After directing His
attention toward the nation of Israel for their contemptible behavior
in worship toward Him, the Lord God through Malachi directed His
attention specifically to their spiritual leaders – the priests. In
chapter two and verse two we begin to see what the Lord has to say to
them where we read:
If
you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to
give glory unto my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will even send a
curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yes, I have cursed
them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
The
verse begins, “If you will not hear, and if you will not
lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, says the
LORD of hosts,” Let us notice
first the word “if”
where there is implied a “choice” involved. This word “if”
might also imply “since” which would make what the Lord has to
say all the more emphatic. “The LORD of hosts”
calls the priests' attention toward two things. The first was, “if
you will not hear” which means
“perceive, understand, listen to, yield to, and obey”. The second
was “if you will not lay it to heart”
or “to put, place, set, appoint, or make it be” within the
“inner man, mind, will, heart, and understanding”. Not only were
the priests to hear the Lord, but they were also to understand Him
deep within their souls. The result of doing so would be “to
give glory unto my name” which is where all “honor,
abundance, riches, splendor, and reputation” should be directed.
The
verse goes on to say, “I will even send a curse upon you, and I
will curse your blessings:” After giving the priests of Israel
opportunity to hear and lay to heart the Lord's words, God shares the
consequences that will be the result of their insolence. First, He
will “send a curse” upon them which means “a
denunciation, damning or anathema”. Secondly, He “will curse”
their “blessing” which refers to their “prosperity,
gifts, invocation of good, and benediction of righteousness” from
God. It was the Lord who sends “blessings” upon them, and
because of their contempt in worship, the Lord would replace
“blessings” with a “curse”.
Finally
the verse says, “ yes, I have cursed them already,
because you do not lay it to heart.” As
though to add to His comments to the priests of Israel, the Lord told
them “I have cursed them already”
which means “to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint,
constitute, make, determine, or fix”. The Lord already began to
fulfill His promise of putting a “curse” upon them because
they “do not lay it to heart”.
As we think over these words
as recorded by Malachi, we cannot help but examine our own behavior
toward worship of the Lord. Do we “hear” “the Lord of
hosts”? Do we “lay His words to heart” deep within us? Are
we going through the motions when we worship Him, or are we fully
listening and obeying Him within our very souls? No doubt we might
take a position of spectator in this portion of Malachi's prophecy,
however it will benefit us greatly to act as though we are the ones
to whom he writes. May the Lord help us to “hear” and obey
Him as we are challenged by His word.
Next
time we see more of God's warning to the priests if they do not
listen to Him,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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