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"I have no pleasure in you"

Text: Malachi 1:10

THE ALTAR OF GOD

The altar of God was to be regarded as something very holy. The sad reality was that there wasn’t the due regard or respect for the altar!

“‘Who is there even among you who would shut the doors,
So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain?
I have no pleasure in you,’
Says the LORD of hosts,
‘Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.'”
Malachi 1:10

1. “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors”

a) The temple had doors.

b) God raised a question to the priests and Levites.

i) Who among them would be righteous and courageous?

ii) They should rise up to protest against the wicked priests who dared to offer defective animals.

iii) They would shut the temple doors to prevent entry.

2. “So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain”

a) The priests were supposed to kindle fire for the burnt offerings.

b) The fires would be kindled in vain.

c) The LORD would not accept these burnt offerings:

i) Because they did not adhere to what God had expected.

ii) Because of the poor and negative attitudes of the priests and Levites.

3. “I have no pleasure in you”

a) God had chosen the priests and Levites to serve Him.

b) They were well-provided for.

c) This was God’s plan to bless them.

d) But because of their sinful attitudes, God had to say that He had no pleasure in them.

4. “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands”

a) The LORD refused to accept their offerings.

b) This was a strongly worded rebuke of the priests and Levites.

(Cf. Isaiah 1:10-15. This text records a time when God gave a similar word.)