Archive for the ‘Malachi 2’ Tag
Above: Madonna and Child, by Filippo Lippi
Image in the Public Domain
Like a Child in Its Mother’s Arms
NOVEMBER 12, 2023
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According to the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) Lectionary (1973), as contained in the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Lutheran Worship (1982)
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Malachi 2:1-2, 4-10 (LBW, LW) or Job 14:1-6 (LW)
Psalm 131 (LBW) or Psalm 90:1-12 (LW)
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (LW) or 1 Thessalonians 2:8-13 (LBW, LW)
Matthew 23:1-12 (LBW, LW) or Mathew 24:15-28 (LW)
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Lord God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds
by your Holy Spirit that,
always keeping in mind the end of all things and the day of judgment,
we may be stirred up to holiness here
and may live with you forever in the world to come,
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 29
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O Lord, absolve your people from their offenses
that from the bonds of sins,
which by reason of our weakness we have brought upon us,
we may be delivered by your bountiful goodness;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 91
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Malachi 2:3 is not an assigned verse. I suppose that hearing it read aloud in church would raise some awkward issues and prompt gasps of shock. Set in the context of priests offering sacrifices wrongly after the end of the Babylonian Exile, Malachi 2:3 reads:
I will put your seed under a ban, and I will strew dung upon your faces, the dung of your festal sacrifices, and you shall be carried out to its [heap].
—TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
God seems to take proper worship seriously in Malachi 2.
For all the John 3:16 signs at sporting events, I cannot recall one Malachi 2:3 sign. Perhaps a wiseacre should correct that oversight.
Eschatological overtones in the New Testament combine with musings about the human condition and about trust in God in the Hebrew Bible. Psalm 131 speaks of individual and collective trust in God, described in maternal terms. Matters individual and collective are inseparable, as John Donne (1572-1631) wrote:
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Therefore, in faith community, encouraging one another is part of
a life worthy of God.
–1 Thessalonians 2:12, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
Lives worthy of God, by grace, build up people. Lives worthy of God seek and find the common good. Lives worthy of God play out both individually and collectively. Lives worthy of God remain deeply flawed–sinful. That is the human condition. Yet these lives do not wallow in that sin. No, these lives
…keep tranquil and quiet
like a child in its mother’s arms,
as content as a child that has been weaned.
–Psalm 131:2, The Jerusalem Bible (1966).
Consider that image, O reader. Live accordingly.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 24, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE, MARTYR
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Link to the corresponding post at BLOGA THEOLOGICA
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Above: Icon of Jesus Cursing the Fig Tree
Image in the Public Domain
Curses and Punishments
NOVEMBER 10, 2024
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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Numbers 14:1-27 or Malachi 1:1; 2:1-10
Psalm 73:12, 15-23
Hebrews 12:1-9, 22-24, 28-29
Mark 11:12-33
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What is the chief and highest end of man?
Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
–The Westminster Larger Catechism, quoted in Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), The Book of Confessions (2007), 195
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We read of the opposite behavior in today’s readings, with pious material in Psalm 73, if one consults the complete text. Priests are supposed to lead people to God. A fig tree is supposed to show evidence of figs in development outside of fig season. People are supposed to trust God, especially after witnessing dramatic, mighty divine deeds and manifestations.
The two-part story of the cursed fig tree bookends the Temple Incident, as scholars of the New Testament like to call the Cleansing of the Temple. The literary-theological effect of this arrangement of material is to comment on corruption at the Temple just a few days prior to the crucifixion of Jesus. One does well to apply the condemnation to corruption anywhere.
Perhaps we usually think of punishment as something we do not want. This makes sense. In legal systems, for example, probation, fines, and incarceration are forms of punishment. Parents sometimes punish children by grounding them. However, the punishment of which we read in Numbers 14 (comprehension of which depends on having read Chapter 13) was to give the the fearful, faithless people what they wanted–never to enter the Promised Land. As an old saying tells us, we ought to be careful what we wish for because we may get it.
What do we really want and what do we really need? May God grant us what we really need. May we be grateful for it.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JULY 27, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF BROOKE FOSS WESTCOTT, ANGLICAN SCHOLAR, BIBLE TRANSLATOR, AND BISHOP OF DURHAM; AND FENTON JOHN ANTHONY HORT, ANGLICAN PRIEST AND SCHOLAR
THE FEAST OF CHRISTIAN HENRY BATEMAN, ANGLICAN PRIEST AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF JOHAN NORDAHL BRUN, NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN BISHOP, AUTHOR, AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM REED HUNTINGTON, EPISCOPAL PRIEST AND RENEWER OF THE CHURCH; AND HIS GRANDSON, WILLIAM REED HUNTINGTON, U.S. ARCHITECT AND QUAKER PEACE ACTIVIST
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2019/07/27/curses-and-punishments/
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Above: Hophni and Phinehas
Image in the Public Domain
Taking God Seriously
NOVEMBER 2-4, 2023
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The Collect:
O God, generous and supreme, your loving Son lived among us,
instructing us in the ways of humility and justice.
Continue to ease our burdens, and lead us to serve alongside of him,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 51
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The Assigned Readings:
1 Samuel 2:27-36 (Thursday)
Ezekiel 13:1-16 (Friday)
Malachi 1:6-2:9 (Saturday)
Psalm 43 (All Days)
Romans 2:17-29 (Thursday)
2 Peter 2:1-3 (Friday)
Matthew 23:13-28 (Saturday)
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Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me,
and bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling;
That I may go to the altar of God,
to the God of my joy and gladness;
and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God.
–Psalm 43:3-4, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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There are at least two ways to be wrong: sincerely and insincerely. Certainly there have always been those people who lead others astray knowingly. The majority of false teachers and prophets over time, I propose, have not known of their error. They have been the blind leading the blind, with disastrous results for all involved.
A brief catalog of named errors I have compiled from these days’ readings follows:
- Fixating on relatively minor points at the expense of relatively major ones,
- Acting disrespectfully of sacred rituals, and
- Acting disrespectfully of sacred places.
People of good faith disagree about what constitutes an example of the first point. Is insisting on the circumcision of males an example of it? St. Paul the Apostle, in his reformed state, thought so. Yet the practice was a major point in the Old Testament and a mark of Jewish identity. As you probably know, O reader, identity is a sensitive psychological issue. That seems to be the reality for Jews of today who fall back upon identity and the theology of covenant when defending the practice against secular critics. I am somewhat sympathetic to these faithful Jews.
In St. Paul’s day the question focused on the issue of whether a Gentile had to convert to Judaism before becoming a Christian. At the time Christianity was still a Jewish sect, after all. Thus issues of identity, inclusion, and exclusion collided. The Apostle sided with inclusion, as I tend to do. Reflecting on the readings for the previous post led to me to write about removing barriers to trusting in God, upon whom we depend completely. In that spirit, then, should we not remove barriers to coming to God, who beckons us?
May we, while taking God and divine commandments seriously, do so in ways which smooth the path to salvation, not construct barriers to it.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF ALL CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKERS AND PEACE ACTIVISTS
THE FEAST OF ALBERT SCHWEITZER, MEDICAL MISSIONARY
THE FEAST OF PAUL JONES, EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF UTAH AND WITNESS FOR PEACE
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Taking God Seriously
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Above: A High Priest and a Levite
Image in the Public Domain
Malachi and Matthew, Part II: Exploitative Priests
SEPTEMBER 26 AND 27, 2023
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
–The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Malachi 2:1-3:5 (September 26)
Malachi 3:6-24 (September 27–Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Versification)
Malachi 3:6-4:6 (September 27–Protestant Versification)
Psalm 143 (Morning–September 26)
Psalm 86 (Morning–September 27)
Psalms 81 and 116 (Evening–September 26)
Psalms 6 and 19 (Evening–September 27)
Matthew 4:1-11 (September 26)
Matthew 4:12-25 (September 27)
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Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
because you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
–Psalm 86:17, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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But you have turned away from the cause: You have made many stumble through your rulings; you have corrupted the covenant of the Levites–said the LORD of Hosts. And I, in turn, have made you despicable and vile in the eyes of all the people, because you disregard My ways and show partiality in your rulings.
–Malachi 2:8-9, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
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Malachi, speaking for God, condemned priests who abused their privileged positions by accepting unacceptable sacrifices from wealthy people and who ruled improperly against the less fortunate. The imagery was quite vivid, for God would
strew dung
–2:3, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
upon the priests’ faces. And God objected to other injustices, including cheating laborers, widows, orphans, and strangers. These offenses concluded a thought which began with practicing sorcery, committing adultery, and swearing falsely. (See 3:5.)
Malachi affirmed obeying the Law of Moses:
From the very days of your fathers you have turned from My laws and not observed them. Turn back to Me and I will turn back to you–said the LORD of Hosts.
–3:6-7a, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
One important reality to grasp when pondering the Law of Moses is that modern Classical Liberal notions of individualism were
not the ancient Israelite’s experience of freedom…because the Israelite was not his own master, but God’s slave. His acknowledgement of the divine kingship gave him responsibilities to his fellow Israelites.
–Richard Bauckham, The Bible in Politics: How to Read the Bible Politically, 2d. ed. (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2011, page 107)
The most basic of these responsibilities was to care for others actively and effectively.
The temptations of Jesus, which I interpret as mythic, do reflect a refusal to, among other things, behave in self-aggrandizing ways. In fact, I understand the reality of the Incarnation as the opposite of self-aggrandizement. Our Lord and Savior’s model of service to others reinforces this theme. His call to follow him echoes down to today.
Despite the protests of Malachi and the example of Jesus many self-identified Christian leaders have exploited others, not served them in the name God, and/or condoned such exploitation or neglect. This reality continues to be true, unfortunately. May this cease, by divine grace and human free will.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
APRIL 19, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS MURIN OF FAHAN, LASERIAN OF LEIGHLIN, GOBAN OF PICARDIE, FOILLAN OF FOSSES, AND ULTAN OF PERONNE, ABBOTTS; AND OF SAINTS FURSEY OF PERONNE AND BLITHARIUS OF SEGANNE, MONKS
THE FEAST OF SAINT ALPHEGE OF CANTERBURY, ARCHBISHOP
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARY OF THE INCARNATION, ROMAN CATHOLIC NUN
THE FEAST OF SAINT SIMEON BARSABAE, BISHOP; AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/malachi-and-matthew-part-ii-exploitative-priests/
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ORDINARY TIME DEVOTIONS 
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