Malaquias 1

Malaquias 1

Barnes explains the possible connection between the two meanings. The word which is rendered “defile himself” (in Da 1:8) - from ga’al - is commonly used in connection with “redemption,” its first and usual meaning being to redeem, to ransom. In later Hebrew, however, it means, to be defiled; to be polluted, to be unclean. The “connection” between these significations of the word is not apparent, unless, as redemption was accomplished with the shedding of blood, rendering the place where it was shed defiled, the idea came to be permanently attached to the word. Gaal - 11x in 9 verses in the OT - Usage: defile(2), defiled(6), stained(1), unclean(2). KJV renders it - pollute 7, defile 3, stain 1. Ezra 2:62 These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. Nehemiah 7:64 These searched among their ancestral registration, but it could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken falsehood, Your tongue mutters wickedness. Isaiah 63:3 "I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment. Lamentations 4:14 They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments. Daniel 1:8-note But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Comment: Notice "defile" is used twice indicating it is a key word (see discussion of the value of learning to identify and interrogate "key words" in Scripture) in this key verse in the book of Daniel, as this choice determined the subsequent course of his godly life as vessel sanctified, useful to His Master and prepared for every good work (including the writing of some of the most profound prophecies in the entire OT! cf 2Ti 2:21-note) Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical city! Malachi 1:7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.' Malachi 1:12 "But you are profaning it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised (bazah - see below).' Despised (0959) (baza/bazah is from a root meaning to accord little worth to something) means to disdain or to hold in contempt. Bazah is used in a number of places to mean “despise” in the sense of treating someone or something as totally insignificant or worthless. Bazah means to raise the head loftily and disdainfully, to look down one's nose at something (so to speak)! The idea is that one undervalues something or someone which implies contempt for that thing or person (in this case God's Name in Mal 1:6 and here His table/altar, the place He is to be worshipped, revered, and adored! Woe!) Lest we be too hard on these ancient Israelites, let us "moderns" consider what we do EVERY TIME we willfully sin against God! Are you as convicted as I am! In fact Larry Richards writes that "Disobedience and other sins are portrayed in the OT as nothing less than evidences that we despise God. When we disobey, we show that we place little value on the Lord." Bazah means to treat things of value with contempt, as if they were worthless, the classic example being the very first use in Scripture in which Esau "despised his birthright" and sold it for lentil stew! (Ge 25:34, cp Heb 12:15-16-note) Bruce K Waltke writes - The use of baza shows that disobedience to the Lord is based on "contempt, despising" of him. Thus David's adultery with Bathsheba is equated with contempt for the Lord (2 Sa12:10) and his word (v. 19). Likewise to "despise an oath" is equated with breaking the Lord's covenant (Ezek 16:59; Ezek 17:16, 18). A person who despises the Lord is devious in his ways (Prov 14:2). The opposite of baza is kabed "to honor" (1Sa 2:30), yare' "to fear" (Prov 14:2), and shamar "to keep" commandments (Pr 19:16). The person who acts contrary to the community founded on the "fear of the Lord" must be cut off from it (Num 15:31); those who treat the Lord with contempt will themselves be held contemptible by him (Mal 1:6-7, 12; Mal 2:9) and will die (Prov 19:16). Those who treated his messengers with disrespect experienced his wrath (2Chr 36:16). The Lord also condemns to insignificance those who despise what he chose: Esau for despising the birthright (Ge25:34), worthless fellows for despising Saul's election (1Sa10:27), Goliath for despising David's youth (1S 17:42), and Michal for despising David's religious enthusiasm (2Sa6:16). (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament- R Laird Harris, Gleason L Archer Jr., Bruce K. Waltke) In the Septuagint (Lxx) Greek verbs used to translate baza/bazah are phaulizo (to hold cheap, to depreciate, disparage, to despise, to consider worthless = translates baza in Ge 25:34, Nu 15:31 2Sa 12:9 Isa 37:22 Mal 1:6) and exoutheneo (as treating someone or something as of no account despise, disdain, make light of Ro 14:3. As making something or someone as of no account disregard, reject, despise- 1Th 5:20 = exoutheneo translates baza in 2Sa 6:16, , 12:10, , 1Chr 15:29, , Ps 15:4, 22:24, 69:33, 73:20, 102:17, 119:141, Eccl 9:16, Da 11:21, Mal 1:7, 1:12; 2:9) Bazah - 42x in the OT - NAS renders it - careless(1), contempt(1), despicable(1), despise(5), despised(32), despises(2), disdained(1), disdained*(1). Meditate (See also Primer on Biblical Meditation) on God's uses of Bazah in the list below (there are some "starter" questions to encourage you to do this simple, yet profound devotional study) -- you will find yourself blessed, challenged, convicted and grateful! Compare others who despised the things of God (Nu 15:31, Mal 1:6) See God's response to those who despise Him in 1Sa 2:30! But praise God for His mercy, grace and forgiveness - see who else despised the things of God in 2Sa 12:9! Then see despise in Ps 51:17-note! But note consequences in 2Sa12:10. See 2Chr 36:16 for what happened to Israel when she despised God's Words! See Who was despised in Isa 53:3! And who is despised in Da 11:21-note. Enjoy! Here are all 42 OT uses of bazah for your perusal -Ge 25:34; Nu 15:31 (despised the Word of the LORD); 1Sa 2:30 (despise Me = God); 1Sa 10:27; 1Sa 15:9; 17:42 (Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him); 2Sa 6:16; 12:9, 10; 2Kgs 19:21; 1Chr 15:29; 2Chr 36:16; Neh 2:19; Esther 1:17; 3:6; Ps 15:4; 22:6, 24; Ps 51:17-note; Ps 69:33; Ps 73:20;Ps 102:17; Ps 119:141; Pr 14:2; 15:20; Pr 19:16; Ec 9:16; Isa 37:22; Isa 53:3; Jer 22:28; Jer 49:15; Ezek 16:59; 17:16, 18, 19; 22:8; Da 11:21; Obadiah 1:2 (Though Edom loftily lifts his head in pride against God and against the surrounding nations [cf. Obadiah 1:3], the fact is that God and the nations loftily lift their heads in disdain against Edom); Mal 1:6, 7, 12; Mal 2:9. NAS translates bazah as - careless(1), contempt(1), despicable(1), despise(5), despised(32), despises(2), disdained(1), disdained*(1). Now take a moment and read and ponder the English definitions of the word despise especially thinking about how God associates this word with our sin - The English definition of despise means to look down on with contempt, repugnance or aversion. Despise suggests an emotional response which ranges from strong dislike to loathing! To have the lowest opinion of something! To abhor! To scorn! To disdain! To regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful. To regard as unworthy of one’s notice or consideration. Antonyms of despise include - to adore, to admire, to cherish, to esteem, to love. The related verb to disdain means to feel a contempt for what is beneath one, to look upon with scorn, to abstain from because of disdain, to treat as beneath one's notice or dignity, to regard as unworthy of one’s notice or consideration. Webster's 1828 dictionary says disdain is "To think unworthy; to deem worthless; to consider to be unworthy of notice, care. regard, esteem, or unworthy of one’s character; to scorn; to contemn (view with contempt)." To despise means to look down on with contempt or aversion; regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful; may suggest an emotional response ranging from strong dislike to loathing. To disdain implies an arrogant or supercilious aversion to what is regarded as unworthy; look on with scorn; refuse or abstain from because of disdain; to treat as beneath one’s notice or dignity, may or may not include overt feelings of contempt or scorn; feeling of contempt for what is beneath one. Contempt is the act of despising: the state of mind of one who despises; lack of respect or reverence for something; willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body ><>><>>><> SERVING GOD THE "LEFTOVERS" - A few years ago, radio commentator Paul Harvey shared a true story about a woman and her frozen turkey. The Butterball Turkey Company set up a telephone hotline to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys. One woman called to inquire about cooking a turkey that had been in her freezer for 23 years. The representative told her the turkey would be safe to eat, but did not recommend eating it because the flavor would have deteriorated. The caller replied, “That’s what I thought. Okay, we’ll probably just give it to our church then.” That woman was guilty of serving leftovers to her church. The priests and people of Malachi’s day were also guilty of serving leftovers to a holy God. Questioning God’s love for them (Malachi 1:2-5), the priests and the people became negligent in their worship. God sent Malachi to scold them for “serving” Him careless worship (Malachi 1:6-7). The people were offering defective animals for sacrifice, and the priests, who were responsible for inspecting the animals and offering up unblemished sacrifices to God (Leviticus 22:17-25), were accepting them. The Lord said it was insulting that they were bringing Him—the Great King of the universe— sacrifices that weren’t even fit for one of their human authorities (Malachi 1:8). Are we offering God less than our best? Here are three standards of sacrifices to test our worship and service to God: (1) Are we giving to God first? (2) Are we giving God our best? (3) Are we offering God a sacrifice that costs us something? Let’s apply those questions to these areas of our life: our bodies (Romans 12:1-2), our money (Philippians 4:14-18), our praise (Hebrews 13:15), our good works (Hebrews 13:16), and our witnessing to unbelievers. Let’s give our best, not simply the leftovers. (Our Daily Journey serving God leftovers) Malachi 1:8 "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.: (the blind: Mal 1:14 Lev 22:19-25 Dt 15:21)(Be pleased: Mal 1:10, Mal 1:13 Job 42:8 Ps 20:3 Jer 14:10 Ho 8:13) OFFERING LESS THAN YOUR BEST! But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? - God's rhetorical question clearly expects a "Yes!" God had just accused the priests of despising the altar of God and now substantiates His charge regarding how they accomplished this evil deed. God says they are offering blemished sacrifices which He would not accept. They were going through the motions of worship but it was false worship, and it was unacceptable to Jehovah. NLT Paraphrase - When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD Almighty. Are we ever guilty of despising the altar of the LORD? Are we ever guilty of bringing less than our best, of worshipping the Holy God externally and/or with unclean hands and an impure heart (cp Ps 24:3-4). The priests were behaving in a lawless manner (lawlessness is sin - 1Jn 3:4). The laws related to the priests were clear and clearly strict, so much so that if a priest broke them, he was to forfeit his life! They (the priests) shall therefore keep My charge, so that they may not bear sin because of it, and die thereby because they profane it; I am the LORD who sanctifies them. (Lev 22:9) Notice that after a detailed discussion of what constituted acceptable sacrifices to God (Lev 22:17:31), we then see Moses make the clear association with God's Name... And you shall not profane My holy Name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel: I am the LORD who sanctifies you, Who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD. (Lev 22:32, 33) Comment: In other words to offer unacceptable sacrifices was to treat God's Name as profane or common, not pure, not holy. Remember that God's Name stands for His character, attributes, reputation, all of which would be impugned or treated with contempt if one were to offer less than what He had prescribed, less than the best. Blind...lame and sick - Lame and blind are repeated again in Mal 1:13 where there God adds animals that were stolen. Blind, lame and sick animals were of no real value - they could not work or they could not be sold. They were essentially worthless to their owners and yet that is what the priests allowed the people to present on God's altar! Campbell asks... What does sacrifice reveal? Not a selfish seeking for favor, but a soul’s estimate of the One to whom the gift is offered. Sacrilege we have always thought was the breaking into a church and stealing therefrom. That is not so; it is going into Church and putting something on the plate. Do not forget that. Sacrilege is centered in offering God something which costs nothing, because you think God is worth nothing. God looks for the giving at His altar of a gift that costs something. Men are perpetually bringing into the Christian Church the things they do not need themselves. The Mosaic law however was crystal clear. Offerings of defective animals were strictly forbidden... Dt 15:21 But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. Lev 22:22 ‘Those that are blind or fractured or maimed or having a running sore or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the LORD. 24 ‘Also anything with its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut, you shall not offer to the LORD, or sacrifice in your land, Why did the sacrifices need to be perfect? Warren