Malachi
Summary
The proclamation of DIVINE LOVE and the HONOUR OF GOD. it begins with the heart-piercing declaration: 'I have loved you, says the LORD', contrasted with the people's questioning of that love. it features the sharp rebuke to the priests who offer 'polluted bread' and 'blind' sacrifices, effectively despising the LORD'S table. it records the magnificent prophecy that His name shall be 'great among the Gentiles' from the rising of the sun to its setting. it conclude with the warning to the deceiver who brings a corrupt thing to the Great King.
The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
"I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'Wherein hast You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" says the LORD: "yet I loved Jacob,"
"And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness."
Whereas Edom says, "We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places;" thus says the LORD of hosts, "They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, 'The border of wickedness,' and, 'The people against whom the LORD has indignation for ever.'"
"And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, 'The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.'"
"A son honours his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise My name. And you say, 'Wherein have we despised Your name?'"
"You offer polluted bread upon Mine altar; and you say, 'Wherein have we polluted You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'"
"And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person?" says the LORD of hosts.
"And now, I pray you, beseech God that He will be gracious to us: this has been by your means: will He regard your persons?" says the LORD of hosts.
"Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do you kindle fire on Mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand."
"For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen," says the LORD of hosts.
"But you have profaned it, in that you say, 'The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even His meat, is contemptible.'"
"You said also, 'Behold, what a weariness is it!' and you have snuffed at it," says the LORD of hosts; "and you brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus you brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand?" says the LORD.
"But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is dreadful among the heathen."