Little book with a lot of stuff! Here is the very last read of the Old Testament. What fortitude you have had. Did you believe you would make it this far? I am proud of you....can you imagine how please God is with you?
This book begins when the temple had been rebuilt for about 100 years. Once again, the people are getting complacent. The Law required that perfect sacrifices be offered to God (Jesus would be the ultimate perfect sacrifice) and people were keeping good things for themselves and allowing imperfect sacrifices to be made. Don't think God doesn't know what we do and he is well aware of our motivation. The priests were allowing this to happen. My study Bible points out that in Romans 12:1, our LIVES should be living sacrifices to God...Oh, Boy!
Chapter 2 is admonition for the priests.....they have truly broken the covenant.....God moves onto the sinful people themselves....they "flooded the altar with tears" and wondered why God was unhappy with the offerings...they knew better and God knew the knew better. Men were divorcing for no reason other than they were bored. God pointed out that the marraige covenant was something in which He made two people one.
If you get nothing else out of this book, check out chapter 3......Malachi is talking about how John the Baptist will be the messenger preparing the way of the Lord. John the Baptist is one like Elijah....remember verse 6: I the Lord do not change. He is the same as he has always been and we can rely on him. Many sermons come from:
Test me on this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. We are supposed to do our tithes and offerings and God will provide. He even asks us to test him.
This book ends with "The Day of the Lord is coming".......God isn't going to speak for 400 years.....
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
After you read, feel free to make a comment or ask a question in the comment box. You can sign up as a follower on the right, or you can sign up by e-mail at the bottom if you would like to follow the whole year. You may also chose to simply read along and make no comments. Whatever you choose. If you fall behind, as most people will do, don't worry...the whole year is here and you can catch up at your own speed. I highly encourage you to stick with it, If you read the Bible, you are going to mine some real jewels and insights.
A verse that caught my attention: 1:6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor?" God points out that people are not honoring him,.....
ReplyDeleteVerse 13.....don't bring God something you do not want.....He does not want leftovers....
Oh....I really like 2:7 "For the lips of a priesst should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts".....The people should know the priests have the knowledge of what they should do, yet they do not seek this knowledge.
and a great ending to the Old testament....4:1-2 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, es all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up." Says the Lord of hosts... But to you who fear my name The sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go out and grow ft like stall fed calves."
My Bible has a page devoted to tithing: It states that the Lord is very specific in the way we are to give our tithes and offerings:
1. Bring to his storehouse - to the church
2. Make them on a regular basis
3. WE are to make our gifts joyfully.
It also states that a tithe is given to God from our increase and for our increase. It is a way to give and also a way to receive God's blessing.
I cannot believe I have read the entire Old Testament...... I know I did not learn as much as I probably should have......but I now do recognize names and stories and events that before I did not. I do now know there is some pretty interesting stories in here and God was pretty powerful at this time sending his message, but these hardheaded people just refused to pay attention. In the Old Testament, my favorite book is Proverbs......
Bring on the New Testament!! :)