True and False Worship (Malachi 1:6-14)

The ministry of Malachi was concerned with sinful practices and attitudes expressed by the Jews who had returned to the promised land a century or so after the Babylonian Empire had been overthrown. The likely period in which Malachi ministered is during the interval between the two terms of Nehemiah’s governorship, the period between his initial reforms recorded in Nehemiah 1–12 (the first term) and Nehemiah 13 (the second term). If you wish to know the reasons for that conclusion, a commentary will give them. 

In the previous verses of this chapter, Malachi had reminded his listeners that they had forgotten that the Lord had loved them in special ways: the love of electing grace and the love of providential actions. Now he moves on to show that they had failed to worship God in an appropriate way. The order of his topics in this chapter of his prophecy highlights the obvious: it is impossible to worship God appropriately if we question his love and fail to take note of the providential evidences of his love. 

This failure was especially evidenced by the priests (vv. 6-11), which is why Malachi speaks of them first, but he also refers to the people in general (vv. 12-14). The obvious reason why he had this twofold focus was the existing ritualistic system which required the priests to offer the sacrifices that had been brought by the people. Yet we also know that the priests were the spiritual leaders of the people, with special responsibilities connected to their roles, including being examples regarding worship. 

We have become used to what are called ‘worship wars’ within the Christian church and these disagreements are found all over the world. Usually, those conflicts are about external forms of worship and in most cases descend down to personal tastes. While we should believe that the Lord has laid down principles in his Word concerning how he wants to be worshipped, we cannot forget that he has also made it clear what spirit he requires in those who worship him. Theoretically, it is possible to be correct externally and wrong internally, and when that occurs, the event is not true worship. 

Features of their wrong worship 

What was happening in Israel at that time was that the priests and people were giving to God the worst animals rather than the best animals as sacrifices – God had specified that flawless beasts be offered, but they were keeping them for themselves and using weak and flawed animals, which were of no use to them, as sacrifices. Not only did they not offer the best, they were bored with the activity (v. 13). It is not difficult to see that there is a connection between the two: we will be bored with worship if we are not giving our best to God. The giving must precede the enjoyment. 

Malachi also informs us that their worship was flippant. They had forgotten who their God was and who they were. The Lord reminds them in verse 6 as to who he is: he is their Father and Master, which means that they belonged to his family and were his servants. Just as a father expects his children to respect him, so the Lord expected Israel to respect him. And just as a master expects his servants to obey him, so the Lord expected Israel to obey his commandments regarding worship. It is impossible to obey God if there is no respect for God. Obedience comes out of reverence and filial fear. 

Malachi further says that their worship was familiar. We are used to the saying, ‘Familiarity breeds contempt.’ They had become used to what they were doing, it had descended into a matter of routine. They knew they should worship God, but it was merely an external activity, one done without proper thought, preparation or participation. 

Moreover, Malachi says that their worship was selfish. They offered to the Lord what cost them little, and even the priests would not open a door without expecting money as a reward. Their estimation of worship was based on what they got out of it, and not on what they put into it. 

Sadly their worship was a failure. In all their activities, they did not meet with God. He refused to accept their worship and refused to bestow upon them any spiritual blessings from their worship. This failure is seen in Malachi’s ironic suggestion in verse 9: ‘And now entreat the favour of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favour to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.’  When they entreat the favour of God through such inappropriate worship, he will not pay any attention to them. 

Focus of true worship 

In their worship, they were not honouring God. Our response must be, ‘How can we honour him?’ We honour God by celebrating his great attributes, actions and aims. His attributes are his characteristics such as the omnis of God: omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience. There are also other attributes such as his love, justice, mercy and holiness. His actions are all found within his providence which is being worked out continually, and his aims are revealed to us in the Bible. Worship is not about us, and only involves us as we are the recipients of his attributes in action as well as his aims for us.  

There are three ways in which God can be worshipped: we can worship him for his exalted state as the Trinity of divine Persons; we can worship him as the Creator; and we can worship as the Saviour. Because the Israelites forgot what God had done for them, they failed to honour him, and so were bored in their times of worship. If that is where we are, what we need is a fresh glimpse of the greatness and the grace of God. 

As we think of this sad situation in a people who had known the Lord’s restoring grace from captivity in Babylon, as well as subsequent spiritual revivals under the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, we realise that what matters is the state of the heart. Past recovery from a period of divine chastisement, which was what had happened to Israel, is no guarantee that our hearts will remain constant and warm towards the Lord, even although the restored rituals may be continuing. The fact is that, when we worship, the Lord looks on our hearts. He complains in Isaiah 29:13: ‘…this people draw near with their mouth and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.’ Samuel was reminded of this when he was anointing the successor of Saul as king of Israel: ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart’ (1 Sam. 16:7). 

Nevertheless, even although they refused to engage in real worship, the Lord would not be without worship, because he predicts that it will yet take place everywhere: ‘For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts’ (Mal. 1:11). It is possible that this refers to the groups of Jews who had not returned to Palestine but who continued their form of worship in synagogues where they lived throughout the world. Yet it is more likely that it refers to the ingathering of the Gentiles once the gospel of Jesus would be brought to them. I suppose the conversion between Jesus and the woman of Samaria is an application of or commentary on this verse. The day was coming when worship would not be connected to a particular place nor require certain rituals. Instead people all over the world would worship God from their hearts. 

Since this prophecy concerns ourselves, and indeed we are a fulfilment of it, we should ask ourselves what our worship should be like. 

Biblical worship 

First, our worship should be comprehensive. This is what Paul teaches in Romans 12:1-2: ‘I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’ These verses detail the response of believers to all the blessings that Paul has explained in the previous chapters of Romans. Since the Lord has justified us through the imputed righteousness of Christ, adopted us into his family, is sanctifying us through the work of the Holy Spirit, and intends to glorify us in the future, the only appropriate response is to continually present all we are and have to God. We cannot keep a moment of time or a single activity for ourselves. This has to be our attitude, one of total devotion and commitment to the Lord who has done so much for us. 

It is interesting that these verses serve as a bridge between the doctrinal and practical sections of Romans. Perhaps Paul was giving a model for sermons here. First, the preacher explains the doctrine in a passage, and before he makes some practical applications he should ask his listeners to dedicate themselves to the Lord whose character and works has just been described to them. 

This attitude of continuing dedication to God leads to a life of discovering how suitable for us the revealed will of God is. I don’t think Paul means here that we discover God’s will for our life. Instead I think he is saying that dedication to God leads to a discovery of God’s rich resources and blessings that obedience to his will brings. This aspect of worship does result in a life that is not boring.  

Second, our worship is an expression of confidence in God. This is how Paul describes worship in Philippians 3:3: ‘For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.’ He mentions three details of our worship: it is Spirit-led, it is Christ-centred, and it is a rejection of human abilities. This is the wonder of Christian worship: God is not only the object of worship, he is also the enabler of worship. By the Holy Spirit cleansing our hearts by confession of sin, applying the promises of the Word, and instructing us in the great doctrines of the faith, we are enabled to boast in Jesus Christ and all that he has done, is doing, and will do for us. When such worship takes place, it is not surprising that we will not boast in the flesh, no matter how gifted we may be. 

Thirdly, our worship is celestial. The writer to the Hebrews describes it in this way: ‘But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel’ (Heb. 12:22-24). People talk about worship gatherings. No visible gathering on earth can compare with this assembly. Yet it is our privilege to join it each time we meet together for worship. Of course, this great reality is far beyond our ability to understand. But the weakness of our minds should not diminish the rejoicing of our hearts. 

Fourthly, our worship should be costly. We recall the incident when Jesus was watching people putting their offerings into the treasury. Rich persons made a great display of giving according to their ability. Then a poor widow came along and threw in a couple of coins, not worth very much. Yet the assessment of Jesus was that she had put in the most because she had put in all that she had. He told his disciples: ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on’ (Mark 12:43-44). It is a rather frightening thought that Jesus watches us as we give and assesses what we give. 

Another incident that reminds us that worship is costly is the one when Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with very expensive ointment which cost the equivalent of the annual wage of a working man. Even the disciples found fault with her. Yet Jesus defended her actions because she had done it for him. She was an example of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:7: ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’  

Further, worship of God is corporate. Obviously, there is an aspect of worship that is private, another aspect that is connected to our homes, and other aspects that are displayed in other areas of life. Yet these other expressions of worship cannot excuse us from not meeting with other believers to worship God. It is not an expression of Christian liberty for a person to go for a walk because they can sense God in the countryside rather than go to church and worship with his people. Such a response is an attitude of defiance rather than devotion. Psalm 22:3 tells us that God is enthroned over or lives among the praises of his people. This is why it says in Hebrews 10:25: ‘not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.’ 

Corporate worship requires that all the worshippers are in harmonious fellowship with one another. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 5:23-24: ‘So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.’ Worship from a Christian who has sinned against another Christian will not be accepted by God. 

Finally, our worship should be consistent. By this, I mean that we should always be worshipping.  Everything that we do is covered by Hebrews 12:28-29: ‘Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.’ This attitude will keep us from becoming like the people in Israel in Malachi’s day.  As Jesus assured us, ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you’ (Matt. 6:33).