THE GREAT KING
Suggested Reading: Malachi 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is St. Lazarus Church built at the location where Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. The depiction behind the altar is of Jesus, the resurrection and life. The village in which the church is located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives is called to this day by the local people, El Lazaria. After 400 years of prophetic silence, the people recognized that in Jesus a mighty prophet, and more than a prophet, Immanuel ("God with us") had come to them (John 11).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Malachi 1:14b, 2:10b
“For I am a GREAT KING,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“And My name is to be feared among the nations.”
…Why do we deal treacherously with one another
By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
Almost 100 years had passed since the Temple was rebuilt and since the people had heard the powerful preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. Malachi tells us that the priests had grown tired of the daily routine and that corruption was evident. This was manifested in the failure to pay their tithes and give their offerings (reading for tomorrow), as well as their marriages to wives who were not followers of the true God. Some had divorced their Jewish wives and married foreign women.The leaders in the Temple were going through the motions of worship, even showing strong emotions (Malachi 2:13). Covering “the altar of the Lord with tears” was not acceptable to God when at the same time they were living in sin as shown by their unfaithfulness in their marriages. The last four verses in today’s reading point this out. As shown in our key verses, the people no longer feared God as they once did. They were profaning, showing disrespect and irreverence for the Covenant (the most solemn and binding commitment possible between two parties), which their fathers had made with God. The evidence of this was in their disobedience to God, going through the motions of worship, even showing strong emotions, but living in sin continually.
The “love” and “hate” spoken of in Malachi 1:2 refers to Jacob (Israel) and the neighbouring nation of Edomites, descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob. We know from many Scriptures that God loves the individual person but hates the sin represented by the persistent evil practised by nations in their culture and deeds. Yes, Israel sinned too, but the difference was that Israel repented of their sins on a regular basis and reversed corrupt practises, lining up with God’s Word every three or four generations. May God grant us another wave of repentance and obedience to His unchanging Word!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I confess You as my “Great King!” I recognize Your absolute authority over my life. My tears do not prove repentance; obedience does! I pray that the grace to repent, to turn away from living in sin, will be manifested 24/7 in my life. I ask this in the Name of the One who never sinned and, therefore, had no need of repentance, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The “wife of my youth” (Malachi 2:14-15) was 19 and I was 22 when we entered what I regard as an unbreakable covenant, our marriage. She is sleeping as I write this in the early morning. We’ll be married 56 years this coming September 19th. She spends much time in prayer before she sleeps. I’m too sleepy then, so I have my prayer time when I awake refreshed most mornings (at my age, 77, an afternoon sleep is essential!). Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth, summed it up in a humorous way when she was asked if she ever considered divorce from Billy. She said, “Murder sometimes, but divorce never!” When Norma-Jean and I gave our word (our most sacred possession) “until death do us part,” it meant just that. Obedience to our covenant with God means working through the problems and never giving up!
The other evidence of withdrawing from obedience to God is in the area of tithing…that 10% off the top of our entire income. Malachi points out that failure to PAY our tithes is actually stealing from God, as it is His, not ours. I’m jumping ahead here to Malachi 3 because of its extremely important message. These are almost the final words of the Bible which Jesus and His Apostles read and believed.We begin to GIVE back to God only when we give offerings over and above the tithe (alms for needy people, as well as for soul-winning ministries such as Crossroads, etc.). Obedience to God is a must, both in our marriages and in our tithes and offerings. Jesus and His disciples would have read Malachi and put into practice the teaching on tithes and offerings. I make no apologies for believing that these two areas of human behaviour represent the minimum level of commitment to God so that, as my father prayed in my hearing every day when I was a child, “O God, may the smile of Your approval be on my life this day.”
Yours for a revival of faith and obedience in every generation, not just every 100 years,
David
P.S. Ezra Levant, a Jew, seen daily on Sun TV, has a petition going which seeks to right a hypocritical decision concerning Trinity Western University, a Christian institution. I think we all should support this “modern Ezra” in his efforts to ensure that graduates of TWU’s Law School not be discriminated against for their Christian worldview. Click here for information. Someone has said that when good people do nothing, evil flourishes. TRUE!!! Ezra is doing his part with a passion. Let’s do our part.
P.P.S. At 6:15 this morning, just after this blog is posted, I’m due to arrive at the Burlington Convention Centre in time for a 7 a.m. event. I’ve been asked to introduce the speaker of the annual Burlington Prayer Breakfast,Tom Caldwell, Chairman of Caldwell Securities, and past Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Caldwell Securities and its affiliates were the second largest owners of the New York Stock Exchange prior to its demutualization. As a speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa, Mr. Caldwell said, “When government erases all mention of God, it leaves space for more dubious faith in money, fame, even otherwise worthy goals like self-sufficiency.” Thank You, Lord, for people like Tom Caldwell who take a strong public stand for God and righteousness.
Lord, help us to align ourselves with Your Word, every day of our lives. May those experiencing marital conflict come together and put to heart Malachi’s words, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Bind marriages in the unity of love and commitment, through difficult and joyous times, standing together for You and family. Blessings and His strength to all our blogging family!
Amen David
Praise God through whom all blessings flow.
Indeed,”Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the Fathers? (2 Mal 10). Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live (1 Cor 8:6).
Thank you, David Mainse, for another great reminder of our covenant with God and one another. Bless you this morning at your breakfast. Praise God through whom all blesing flow! Wishing all saints a precious day in the Lord!
Amen Beverlee k
Indeed, God needs to visit homes. Too many homes are breaking today because the fear of God is missing, especially in Africa. Please pray for my Mother, a Minister of God, whose husband, my father have decided to take another wife this month due to family influence. We are all grown ups ( their children) and its a shame for this to happen. I say daily, Lord, let your word be true and every other word be a lie. You said in your word ‘two shall become one’ and not three or four, so shall it be in our parents case in Jesus name. Also, I am reminded of a school we sang at school – ‘I want a revival in my soul, I want a revival in my soul, I must abide to the blood of Jesus, to get a revival in my soul, so Jesus send down the rain, send down the gospel rain …
Thanks for keeping us on our toes to study the word daily and keep us afresh. God bless you
I have a question. As a Christian what do you tell a woman whose husband is leaving her and has been verbally abusing her for many years? She is herself a Christian and her husband has turned away from his faith. As her family in Christ, what do we do and say?
Lynne, I would hold her hands into mine, and pray to God with her. Ask God to bring her healing comfort strength and direction. Pray loving psalms that are filled with encouragement and healing and strength. And direct her to a pastor to hook her up with appropriate professional counselling. Survivors of abusive relationships demand specialized care. .
My prayer to your friend: Dear Loved One: I am your God. I shelter you with My feathers and cover you with My wings. Trust in Me with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Me and know that I will direct your path. Then I woud read perhaps Psalm 20:
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob dfed you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah.
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation.
And in the name of our God
We will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Now I know that the Lord
Saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
Some trust in caariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.
Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.
Praise and thanksgiving be raised to our merciful and powerful God for providing David Mainse with restoration of health and energy… It is a strong testimony of how faithfully Our Lord Jesus provides blessings and graces according to our needs.
I shall echo the wise exhortation trumpted today by the sister in Christ,
Beverlee Kay:
‘Praise God through whom all blessings flow’.
Amen!
Lynne, I would tell her to Pray and in return, pray for her. I will remind her, that God created all humans, and therefore He is able to change everyone and anyone. I will also remind her of the story of Hosea, how he was a faithful servant of God but God asked him to marry a prostitute, not because He hates him but maybe because He wants the prostitute to see His perfect love through Hosea. Remind her how much we sin everyday, even though Christ paid such a huge price for us all….just to show us how much He loves us. Also show her this reference of the bible, “1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Names of God Bible (NOG)
4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. 5 It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. 6 It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
8 Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used.” Be her strength, and help her believe. May the Good Lord guide you…
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate it very much. Be blessed today.
Lynne
I’m surprised prophets weren’t stoned or worse in those long ago days. Usually when people hear they’ve been backsliding, they become very resentful of the messenger. God sounds like a typical good earthly father when he sees his children doing wrong. How honored we should be to have such a caring, loving and forgiving Father.
We watch Ezra Levant every day on SUN News. God will love Ezra very much for continually speaking out for Christianity and truth. I pray for complete success for The Christian law school and its students wherever they may choose to practice.
Loved your prayer for today DM, Amen.
Guide us all today heavenly Father in all that we do and say, amen.
Amen
Thank you so much for that. It is God sent.
Lynne
When reading today’s reading about the priests would act repented but never change their ways, I was thinking of Rob Ford. It is obvious now his previous I’m sorry amounted to nothing, but hoping this latest incident has truly moved his heart to repent and not only seek help, but to take it. So many go to rehab and come back out just to go back to their addition.
So today Heavenly we pray for all those held captive by addictions, we ask the chain of their bondage be broken, their bodies be healed and their spirits made whole in the peace that comes from true freedom of choice. We asked this for all those your Son now names before your Throne,and for those anyone on this blog now names, and I name Rob Ford. Amen
Thank you Donna for that prayer. Addictions are just about impossible to break without a true repentance of sin, then asking forgiveness, and fully embracing the love of Jesus Christ as one’s redeemer…
I think back to my youth (late teens) when I smoked cigarettes and sampled various types of drugs. It took a near death experience and the realization that I was defiling the Holy Temple of Christ as His Spirit lives within me.
The hippy culture was in full swing. I was led to a “Christian Communal Home” on the banks of the Fraser River in Vancouver. It was there where I was baptized in the Fraser River. The Lord Jesus forgave me that day and He blessed me as well… You had to be there as it was a very real and miraculous experience…
“Praise God through whom all blessings flow”
Beloved followers of Christ have a truly blessed day. Amen!
David thanks for such lovely testimony…amen to both prayers
Thank you for sharing, brother David. Amen, indeed!
Challenging message today, David . Followed through and signed the petition by Ezra Levant. Did a lot of meditating on Malachi 1 & 2. Happy Birthday, Patricia and I pray the Lord gives you all the desires of your heart and lead you. Blessings on you today, David at the Burlington Prayer Breakfast. Loving greetings to all of you!
Amen and thank you Ger:) stay blessed
Giving my tithes has been the one thing I have been unable to do. I have no excuse that is reasonable to God or myself. I guess it’s just stubbornness and greed. I pray that God will help me obey Him in that area from today onwards. Thank You Lord for making me see 25 in good health and sound mind. Thank you all for your prayers! Happy birthday to me and God bless us all.
Happy birthday Patricia! 25 yrs young…
Bless you as you begin a new year in Christ… Amen!
Happy birthday dear one—
as for tithes, being unable is different from being unwilling. I am on a very limited income and came to an agreement with God on amount that should be his– if 10% is too much, then find an amount you feel comfortable with and then faithfully give that amount.
I have done that for years, and God has always given me want I need, and often supplied me with thing I wanted but could not afford– so don’t be afraid you won’t have enough money if you tithe because God will truly honor tithing, whether it is 1% or 10% as long as it always given.
However if the issue is not means, but unwillingness to surrender what belongs to God that is an issue of disobedience and you need to pray about it. God will not force you to give Him what is His, but remember it is His, not yours.
Everything belongs to Him, nothing here is ours, not even our fiances — He is only asking for a portion of it to be directed towards His work. If want to keep that portion for yourself, to spend it on your desires beyond what you need, then you are robbing God.
For if you trust God, He will give you exactly what you really need and is best for you; if you want things beyond that you need to examine your heart for secret covetousness.
He will love you whether or not you tithe, but as many can attest to there is great blessings to be have if you do–so I would suggest you just start off small and when you see God blessing you for it, you will be motivated to give more and more until you reach the 10 percent or beyond if you can afford it– and sometimes even when you can’t. I have done often at the urging of the Holy Spirit, to give to a cause or a need that goes beyond the amount God expects of me and I have always gotten that money back when I really needed it. Anyway I hope that helps you with your struggle with tithing.
What a Glorious day that will be when the Church will be United as One New Man in Christs Jesus.
But until then we “Seek the Lord while He may be found” in all things…
Lynne …What a difficult place to be in…I pray as you seek the Lord for His answer He will guide you through this difficult time.
I thank and praise God for 46 years of marriage. However, we had a family member who stepped outside their marriage, but after much heartache, sincere repentance and forgiveness from God and the injured party that marriage has been restored and they renewed their commitment to each other and are serving The Lord. OUR GOD IS WONDERFUL!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!
Thank you for your prayer today Pastor David, I pray I will hear and be obedient to His Will.
P.S. I had asked for prayer for our son Neil who was in a deep depression. I had lunch with him today, and I am happy to report Our Lord heard us and he seems so much better and more stable. Neil has a bipolar diagnosis but trusts God to continue to see him through his dark days and that they will get less and less. OUR GOD IS MORE than ABLE!!!
Thank David, for another daily reading of God’s word, and for words of insight and wisdom. I read this blog daily but do not always comment. Today I had to comment on tithing. I remember when our children were little and I was not able to work ( we have 6 children) and my husband and I really felt we couldn’t afford to tithe, my father asked us if we tithed and my husband told him we couldn’t afford to, he told us that “we couldn’t “not to afford to tithe”. That might sound ridicules, but God said he would supply ALL our needs, so we started to tithe, and since then The Lord has prospered us so much. I don’t want to brag, but my husband and I bought houses, land and have travelled all over the world. My dear husband went to be with The Lord in 2000. But since then I have continued to travel. Oh yes I must say that I still love to give to charitable organizations, including to Crossroads. May The Lord richly bless you as you step out in faith. Trust and believe! I pray you will all enjoy this beautiful day, “Spring at last”.
What a wonderful testimony of the faithfulness of God. It is so hard to tithe when there are so many expenses to pay for, especially when there are six children involved. l tried to help a family see that God would definately stand by his word if they would step out in faith and give. They struggled and struggled, there was never enough money to pay the bills etc. and the husband was adamant in his belief that tithing was just Old Testament and that the church should help them out because they had so many children and bills. The church did help them out, but still it was like pockets with holes in them. How Sad! It’s been my own experience that no matter where l give, l can never out give God ,as without fail l have been totally blessed! l also want to comment on the obvious, it is so much easier to give from a good salary,than from a small income,and much faith is required, but God knows this and will reward the giver, of this l am sure! Great will be their reward here and in Heaven.