful for the reminder about standing true to your word and not letting the world crowd in and make you irrelevant. Use my story to reach others. Help me to not be afraid to share my background so that others can identify with you and connect with you on a deeper level. Help me to get out of my own way so that I can be filled with your love and reflect you in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
