"Have we not all One Father? Hath not One God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?" Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which He loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god." (Malachi 2:10-11)
"For the Lord, the God of Israel saith that He hates putting away: for one covers violence with his garment," saith the Lord of hosts, "therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words." Yet ye say, "Wherein have we wearied [Him]?" When ye say, "Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them" or, "Where is the God of judgment?" (Malachi 2:16-17)
To me, this speaks volumes about the current times in which we live, wherein the morally good is considered evil and the blatantly evil considered good. In fact, we don't have to look far to witness these kinds of societal changes. Public policy and legislative changes that used to include subtle amendments is increasingly becoming prevalent ... and the overall negative effect being felt within the social fabric.
The Lord warned us that these signs (and more) would appear in the last days. But even sadder also is the willingness by church leaders to preach anything and everything but His Word to their respective congregations -- the Word which gives life. Herein, we see the Word reconfirming that the One God who created us in the beginning -- that He is the Father. And that this same Lord, the God of Israel has a name.
To me, this speaks volumes about the current times in which we live, wherein the morally good is considered evil and the blatantly evil considered good. In fact, we don't have to look far to witness these kinds of societal changes. Public policy and legislative changes that used to include subtle amendments is increasingly becoming prevalent ... and the overall negative effect being felt within the social fabric.
The Lord warned us that these signs (and more) would appear in the last days. But even sadder also is the willingness by church leaders to preach anything and everything but His Word to their respective congregations -- the Word which gives life. Herein, we see the Word reconfirming that the One God who created us in the beginning -- that He is the Father. And that this same Lord, the God of Israel has a name.
However, this is not the message being taught within a good proportion of the modern day religious culture. Rather, therein, the One Lord God who created us in the beginning has been changed into a triad, a triune, multi-headed god(s) rather than search the scriptures for understanding of the Great I AM. The One and Only Absolute. And herein the Lord our God is saying that we have dealt treacherously with Him, the covenant He has given to us, and, as well, our brothers and sisters.
Specifically, the Lord is pinpointing their hearts, saying, "They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions." (Hosea 5:7) In another place, "But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me." (Hosea 6:7) And again, "For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against Me," saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 5:11)
And for good measure, one more -- "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:20)
Thus, to emphasize the seriousness, I looked up the definition of "treacherously." An adverb, treacherously can be defined as any or all of the following: traitorous, disloyal, perfidious, faithless, unfaithful, duplicitous, false-hearted, deceitful, false, untrue, back-stabbing, double-crossing, double-dealing, two-faced, Janus-faced, untrustworthy, unreliable, undependable, fickle apostate, renegade, subversive, seditious, rebellious, mutinous, breakaway, dissenter, heretic, nonconformist defector, deserter, traitor, turncoat schismatic treasonable, or treasonous.
Moreover, in the scriptures, the word treacherously is used eighteen times by the prophets, once in Lamentations, and once more in the book of Judges. Again, most of the references point to how we -- the Lord's beloved creation -- deal treacherously with the Lord and His covenant. Even though one scripture attests to hearing songs, even glory to the righteous, the Lord still grieves for His people who will not return to Him. The Lord saith, "My leanness, My leanness -- woe unto Me.
Moreover, in the scriptures, the word treacherously is used eighteen times by the prophets, once in Lamentations, and once more in the book of Judges. Again, most of the references point to how we -- the Lord's beloved creation -- deal treacherously with the Lord and His covenant. Even though one scripture attests to hearing songs, even glory to the righteous, the Lord still grieves for His people who will not return to Him. The Lord saith, "My leanness, My leanness -- woe unto Me.
"From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, "My leanness, my leanness, woe unto Me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously." (Isaiah 24:16)
In some ways, we can equate the underlying message herein to Jesus' words in Revelation 3:8-9:
"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:8-9)
In other words, if we don't actually know His Name, how can we who believe give glory unto His Name? This is a good question, and particularly relevant when it is asked in the context of today's religious ceremony and sacraments. Taking this thought further, we who believe should know in whom we serve -- should we not? Most certainly, the angel of the Lord declared His Name for one and all to behold.
From Matthew 1:21-23: "And ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us."
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
But I digress somewhat. Getting back to treacherous, Isaiah the prophet alludes to a grievous vision -- "A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler spoils ..." (Isaiah 21:2)
And in another place, "Yea, thou heard not; yea, thou knew not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb." (Isaiah 48:8)
And in another place, "Yea, thou heard not; yea, thou knew not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb." (Isaiah 48:8)
Why is this message important? "... for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken [it]." (Isaiah 21:17) And in spite of ourselves, this same Lord God who willingly became our Saviour continues to invite us to know Him and His mercy this day. Yes, His Name Jesus -- who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The visible image of an invisible God. (Hebrews 1:1-12; Revelation 1:8) The One and Only who loved us enough to shed His precious holy blood on a cross. (Acts 20:28)
"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19)
"After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)
Thus, when we have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord our God, knowing that He alone is righteous and merciful, we should not be looking for another to worship. Rather, we should be taking hold of His Word -- and in everything we do, in both word and deed, do so in the Name of the Lord Jesus. The same Lord Jesus which the scriptures describe as the Author and Finisher of our faith, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8)
Thus, when we have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord our God, knowing that He alone is righteous and merciful, we should not be looking for another to worship. Rather, we should be taking hold of His Word -- and in everything we do, in both word and deed, do so in the Name of the Lord Jesus. The same Lord Jesus which the scriptures describe as the Author and Finisher of our faith, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8)
But instead, many religious organizations have delegated this same Jesus to a back seat, dividing the One and Only Almighty King of kings and Lord of lords into thirds; into titles that never validate His Name. In this context, God is described as "them" and not Him. As multi-headed and described as titles rather than One. This outcome even when the very first commandment begins, stating, "Hear O Israel that the Lord thy God is ONE LORD." (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
Did our congregational leaders miss this part when they parrot the Ten Commandments to our children? Certainly, many miss declaring the scripture that states -- " to make all [men] see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3:9)
But the Lord warns against those who speak fair words, intent on tickling our ears, so that we never learn the truth -- the One and Only absolute. What does the Lord say? "Believe them not, though they speak fair words unto Thee." (Jeremiah 12:6)
On the New Testament side, James further elaborates:
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy ...
... Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:1-20)
You see, like Jesus, the prophets spoke forward to these last days, warning us of those who would put us out of the synagogues -- for His Name's sake. The precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus -- whom the angel of the Lord declared at the beginning of this current New Testament dispensation of grace. The very Name that every knee will bow before and declare Jesus to be Lord of all.
"Have we not all One Father? Hath not One God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?" Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which He loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god." (Malachi 2:10-11)
Who is the strange god Malachi alludes to? The strange god is the triad, multiple headed god(s) message that has entrenched the modern day religious culture. As Malachi and apostle Paul further warns to them who preach not the whole gospel, those that deny the Name of the Lord Jesus in their midst, referring to God as "them" and not the One Lord who is God -- let them be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
Let's finish with Malachi who writes:
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My Name," saith the Lord of hosts, "I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi," saith the Lord of hosts.
"My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My Name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi," saith the Lord of hosts. "Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law." (Malachi 2:1-9)
But it does not have to be this way. Get into the Word of God (preferably a translation like the Authorized King James) and ask the Lord God to reveal Himself to you, and help you to understand that the "fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Him" -- Jesus. (Colossians 2:9)
Stand in the offering plate.
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