Daily Devotions
Malachi
"Will a man rob God?"
Text: Malachi 3:8
THE GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
The subject of “Giving” is a very personal and often “touchy” issue. Nevertheless, this matter had to be addressed, from God’s standpoint!
“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.”
Malachi 3:8-9
1. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!”
a) God addressed this problem directly and candidly.
b) Israel had “robbed God!”
c) This is a very serious allegation.
2. “But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?'”
a) Israel denied this charge.
b) The people challenged this allegation.
3. “In tithes and offerings”
a) The giving of tithes was taught in the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 14:22-24).
i) Tithe related to the support of the Levites.
ii) Tithe each time a Feast is celebrated.
iii) Tithe to be given to the poor.
b) Offerings were additional to the tithe.
4. “You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.”
This was a solemn and sobering word from the LORD to the whole nation. How could Israel think that robbing God was a sin that could be easily overlooked?