“The House of Israel”
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incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My
name shall be great among the heathen.”
Malachi 1:11
.
The covenant of “life and peace” God had made with the sons
of Levi—the covenant which, if kept, would have brought untold
blessing—the Lord now offered to renew with those who once had
been spiritual leaders, but who through transgression had become
“contemptible and base before all the people.”
Malachi 2:5, 9
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Solemnly evildoers were warned of the day of judgment to come
and of Jehovah’s purpose to visit with swift destruction every trans-
gressor. Yet none were left without hope; Malachi’s prophecies of
judgment were accompanied by invitations to the impenitent to make
their peace with God. “Return unto Me,” the Lord urged; “and I will
return unto you.”
Malachi 3:7
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It seems as if every heart must respond to such an invitation. The
God of heaven is pleading with His erring children to return to Him,
that they may again co-operate with Him in carrying forward His work
in the earth. The Lord holds out His hand to take the hand of Israel
and to help them to the narrow path of self-denial and self-sacrifice, to
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share with Him the heirship as sons of God. Will they be entreated?
Will they discern their only hope?
How sad the record, that in Malachi’s day the Israelites hesitated
to yield their proud hearts in prompt and loving obedience and hearty
co-operation! Self-vindication is apparent in their response, “Wherein
shall we return?”
The Lord reveals to His people one of their special sins. “Will a
man rob God?” He asks. “Yet ye have robbed Me.” Still unconvicted
of sin, the disobedient inquire, “Wherein have we robbed Thee?”
Definite indeed is the Lord’s answer: “In tithes and offerings. Ye
are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in
Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke
the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your
ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the
field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed:
for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Verses
7-12
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