Proclamation:
“‘Cursed is the cheat who
has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a
blemished animal to The Lord. For I am a great king,’ says The Lord Almighty, ‘and My name is to be feared among the nations.’” Malachi 1:14 (NIV)
Explanation:
These words were written
under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Malachi. In the days when sacrificial offerings were
made to The Lord God, the animal which was to be sacrificed was to be the best
of the flock, a perfect one without spot or blemish. Malachi told the people that God will curse
those who claim to give Him their best animal but knowingly offer Him less than
their best.
Application:
This passage of scripture
clearly refers to sacrificial animals.
However, it is my opinion that the principal involved here can be
generalized to include promising God one thing, but then giving Him something
else which is of lesser value. Our
promise could include giving God of our time, talent, or treasure and then not
keeping our promise and giving Him less of whatever. God is not pleased with us when we do not
keep our word. We should take heed of
this and live up to our promises. We
need to give God our best and our best effort. When we vow to do something for The Lord and
then don't do it, especially when we easily could have done it, we may also incur
the wrath of God and be cursed instead of blessed.
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