Malachi 1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King… Men reveal their conceptions of God by the kind of homage they render to Him. God was dishonoured by the hypocritical worship of His own people; they were representing Jehovah as a senseless idol To reprove them He here declares His greatness. I. THIS DECLARATION WHICH JEHOVAH MAKES RESPECTING HIMSELF. God places Himself towards us in various aspects. He is a king. He has in Himself all the qualities of kingly greatness. Kings should be the greatest of men. He has all the attributes of a great king. His power, authority, majesty, etc. His dominions are great. His kingdom is eternal. II. WHAT LESSONS MAY BE LEARNT FROM THIS DECLARATION. Learn — 1. To reverence Him. 2. The importance of securing His favour. He has shown us the way to secure it — by repentance, faith, and obedience. 3. To trust implicitly in His overruling providence. 4. To submit ourselves to His government. 5. To expect great blessings from His hands. Great expectancy in His creatures pleases Him. Great expectations from Him are never disappointed. (W. Osborne Lilley.) Parallel Verses KJV: But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. |
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