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 2:11-12,
"Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove him from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings an offering to the Lord Almighty."
Here is something interesting. Malachi points to Jews marrying Gentile women who worship their own "foreign god". He gives a call to the Lord to have the men removed from God's own, covenant people, even though they may bring an offering to the Lord. While going astray, some of these people apparently still performed their acts of worship! Even though they would have clearly known God's unhappiness toward them for pursuing other things, some continued in their outward acts of worship of the Lord.
It is clear the Lord will not accept worship from someone who has gone astray. The unrighteous acts of an idolater will not be exonerated by outward acts of worship of the one true God.
It brings to mind the wasted time spent in worship "services" in the churches of today. Those who give their hearts to other things all week and then attempt to get right with God on Sunday mornings are simply wasting their time. We cannot pursue other things, no matter what they are, that displace God in our lives and then attempt to "make it up later".
It won't work because the Lord is simply not going to accept it. He didn't in Malachi's day and he doesn't today. "I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6.
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
"Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove him from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings an offering to the Lord Almighty."
Here is something interesting. Malachi points to Jews marrying Gentile women who worship their own "foreign god". He gives a call to the Lord to have the men removed from God's own, covenant people, even though they may bring an offering to the Lord. While going astray, some of these people apparently still performed their acts of worship! Even though they would have clearly known God's unhappiness toward them for pursuing other things, some continued in their outward acts of worship of the Lord.
It is clear the Lord will not accept worship from someone who has gone astray. The unrighteous acts of an idolater will not be exonerated by outward acts of worship of the one true God.
It brings to mind the wasted time spent in worship "services" in the churches of today. Those who give their hearts to other things all week and then attempt to get right with God on Sunday mornings are simply wasting their time. We cannot pursue other things, no matter what they are, that displace God in our lives and then attempt to "make it up later".
It won't work because the Lord is simply not going to accept it. He didn't in Malachi's day and he doesn't today. "I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6.
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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