Daily Blast - Minor Prophets: Day 31
Scripture
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
Reflection
The book of Malachi is from around 100 years after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon and is directed towards the people that were living in Jerusalem at that time. The people had returned and rebuilt the city and the temple, however, they had already begun to stray from God again.
The book is based on six disputes between the people and God. The first three are God exposing the corruption of the people; for example, the people offering unworthy sacrifices, men turning to idols and away from God and their wives and the people questioning God on how He loves them. To each of these disputes the people argue, and God gives them a final answer.
The next three are confronting the corruption that has settled into the people of Jerusalem. The first is the people accusing God of neglect, allowing corruption and injustice and they think God is doing nothing about it. In answer to this God says He will send a messenger, to prepare the way for the day of the Lord, to purify the people of all their sins. The second is God confronting the selfishness of the people and points out to them how to turn back to Him. God tells the people He wants to bless them but only if they are faithful to Him. The final dispute is that the people say it is pointless following God’s commands because there are wicked people who are successful so why should they follow God to be successful. In answer to this, God explains how the wicked will be burnt up on the day of judgement and the righteous will “tread on the wicked as if they were dust under your feet.”
Challenge
I think that it is important to understand from this book that God wants to bless us beyond belief or comprehension, but this blessing won’t come to those who do not love God wholeheartedly. I would like to encourage you to spend some time with God today, think and pray about anything that you might feel is causing you to not love God fully. Once you have done this or while you are doing this, listen to this song, and be blessed!