How on earth can someone steal from God? Yet they can. And what motivates the priests to treat God harshly?
The chapter begins with saying that the messenger of God would come and bring purification and cleansing to the priests. This sounds all well and good but refining and being scoured clean are painful things. They needed it. Why?
They had done so much evil. They were sorcerers, perjurers and adulterers. Not just the people but the priests also!
They were secondly robbing God. How? They didn’t bring the full tithe of God as an offering. Just a little here and there. Whatever was in the wallet. Or the leftovers. God says to give him what his rightfully his and he will bless them. They could even test him in this.
Third he said they said harsh things about him. They asked him what? He said that they said it was futile to serve God when all they saw from their vantage point was that the wicked were blessed. Not the righteous.
The LORD says he listens to the words of the people and those who fear him and speak about him with honor he will remember. And in the day of trouble he will spare them. Not only that but he will show in time the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. But in time.
And we ask, has much changed?
Are there still among the people and preachers of God sin such as adultery, perjury and even sorcery? So the people of God bring in the full tithe or do they just give whatever is convenient? And do we still find ourself envying wicked people who become wealthy through unjust means or gray areas?
The truth is just last night I found myself envying the wicked. Not for their money but for something else. In my heart was accusation to God. The truth is when we have deep pain, we lash out at God. I am not guiltless in these sins. I can repent.
