The Lord's Love for Israel
(Genesis 25:19-28;Romans 9:6-18)
1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
The Polluted Offerings
6A son honourethhis father, and a servant his master: if then Ibe a father, whereis mine honour? and if Ibe a master, whereis my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORDis contemptible.8And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice,is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick,is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.9And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.10Whois there even among you that would shut the doorsfor nought? neither do ye kindlefire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my nameshall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incenseshall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my nameshall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORDis polluted; and the fruit thereof,even his meat,is contemptible.13Ye said also, Behold, what a wearinessis it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye broughtthat which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.14But cursedbe the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for Iam a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my nameis dreadful among the heathen.
