Bible Reflection for Day 361
Malachi 1
I think we have all been part of a conversation that starts out the way
this last book of the Old Testament begins. Cantankerous, presumptuous, making assumptions - one side assuming the motives of the other? Playing favorites? Making threats?
Whose voice is this?
Malachi sets up the conversation between the Lord of Hosts and the people
of this post-exile society that the prophet assumes to be lax in their
religious and social behavior.
With this dialectic style of writing, Malachi is setting out the issue:
the people of Israel are questioning God's love for them.
Malachi sets up a conversation between God and the people... but is God's
voice really that demanding? Is God really playing favorites and choosing Esau
over Jacob or is that what the people think God is doing?
Is that God's voice telling the people to give proper sacrifices and
offerings under threat of curse? Or is that Malachi trying his hardest to
convince the people to offer their best to God?
One thing I think we can all agree with - the conversations are not always
what they seem. And in the year of Bible Challenge we have all been reminded
to listen carefully to the words and dig into the context. Wait for the rest
of the argument to unfold...
So, stay tuned. Watch and wait for what God unfolds in this new
year...
Kathleen Gannon
Malachi 1
I think we have all been part of a conversation that starts out the way
this last book of the Old Testament begins. Cantankerous, presumptuous, making assumptions - one side assuming the motives of the other? Playing favorites? Making threats?
Whose voice is this?
Malachi sets up the conversation between the Lord of Hosts and the people
of this post-exile society that the prophet assumes to be lax in their
religious and social behavior.
With this dialectic style of writing, Malachi is setting out the issue:
the people of Israel are questioning God's love for them.
Malachi sets up a conversation between God and the people... but is God's
voice really that demanding? Is God really playing favorites and choosing Esau
over Jacob or is that what the people think God is doing?
Is that God's voice telling the people to give proper sacrifices and
offerings under threat of curse? Or is that Malachi trying his hardest to
convince the people to offer their best to God?
One thing I think we can all agree with - the conversations are not always
what they seem. And in the year of Bible Challenge we have all been reminded
to listen carefully to the words and dig into the context. Wait for the rest
of the argument to unfold...
So, stay tuned. Watch and wait for what God unfolds in this new
year...
Kathleen Gannon
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