1. MALACHI SERIES 3: GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) I. GOD’S LOVE FOR JACOB (1:1-5) II. GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) A. THE SIN OF THE PRIESTS (1:6-14) 1. The Priests Present Defiled Offerings (vv. 6-8) 2. God Rejects Their Offerings (vv. 9-12) 2. God Rejects Their Offerings (vv. 9-12)

2.  Read Mal 1:9.  God moves up the discussion a notch (“now”) in this verse, from the lesser (the governor) to the greater (God). ~ Cf. Jer 14:12  God then exclaims in v. 10…  God was so offended by this kind of offering that expressed His desire for it to stop. ~ Cf. Neh 6:10 ~ Any such offerings are “useless,” having no effect.

3. ~ David, when he was king, was aware that sacrifices costing nothing avail for nothing (2Sam 24:24). ~ God takes pleasure, even delights, in accepting good gifts from His people, but as Samuel reminded them generations previously, God desires obedience more than sacrifice (1Sam 15:22). ~ This implies that if He can’t have the obedience, forget about the sacrifice.

4.  The priests were responsible for reflecting God’s attitudes and character to the people. ~ But by accepting imperfect sacrifices, they were leading the people to believe that it was okay for God to accept those sacrifices as well, and this cast a shadow on God’s Holy and righteous character.

5.  As Christians, we are often in the same position as these priests because we reflect God to our friends and family. ~ What image of God’s character and attitudes do they see in you?  Someone might ask, “Why would God prefer no offering to a blemished one?” ~ When we offer God “second-rate” goods (when we have first-rate goods to offer) we are showing that we don’t think much of God.

6.  “Isn’t receiving an imperfect gift better than receiving nothing at all.” ~ God is not afraid to say, “Stop giving Me these gifts, these sacrifices!”, because, truth of the matter is, He doesn’t need our sacrifice. ~ WHAT WE GIVE TO GOD ADDS NOTHING TO HIM; WHAT WE DON’T GIVE TO GOD TAKES NOTHING AWAY FROM HIM. ~ Read Ps 50:7-12.

7. ~ The next time you are tempted to earn God’s favor by what you do or give, remember this: God doesn’t need our service nor our offerings. ~ But He nevertheless calls us to serve and commands us to give to graciously bestow on us the blessed privilege of participating in His kingdom work here on earth and to prepare us for His glorious rewards in heaven.