In this passage, the Lord uses the analogy of a servant’s relationship to his master and a son’s relationship to his father to illustrate the fact that as Israel’s Heavenly Father, he deserved the utmost honor and respect; as Israel’s Master and Lord, he deserved reverential fear. God phrases this analogy in the form of a question, which God often does to prick the hearts of men and cause them to consider their ways:
If then I be a father, where is mine honour?
Malachi 1:6 (KJV)
And if I be a master, where is my fear?
God’s intention in posing this question to the priests was to show them that godly fear and honor did not exist in their lives. The chief reason that God identifies for the dearth of these two spiritual qualities is the priests’ ungodly attitude towards God and His work. God said they were guilty of despising His name and calling the table of the Lord contemptible (utterly despicable). As a result of this attitude, the priests were in the business of profaning the Lord’s Name and work by sacrificing polluted, blemished animals on the Lord’s altar instead of the unblemished, proper sacrifices required by the Old Testament law.
Friend, there is much application for us to make from this passage concerning the New Testament believer-priest as he or she worships God. First, the proper honor, respect, and fear of God must envelop every facet of our lives. It is easy for us to give lip-service to the fact that we honor, love, and fear the Lord, but if these qualities are not the consistent tenor of our public and private lives, then we face the same indictment placed upon the priests of Israel.
Second, we must have the right attitude while doing God’s work. Beware when Satan begins to tempt you with subtle murmurings and disputings about the responsibilities you have in your local church, or how much you are constrained to give in the services, whether in time or money. From these seemingly small complaints arises a spirit of discontentment which, in time, will solidify into the callous of utter disdain and contempt for the Lord and His work.
Lastly, we must bring proper spiritual sacrifices before the Lord. When our fear of the Lord has waned, our attitudes have gone sour, and our spirits have become hardened to the things of God, we will offer the polluted sacrifices of heartless praise, dead worship, lackadaisical service, and carnal living to the Lord. Not only that, but we will, like Cain, expect God to accept our offerings even though we know that our actions are not pleasing in His sight. When we as believer-priests find ourselves in such a state, it is then when the Lord sternly reminds us that “sin lieth at the door.”
Yet, God in His love still admonishes us to repent. If we confess our sin of dishonoring the Lord in our life and service, then God will remain faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse our hearts so that we may offer to Him the holy, acceptable, living sacrifices of heart-filled praise, Spirit-filled worship, fervent service, and consecrated living. May God help us to be in such a state every day of our Christian lives.