The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Malachi 1:13a,
"'You say, "What a burden!" and you sniff at it [the altar of worship] contemptuously,' says the Lord Almighty."
In Malachi's day, about 430 or so BC, the priests had developed a contempt for the Lord and the worship at his temple. "It is you priests who show contempt for my name." Malachi 1:6.
How different from another time in Israel's history when it was written,
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?...
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng." Psalm 42:1-2, 4.
"'You say, "What a burden!" and you sniff at it [the altar of worship] contemptuously,' says the Lord Almighty."
In Malachi's day, about 430 or so BC, the priests had developed a contempt for the Lord and the worship at his temple. "It is you priests who show contempt for my name." Malachi 1:6.
How different from another time in Israel's history when it was written,
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?...
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng." Psalm 42:1-2, 4.
How about us today? What is the temperature of our fervor for the Lord? Does our wonderful hope in the resurrection animate and energize our love for the Lord and our worship of him? Are we delighted and awestruck at his wonderful and amazing character and nature? Are we mesmerized with his wonderful works we read of in the pages of Scripture (are we even investing our time in reading the Scriptures?) Are we spellbound by the incomprehensible love our Lord has demonstrated by paying the price for our sins on that miserable cross?
Or, do we grudgingly go to our "church services" (as if worshiping God was a "service" to him!) and honor him with a pittance of what he has blessed us with? Are we quick to scoot out the door to get on with our barbecue and baseball game? I think you get my drift here.
This is a reflection as much for myself as anyone!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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