Two friends spent their time discussing all the problems of the world and proposing their solutions. They knew if people in high places would take their advice, everything would get better.
Finally, one of the two proposed his most fundamental hypothesis for the world’s current situation. “Our problem is that people are ignorant and apathetic.” His friend quickly offered his critique of his companion’s statement. “Well, I sure am not smart enough to know if I agree with that or not, but I am certain that I really don’t care whether it is true or not.”
Beginning with this lesson, we have a four-week look into the words God gave to the Jews through Malachi. The broad heading of this study is “Apathy—Who Cares?”
People become apathetic (cease to care; allow important matters to become unimportant to them) for many reasons. In Malachi, the Jews had become apathetic in their worship of God. It was reflected in both their attitudes and in their practices. Part of their apathy was a direct result of forgetting how much God loved them and how much he provided for them.
When things aren’t going right, it is easy to blame someone else or even God for one’s own dilemma. In Malachi 1:1-5, God’s prophet is faced with the people of Judah who had returned to Jerusalem after a 70-year exile.
Their enthusiasm in returning home and rebuilding the temple has been curbed. Life is hard. To them it is a sign God has deserted them and has no love for them. Malachi’s first task is to reaffirm for the Jews that God does love them and has been demonstrating that love for them throughout all their struggles. Malachi reminds them God had chosen them through Jacob and not the Edomites through Esau. They are asked to compare their current state of life to the destroyed condition of Edom.
For thought: In our day of the desire for the instant, it is easy to forget that God always is taking us on a journey and fulfilling his ultimate purpose in our lives. Too often we measure his love by gifts he is giving to us today and forget about yesterday. Do you believe our struggles today economically are a sign God no longer loves us, or can you see his love demonstrated in things far more important than money or affluent living?
In Malachi 1:6-10, God’s prophet focuses the Jews’ attention upon their personal apathy toward God. He points out that it is extremely evident in the manner in which they worship God. Malachi says the sacrifices they offer God are second rate. Leviticus 22:18-33 instructs the people to offer sacrifices to God that are perfect and without blemish. But in Malachi’s day, the people were keeping the best for themselves and giving the leftovers to God.
To make this disobedience worse, the priests were accepting these second-rate sacrifices from the people and offering them on the altar to God. Both the people and the priests were just going through the motions of worship without truly presenting themselves to God and allowing him to continue his work of transformation in them. Malachi says there really is no reason to even open the doors of the temple if this is what is going to take place.
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For thought: While it is easy to point out the failure of the Jews to truly worship, how often are we guilty of the same type of apathetic approach to worship? Are the offerings we bring to worship the first fruits of all God has blessed us with or are they only the dregs of what’s left after we have made sure our comfortable lifestyle is maintained?
Malachi 1:11-14 concludes this section by reminding this remnant of Judah they have lost sight of whom they are to be worshipping. Verse 11 declares God’s name will be known and proclaimed throughout all the nations. He is not an impotent god like the idols many nations worshipped. God is not unaware of what the people are bringing to offer in sacrifice to him. He is not unaware of the failure of both people and priests to carry through in worship as they have been instructed.
We need to hear the echo of Samuel’s voice as Saul tried to excuse his disobedience to God: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of the rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). In Malachi’s day, the people were carrying out the sacrifices but there was no obedience in their actions.
For thought: As we gather to worship on a given Sunday, are we focused on what God wants to teach us and change within us, or are we focused on next week’s schedule, where we will have lunch or what time the ballgame starts? Have we lost the truth that the focus of worship is God, not us?
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