Scripture Reading: Malachi 1:6-14

As we delve into Malachi Chapter 1, we are reminded of the crucial lessons we learned last week about honesty and the profound truth that God loves us. This passage brings to light the essence of worship, challenging us to evaluate the sincerity and depth of our devotion to God.

Worship: What Comes to Mind?

When you hear the word “worship,” what images or thoughts come to mind? For some, it might be a hymn sing, or that song that often reminds you of the greatness of God. Others might think of a band on a stage or a concert, or even that time in the shower when you sing at the top of your lungs, worshiping in your own private sanctuary. There are likely as many opinions about worship as there are people. But this morning, let's find common ground in understanding the true essence of worship.

Worship Involves Two Essential Parts:

The Attitude of One’s Heart

The word "worship" itself, derived from "worth-ship," means to ascribe worth to someone or something. It involves honoring and respecting the object of our worship. In our context, we are talking about worshiping God. The Church gathers to express our worship to God, the supreme creator and ruler of the universe. We worship not only for His inherent characteristics but also for what He has done for us.

Malachi reminds us in verse 6 that God deserves respect, not only as a father or a master but also as the General of the angelic armies. Worship is fundamentally an attitude of the heart.

The Heart is Revealed in Our Actions

Proverbs 27:19 says, "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man." Our actions are a direct reflection of our hearts. One of the issues in churches today is the tendency to judge others based on their actions. We think we can read the hearts of others when they sing, preach, or serve. However, it's important to remember that actions reveal the heart of the person.

God's View on Worship

Israel’s Lack of Honor and Fear

In verse 6, Malachi brings two indictments against Israel. First, they offered no honor (or glory) to God. They did not revere or respect Him. Second, they did not fear God. They lacked a healthy respect and reverential honor for the Holy God of the universe. Their declaration at the end of verse 6, “How have we not worshipped you?” shows their lukewarm attitude. They were performing the sacrifices, going to the temple, and observing all the rituals of Judaism, but their hearts were not in it. They saw their actions as worship, but worship is an attitude of the heart, and God can judge the heart.

Demonstrated Lack of Reverence

Verses 7-9 reveal their lack of reverence. They offered defiled food on the altar, which made their sacrifices null and void. God takes sacrifices seriously, and these were contaminated. They forgot the fate of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered contaminated sacrifices and were consumed by fire. The Israelites were offering crippled, lame, and blind animals to the Lord instead of spotless ones. God did not want second best or “good enough”; He wanted their very best.

God’s question in verse 8—whether they would offer such sacrifices to their governor—highlights their disregard for Him. They viewed God as less than their own governors, never offering second best to their human leaders. Verse 9 is particularly revealing. The term “entreat” means to smooth over or butter someone up. They were essentially saying, "God, I know I haven’t been faithful, but please bless me this one time." Their inconsistency was appalling.

Devotion Seen in Attitudes

Verses 10-12 contrast the Israelites' lack of recognition or care for God’s great name with the reminder that even if they didn’t recognize God, His name would still be great. Their worship had nothing to do with God's great name. Verse 12 hints at the attitudes of the Israelite priests, for whom worship was merely a job. They went through the motions, and God was tired of their heartless rituals and routines. He desired heartfelt devotion to His great name, but they failed to recognize the presence of God on earth, just behind a curtain.

Lessons from Apathetic Worship

Worship Focused on Action, Not the Heart

The Israelites were weary of the sacrificial system, burdened by the process. They couldn't wait to finish the work and go home to relax. Their worship was so focused on the action that they forgot the heart.

Worship Lacking Sacrifice

In the middle of verse 13, they bring the lame and sick animals, but they also bring stolen ones. They stole animals from their neighbors to offer on the altar, meaning their sacrifices cost them nothing. A sacrifice that costs nothing is no sacrifice at all.

Worship: More Than Words and Actions

Worship is more than words and actions; it is an attitude of the heart. This is the message God brought through the prophet Malachi to the people of Israel. They had lukewarm worship and didn’t even realize it.

Reflecting on Our Worship

One of our biggest problems as a church might be that we are lukewarm and don’t even realize it. We ask the same question the Israelites asked: “How have we not worshipped you?” We have services, prayer meetings, music, a young pastor, a packed church, fellowship, and friends. But are we offering defiled sacrifices by not giving our best time, resources, and efforts to God? Do we spend more time with entertainment than with God? Do we recognize that church is about worshiping His great name, not about complaining or gossiping?

Questions for Personal Reflection:

• Am I honest with my evaluation of worship?

• Do I demonstrate that I believe worship is only an outward action?

• Are my sacrifices less than my best?

• Is God less important than anyone else in my life (e.g., boss, parents, authorities)?

• What do I need to change?

Worship is the attitude of one’s heart revealed in our actions. Before God ever accepts our gift, He inspects our heart. Let us strive to offer true worship from a sincere and devoted heart, giving our very best to God and recognizing His greatness in all we do.

Small Group Questions:

1. Understanding Worship: What comes to your mind when you think of the word "worship"? How has your understanding of worship changed after studying Malachi 1:6-14?

2. Heart vs. Actions: How do you balance the attitude of your heart with your actions in worship? Can you share a time when you felt your actions in worship were not reflecting your heart?

3. Honoring God: In what ways can we honor God in our daily lives, beyond our church attendance and rituals? How does Malachi's message challenge you personally?

4. Sacrificial Offerings: Reflect on Malachi 1:7-8. Are there areas in your life where you are giving God less than your best? What steps can you take to ensure you are offering your best to God?

5. Lukewarm Worship: Have you ever experienced a period of lukewarm worship in your life? What helped you to recognize and change this?

6. Prioritizing God: How do you prioritize your time and resources to reflect God’s importance in your life? What changes might be necessary to align your priorities with genuine worship?

7. Heartfelt Devotion: How can we cultivate heartfelt devotion in our worship practices, both individually and as a community? What practical steps can we take to ensure our worship is genuine and not just routine?

If you want to learn more about true worship, Shepherd Thoughts exists to help you live out your faith. If you or a friend needs support or resources to love God and love others more, please reach out to us today. We’d love to help.