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Malachi 1

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NASB

God’s Love for Jacob



1:1 The oracle [prophecy] of the word of the LORD to [not against] Israel through Malachi [we know nothing about him other than he was a messenger; possibly a contemporary of Nehemiah (based on topics addressed in both books); ministered four centuries before Christ (possible date of 450 BC); name means “my messenger” or “my angel” — the Hebrew word is found only in Malachi 1:1 and 3:1].


1:2 “I have loved you,” [“That is, in a particular and extraordinary degree; not only as men, but above the rest of men, and above the other posterity, both of Abraham and Isaac.” (Benson Commentary)] says the LORD. But you say, “How hast Thou loved us?” [the people wanted proof of God’s love for them] “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob;



1:3 but I have hated [means a lesser degree of love or showing less regard or favor] Esau, and I have made his mountains [Mount Weir and region given to Esau (Deut. 2:5; Josh. 24:4)] a desolation [inhabitable; the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 3:19; laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar (see prophecy in Jer. 49:17-22 and Ezek. 35)], and appointed his inheritance for the jackals [an animal that delights in desolate places] of the wilderness.



1:4 Though Edom [no cities in the region apart from Petra] says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up [as Jerusalem was rebuilt by those who had returned from captivity] the ruins [such efforts would be in vain; the region was doomed to perpetual desolation]”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down [an indication that God was against them and thus they would not succeed]; and men will call them the wicked territory [or the border of wickedness as opposed to the border of Edom; an accursed land; they became a reproach], and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”



1:5 And your [Jacob] eyes will see this [the destruction of the Edomites] and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel [in contrast to border of wickedness or “the wicked territory” in v. 4]!”


Sin of the Priests



1:6 “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master [a generally accepted custom]. Then if I am a father [God is the Father of Israel (see Deut. 32:6,18)], where is My honor [to give weight or consideration to]? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests [the ones who should have been most concerned about God’s honor] who despise [to neglect or to care little about as opposed to blaspheme] My name [the sum of God’s revealed character; the character and reputation of God]. But you say, ‘How [they doubted that God’s claim against them was accurate] have we despised [felt contempt for] Thy name?’



1:7 “You are presenting defiled food [essentially food unfit to be offered; something diminished or less than what the law required; blemished sacrifices] upon My altar. But you [those who had offered defiled food] say, ‘How have we defiled [to show dishonor or a diminished value of the worship of God] Thee?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised [as expressed and evidenced by the offering of “defiled food”].



1:8 “But when you present the blind [cf. Lev. 22:17-25] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick [cf. Lev. 22:17-25], is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor [even their own governor would not be pleased with their unacceptable sacrifices]? Would he be pleased with you [no, because such an offering would be regarded as an insult]? Or would he receive you kindly [no, absolutely not; if their offerings would be unfit for a man they would certainly be unfit for God]?” says the LORD of hosts.



1:9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering [“defiled food” (v. 7); blemished animals] on your part [the priests had not led the people well because they had offered “defiled food” (v. 7) at the Lord’s altar], will He receive any of you [their actions precluded the Lord’s favor] kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.



1:10 “Oh that there were one among you [those (priests and Levites) who should be leading by a good example and promoting God’s service] who would shut the gates [doors to the inner court of the temple; because they had made a mockery of God’s service], that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar [to cease unworthy and useless sacrifices]! I am not pleased with you,” [if the Lord is displeased with us it does not matter who else is pleased with us] says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you [“Better no sacrifices than vain ones (Isa 1:11-15).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary); better for the temple to be closed than profaned].



1:11 “For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations [by Jews of the diaspora and those converted through their witness; among the Gentiles in NT], and in every place [not just one place like the Jewish temple] incense [“incense was considered by the Jews themselves as a figure or emblem of prayer and praise” (see Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:10)] is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure [as opposed to the defiled and impure offerings the people were guilty of offering on the altar]; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.



1:12 “But you [priests and consequently the people who followed their bad example] are profaning it [God’s name], in that you say [likely more by their example than their words], ‘The table [or the altar] of the Lord is defiled [not sacred or worthy of reverence], and as for its fruit, its food [perhaps a reference to the priests allotted portion] is to be despised [the priests allowed unworthy sacrifices and then complained that their allotted portion was bad].’



1:13 “You [the priests] also say, ‘My, how tiresome [to do things as God had prescribed; the priests and the people were weary with serving God; serving God becomes an intolerable burden when we serve Him without heart or faith] it [God’s service] is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it [to despise or treat with contempt],” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery [a reference to that which was unfit to be offered], and what is lame or sick [unacceptable offerings]; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that [what is unfit and unworthy] from your hand?” says the LORD.



1:14 “But cursed be the swindler [deceiver; hypocrite] who has a male in his flock [a proper and acceptable sacrifice without blemish that could be offered as a burnt offering; see Leviticus 22:18-19], and vows [a deliberate promise to do the right thing; see the warning of Ecclesiastes 5:5] it, but [instead of doing the right thing, switches the acceptable sacrificial animal with a lesser and unacceptable one; says he will give God the best and then gives Him the worst] sacrifices a blemished animal [an improper sacrifice and one worth less] to the Lord, for I am a great King [thus worthy of our best],” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations [including Gentiles when converted].”

Psalm 34

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NASB

The LORD a Provider and Deliverer.


A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

Note: When David feared that Saul would kill him, he fled to Gath and sought the protection of the enemy — King Abimelech (or Achish) (1 Sam. 21:10—22:2). He should have run to the Lord instead. Once in Gath, David had to lie in order to escape. This Psalm is David’s testimony of what God did for him.

This psalm is an acrostic in which each verse begins with the succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet.


34:1 I will bless [the first thing David did when God delivered him from his troubles] the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually [an indication of deep gratitude] be in my mouth [we should speak and not be silent].

34:2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD [cf. 1 Cor. 1:31];

The humble shall hear it and rejoice.

34:3 [an exhortation] O magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

34:4 [David’s testimony begins with this verse] I sought the LORD, and He answered me, 
And delivered [or snatched from danger just in the nick of time] me from all my fears.

34:5 They [perhaps refers to the humble of verse 2 or those who fear God in verse 7] looked to Him and were radiant [our countenance will reveal who we are trusting],
And their faces shall never be ashamed.



34:6 This poor man cried and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

34:7 The angel of the LORD [read Ps. 103:20-21 regarding the role of angels] encamps around those who fear [to have reverence for] Him, 

And rescues them.

34:8 O taste [to know by personal experience; an invitation to others to experience God for themselves] and see that the LORD is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge [cf. Ps. 5:11] in Him!

34:9 O fear [have reverence for] the LORD, you His saints [believers];

For to those who fear Him, there is no want.

34:10 [see 1 Peter 3:10-12 cf. Ps. 34:12-16] The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; 

But [unlike the young lions] they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.

34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; 

I will teach [David used his experience to teach the next generation to trust in God] you the fear of the LORD.

34:12 [these questions are answered in verses 13-14] Who is the man who desires life, 

And loves length of days that he may see good?

34:13 [cf. Ps. 141:3] Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

34:14 Depart [to create distance] from evil, and do good;

Seek peace, and pursue it.

34:15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, 

And His ears are open to their cry [cf. Ps. 34:6].

34:16 The face [represents God’s favor] of the LORD is against [because God is holy] evildoers, 
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.

34:17 The righteous [those in right standing with God] cry and the LORD hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

34:18 The LORD is near [when we are brokenhearted it is easy to think that God is not near when indeed He is closer to us than ever] to the brokenhearted [the Hebrew word for “broken” in this verse is “nishberei” and comes from a root that means “birth” or “breakthrough” — when we are brokenhearted God draws near to us to birth something new in our lives; God can turn our breakdowns into breakthroughs; cf. Ps. 51:17], 

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

34:19 Many [and varied] are the afflictions of the righteous [the righteous are not exempted from troubles]; 

But the LORD delivers him [cf. Heb. 4:16 — God is able to rescue in the nick of time] out of them all [out of every sort of affliction].

34:20 He keeps all his bones [a general principle rather than a guarantee; God guards the righteous or the righteous are under the protection of God]; 

Not one of them is broken [not a guarantee that our physical bones will never be broken but a general principle to assure us that the righteous are under God’s care].

34:21 Evil [has within it the seeds of decay and destruction] shall slay [the misconduct of the wicked will put them in peril] the wicked [those who are out of touch with God]; 

And those who hate [who are so opposed to the character of the righteous] the righteous will be condemned [will suffer the consequences of their hatred].

34:22 The LORD redeems [to set free by paying a price] the soul of His servants; 

And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned [to be held guilty].

Psalm 32

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NASB

Blessedness of Forgiveness and of Trust in God
A Psalm of David. A Maskil

Note: Luther referred to Psalms 32, 51, 130, and 143 as the Pauline Psalms because “they all teach that the forgiveness of our sins comes without the law and without works to the man who believes…” [“The Treasury of David” by CH Spurgeon]

32:1 How blessed [this word is used in Psalm 1:1 and in the Beatitudes (cf. Matt. 5:3) where the Greek work “makarioi” is used and refers to inner peace and security regardless of external circumstances (more than happiness)] is he whose wrongdoing [transgression; crossing a boundary; deliberate disobedience] is forgiven [taken away, lifted off the soul],

Whose sin [missing a mark] is covered [put out of sight; covered by the blood of Christ; “What a cover that must be which hides away forever from the sight of the all-seeing God all the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit!” (Spurgeon); when we try to cover our sin we do so to hide it rather than repent of it which always ends badly (Prov. 28:13)]!



32:2 How blessed is a person whose guilt [iniquity] the Lord does not take into account [the sin debt is cancelled],

And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

32:3 When I kept silent [instead of confessing and getting the infection out] about my sin [likely David’s sin with Bathsheba about which he remained silent until visited by Nathan (2 Sam. 11-12)], my body wasted away [unconfessed sin has an effect on our physical health]
Through my groaning [the result of conviction] all day long.



32:4 For day and night Your hand [“God’s hand is very helpful when it uplifts, but it is awful when it presses down…” (Spurgeon)] was heavy upon me;

My vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah




32:5 I acknowledged [God already knew about the sin; we must confess (1 Jn. 1:9) our sin; to acknowledge is the opposite of keeping silent or trying to hide or cover our sin] my sin [likely David’s sin with Bathsheba; cf. Ps. 51] to You,

And I did not hide my guilt;

I said, “I will confess [to agree with God about what He says about our sin] my wrongdoings to the Lord”;

And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

32:6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found [“while God continues to offer grace and mercy to sinners” (Benson Commentary); cf. 2 Cor. 6:2];

Certainly in a flood of great waters [in a time of calamity and trouble], they will not reach him [do not wait until it is too late to repent].



32:7 You are my hiding place [the safest place in which to hide from our enemies];
You keep me from trouble [one way to keep from trouble is to keep from sinning];

You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah



32:8 [it is important have a teachable spirit] I [God Himself] will instruct you and teach you in the way [the enemy also wants to instruct us in the “way” we should go (Prov. 14:12)] which you should go;

I will advise [counsel] you with My eye [look at His face to see His eyes] upon you [He watches us always; He never takes His eyes off of us].



32:9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule [both the horse and the mule can be stubborn], which have no understanding,

Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,

Otherwise they will not come near to you.



32:10 The sorrows [brought about because of disobedience; cf. Prov. 13:13] of the wicked [those who are far from God; those who are like the horse or the mule of verse 9] are many,

But the one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him.



32:11 Be glad in the Lord [the source of gladness; gladness is found in proximity to God] and rejoice, you righteous [those who seek to live life according to God’s blueprint] ones;

And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart [those who are sincere in confessing their sin and in living in a manner pleasing to God].

Psalm 31

/ Omar C. Garcia / Leave a comment

NASB

A Psalm of Complaint and of Praise
For the music director. A Psalm of David

A Cry for Deliverance (31:1-18)

31:1 In You, Lord, I [where we take refuge in difficult times is a personal choice] have taken refuge [your safety in times of trouble is only as good as your refuge)];

Let me never be put to shame;

In Your righteousness rescue me.



31:2  Incline Your ear to me [the only thing worse than being in a tight spot is being in a tight spot with no one listening to your cries for help], rescue me quickly [time is always of the essence in difficulties];

Be a rock of strength for me,

A stronghold to save me.


31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress;

For the sake of Your name [David reminded God that His reputation was at stake] You will lead me and guide me.

31:4  You will pull me out of the net [analogy of a hunter in search of prey] which they have secretly laid for me,

For You are my strength.

31:5  [cf. Jesus’ last words in Luke 23:46; see also Acts 7:59 re Stephen] Into Your hand I entrust my spirit [David’s expression of trusting God in the midst of danger];

You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.



31:6  I hate [cf. Ps. 139:21-22] those who devote themselves to worthless idols [incapable to hearing or helping],

But [in contrast to those who trust in what is untrustworthy] I trust in the Lord [who is capable of hearing and helping].



31:7  I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithfulness [God is completely reliable; it is helpful to regularly “Count Your Many Blessings”],

Because You have seen [nothing ever happens behind God’s back] my misery;

You have known [God is never taken by surprise or caught off guard; cf. Ps. 139:1-8] the troubles [as well as the triumphs] of my soul,



31:8  And [knowing everything about me and my troubles] You have not handed me over to the enemy [because God is faithful];

You have [instead] set my feet [a symbol of stability (Ps. 121:3) and also of vulnerability (Ps. 38:16] in a large place [expresses the longing of those who find themselves in a tight spot].



A Lament (31:9-18)

31:9  Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am in distress […in trouble];

[note the physical effects of being hated and hunted…] My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body too.



31:10  For my life is spent with sorrow

And my years with sighing;

My strength has failed [sin depletes strength] because of my guilt [the product of sin],

And my body has wasted away.



31:11 Because of all my adversaries [“The best of men may have the bitterest foes and be subjected to the most cruel taunts.” (Spurgeon); note the social effects of being hated and hunted…], I have become a disgrace,

Especially to my neighbors [sometimes those closest to us harm us the most],

And an object of dread to my acquaintances;

Those who see me in the street flee from me [a few will in our direction when we are maligned and hurting but many will distance themselves from us].



31:12  I am forgotten like a dead person, out of mind [the dead are soon forgotten; in 100 years no one will likely know that we ever lived];

I am like a broken vessel [useless].



31:13  [the threat against David was real] For I have heard the slander of many [the slander of one is bad enough],

Terror is on every side [complete vulnerability];

While they took counsel together [an increased risk of danger from many] against me [the object or target of the scorn of others],

They schemed to take away my life [a serious threat; cf. Acts 9:23-25].



31:14  But [this conjunction signals a change in attitude] as for me [David affirmed his trust in God], I trust in You, Lord,

I say, “You are my God [David affirmed his relationship with God; this is a comforting confession, especially in times of trouble].”



31:15  My times [cf. Ps. 139:16] are in Your hand [“I am immortal until God’s work for me to do is done. The Lord reigns” (Henry Martyn)];

Rescue [deliver] me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.



31:16  Make Your face shine [an expression of favor with God; cf. Num. 6:24-26] upon Your servant;

Save me in Your faithfulness.



31:17  Let me not be put to shame [as is the desire of those who persecute and trouble us], Lord, for I call upon You;

Let the wicked [those who are out of touch with God] be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.



31:18  Let the lying lips be speechless,

Which speak arrogantly against the righteous
With pride and contempt [“What wickedness is it that unworthy characters should always be the loudest in railing at good men!” (Spurgeon)].



Thanksgiving (31:19-24)

31:19  How great [God’s goodness is abundant] is Your goodness,

Which You have stored up [in abundance] for those who fear You [blessings are found in proximity to God],

Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You [an act of trust and acknowledgement of God’s goodness],

Before the sons of mankind!

31:20  You hide them in the secret place [securely hidden from those who intend to harm] of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind;

You keep them secretly [known only to God] in a shelter from the strife of tongues.



31:21  Blessed be the Lord,

For He has shown His marvelous faithfulness to me in a besieged city [the context in which God’s faithfulness was expressed].



31:22  As for me, I said in my alarm,

“I am cut off from Your eyes” [fear and alarm can cause us to lose perspective];

Nevertheless You heard [beautiful words indeed: “You heard”] the sound of my pleadings
When I called to You for help [the most important thing when calling for help is knowing that someone has heard you].



31:23  Love the Lord, all His godly ones [“Love is the universal debt of all the saved family…” (Spurgeon)]!

The Lord watches over the faithful [one of the many blessings of being faithful]

But fully repays the one who acts arrogantly [“Snares are made and pits are rigged by the proud for themselves commonly…” (Spurgeon)].



31:24  Be strong and let your heart take courage [cf. Josh. 1:6-9],

All you who wait for the Lord.