God’s Love for Israel
Malachi 1A revelation: the word of YHWH to Israel through Malachi.
“I have loved y’all,” says YHWH.
Yet y’all say, “How have you loved us?”
“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says YHWH. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated. I have made his mountains into a wasteland, and I gave his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.” Though Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and rebuild the ruined places,” YHWH Almighty says, “They will build, but I will demolish. They will be called ‘The Wicked Land,’ a people with whom YHWH is indignant forever.”
Y’all eyes will see it, and y’all will say, “Great is YHWH, even beyond the border of Israel!”
Dishonoring the Lord with Blemished Sacrifices
“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says YHWH Almighty to y’all priests who despise my name.
“By offering offer defiled food on my altar.
When y’all offer blind animals for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when y’all offer lame and sick animals, isn’t that evil? Try offering that to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” says YHWH Almighty.
“Now, y’all should plead for the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such an offering, will he show you favor?” says YHWH Almighty.
“Oh that there were one of y’all who would shut the temple doors, so that y’all would not uselessly kindle fire on my altar! I am not pleased with y’all,” says YHWH Almighty, “nor will I accept an offering from y’all’s hand. For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name will be great among the nations. In every place incense and a pure offering will be offered to my name, for my name will be great among the nations,” says YHWH Almighty. “But y’all profane it by saying, ‘The table of the Lord is polluted, and its fruit, its food is contemptible.’ Y’all say also, ‘See, what a hardship it is!’ as y’all sniff at it disdainfully”, says YHWH Almighty. “Y’all bring stolen, lame, and sick animals—y’all bring this as a sacrifice! Should I accept this from y’all’s hand?” says YHWH.
“Cursed is the deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says YHWH Almighty, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”