In Denial

How have we ever shown contempt for your name?   Malachi 1:6

The priests were supposed to order the worship of God and supervise the sacrifices. God said they were showing contempt for his name, but the priests wouldn’t accept this. God elaborated: “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar,” but the priests would not accept this charge either, so they asked, “How have we defiled the sacrifices?” (Malachi 1:7).

This pattern runs right through the book—denial, denial, denial. God raised the issue of repentance with the people because he wanted to restore the relationship—“Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you”—but the people responded, “How can we return when we have never gone away?” (Malachi 3:7).

Then God raised the issue of tithes, “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!” The response was predictable: “When did we ever cheat you?” (Malachi 3:8). Then God pointed out that the people spoke about him harshly, to which they replied, “What do you mean? What have we said against you?” (3:13).

God was reaching out to his people. He told them that he loved them. He wanted to restore the relationship with his people, and he raised the issues so they could be resolved. But time after time, his people took the posture of denial and folded their arms in defiance toward God. And that’s where the Old Testament ends!

This story, which began with a man and a woman in fellowship with God, ends with men and women alienated from God, in denial of the problem, unwilling to take any responsibility, and unable to do anything about it.

That’s why Christ had to come into the world. He came to do what no religion could ever do. You can go to church, say your prayers, and try to live a moral life, but without Christ, you cannot be reconciled to God. But Jesus Christ can change your heart so that you are willing and able to be reconciled to him. The Old Testament is an unfinished story. It shows us our need for Christ.

For further reading, see Malachi 3