Saturday, January 24, 2015

All Nations Blessing Israel Malachi 3:12

The prophet Malachi wrote “The LORD of host's” words which indicted the nation of Israel for several faults. Among them was their robbing God in tithes and offerings. The Lord's desire was to bless the people of the nation, however because of their larceny they received a curse. The Lord beckoned them to return to and prove Him with their tithes, and He promised to open the windows of heaven, rebuke the devourer, and not allow the fruit of their fields or vines to be unproductive if they did. In chapter three and verse twelve we see another blessing which would come upon Israel if they would only obey. We read:

And all nations shall call you blessed:
for you shall be a delightsome land, says the LORD of hosts.

The verse begins, “And all nations shall call you blessed:” Malachi wrote “all the nations” which refers to “people from the nations all over the world” “shall call you blessed” which literally means “to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress or pronounce happy”. In other words, when people from around the world saw the prosperity of the nation of Israel, they would comment upon how “happy and advanced” their conditions made them.

The verse goes on to say, “for you shall be a delightsome land, says the LORD of hosts.” The Lord goes on to tell them “you shall be a delightsome” or “pleasurable or desireable” “land”. When people look upon the nation of Israel after the Lord blesses them, they will see pleasure, happiness, and an enviable place to be within the nation.

Let us think about what is being said in these words, “All the nations”. Every nation throughout the world, whether believing or non-believing in God, would look upon the nation of Israel and bless them. The prosperity of Israel would be the envy of the world, and those who look upon them would desire to be as they are. All of this is promised by “the LORD of hosts” if only they would return to him and prove Him with their tithes. As we ponder this idea, can we picture ourselves in the nation of Israel's position? Would we desire to be called “blessed” and “delightsome” among those with whom we have to do? May the Lord fasten this truth deep within our souls that we may ever understand that His mighty outstretched hand is ready to bless those who will simply obey what He says.

Next time we see yet another indictment against the nation of Israel, 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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