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Daily Devotions

Malachi

Malachi 
Day 
Day 7

"You offer defiled food"

Text: Malachi 1:7

THE LAW OF GOD

It was the LORD who gave Moses the Law. There was the “judicial” part of the Law. There was also the “ceremonial-religious” part of the Law. There were strict rules concerning how sacrifices were to be made (Leviticus 1-7).

A TOTAL DISRESPECT OF GOD

The years had taken a toll on the priests, the Levites and the people. Their hardened and sinful hearts had caused them to have a great sense of disregard for God.

“You offer defiled food on My altar,
But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
By saying,
‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.'”
Malachi 1:7

1. God’s charge against the priests

a) They had accepted “defiled food” on the altar in the Temple.
b) They offered the “defiled food” to the LORD.
c) The LORD confronted the priests on this matter directly.

2. The defiance of the priests

a) They challenged the statement of the Lord defiantly.
b) They asked God where and how they were guilty of “defilement”.
i) To offer defiled food was not merely a food issue.
ii) It was an issue of sacrilege!
iii) It was as if the priests had defiled the name of God in giving “defiled food”.

3. God’s candid response to the priests

a) God found fault with the priests and their attitude towards their ministry.
b) They despised the work they were doing.
c) They looked down on the offerings given by the people as “contemptible”.
d) Idolatrous worshippers gave gold and silver but Israel only offered humble things.

God knew what was in the heart of the priests. They held the worship of God in contempt!