Standards…

 Standards…

538 BC first exiles return to Jerusalem…

536 temple reconstruction begins…

520 Haggai, Zechariah become prophets…

516 temple completed

458 Ezra comes to Jerusalem …

445 Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem…

430 Malachi becomes a prophet…

Haggai and Zechariah rebuked the people about their failure to rebuild the temple…nearly a hundred years later, Malachi rebukes them for neglect of the temple, false and profane worship…Bible study notes…

God had standards for worship, animals without blemish, ways of worship…coming to Him  with a contrite, repentant heart…not just an outward show , but inward attitude, ready to worship…

The people in Malachi’s time, especially the priests, knew what was expected of them…they were leading the people astray …

What does that have to say for us today…we who have the written Word …we do not have to bring sheep, cattle …we bring ourselves in openness and honesty…in humility,  bowing before the Creator of the universe….asking, seeking, finding…praising…

 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1Pet.1.18-21

Thank YOU…

 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.“

But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 

“By offering defiled food on my altar.“

But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! 

Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. 

“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. 

“But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 

And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. 

“Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.

Mal.1.6-8,Mal.1.10-14

 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. 

Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. 

When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable. 

Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. 

Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord.

Lev.22.18-22

Lamb of God…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k0Hvc3HKnT8&list=RDk0Hvc3HKnT8&start_radio=1&pp=ygULTGFtYiBvZiBHb2SgBwE%3D