“And now plead for God’s favor. Will he be gracious to us? Since this has come from your hands, will

he show any of you favor?” asks the Lord of Armies. “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors,

so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the

Lord of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.” (Malachi 1:9-10)

During the Covid pandemic of 2020 many of us experienced life without corporate worship. The doors to

the Sanctuary were literally shut and locked. Sure, we’ve all experienced the occasional snowstorm

that’s cancelled church one or two Sundays in the winter, but certainly not for months at a time. Nor

could we ever imagine our Heavenly Father actually ordering the doors to the Church to be shut. But

that’s precisely what’s happening here in Malachi.

The loving Father who is also the powerful “Lord of Armies” levels His complaint against the spiritual

leaders of Israel and commands them to shut down worship in the temple: “I wish one of you would shut

the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar!” God had made it very

clear throughout the Old Testament that Israel was to bring the Lord the “first fruits” of their labor. The

animals that were to be offered to Him as a sacrifice in the temple were to be without blemish or defect.

However, the spiritual leaders began keeping the best offerings for themselves and giving God the

leftovers: “You bring stolen, lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that

from your hands?” asks the Lord (Malachi 6:13).

Not only was the Lord upset with the leftover offerings, but He was equally frustrated with the overall

attitude of the worshipers themselves. The heart of the matter is always a matter of the heart, and the

hearts of those coming to church in Malachi 1 were filled with boredom and resentment: “You also say,

‘Look, what a nuisance!’ And you scorn it,” says the Lord of Armies (Malachi 6:13). As the Anglican

clergyman, Jeremy Taylor, once said “God threatens terrible things if we do not delight in Him.”

Question: Is worship of the Lord a nuisance? Do you scorn it? Or is it a delight? What changes might you

make this week to toss out the leftovers and bring God the “first fruits” of your time, talents, and

treasure?



By Jimmy Carter

Jimmy serves as the Ministries Pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church. He is married to Carrie, his treasured

wife of 24 years, and they have one beloved daughter named Christy Ann “C.A.” who is a Senior at LCA

and will attend UK and play golf for the Wildcats next Fall.