June 26, Leviticus 26-27, Malachi

Tonight we had 7 for Word listeners and we read the last two chapters of Leviticus and the book of Malachi.

Leviticus 26 is pretty self explanatory, obey the Lord and He'll take care of us in this life. Don't obey the Lord and He will let things happen progressively that are designed to get our attention turn us back to Him. He will gladly welcome us back even from the depths we let ourselves sink to wanting our way.. He wants relationship with us, He wants us to be obedient to His ways. We have to give up the right to ourselves and wanting our way and accept His. This points to Jesus in that He came and made it possible for us to have that relationship.

Leviticus chapter 27 is about valuations. Males typically were valued more than females not because males are more valuable to God, but rather because men could generally accomplish more of the typical labor of the day. As part of being obedient to God the 1st 10% should be given to Him. Additionally people made vows to God to give more. God is serious about vows and He expects us to keep our vows. If we change our mind it takes 20% more value than the value promised in money to buy it back. That God is serious about vows and expects us to keep ours shows His heart, and that He will keep His. That was a point the pastor made in church today, that it would be a better world if people just kept their promises.

After reading in Leviticus about the requirements for sacrifices Malachi was a good fit. At the end of the old testament God stated that people were not giving Him their best- lame animals for sacrifices. Animals they wouldn't give their leaders.

Not keeping their vows or promises to the wife of their youth by divorcing her (which God stated in the chapter that He hates), but after doing something God hates they openly wondered why He wouldn't bless them. God is still called in our day during wedding ceremonies to "witness" the union, of which about half don't make it.

They also complained that serving God wasn't lucrative -implying it wasn't worth their while. God told them the people were not bringing the whole tithe.

God said he would send a purifier or refiner, and set things right. A vow or promise? Even after all our enlightenment and technology we're still at about the same place the people in Malachi's day were. We can add to it that we think (under delusion) that we're better off.

The question for night, why did God go silent for about 400 years between Malachi and Jesus? I don't know. Is it that He had stated His case, protected His Word, and turned away from mankind? Maybe He had completed all He felt He needed to prior to Jesus.

We as a group decided to start with Hosea in July (2nd Sunday) and work through the minor prophets.