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“Kindling Fires In Vain”
Kindling Fires In Vain
Wade Webster
As you know, fires were kindled to worship God in the Old Testament. In Exodus, we read, “You shall also take one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram; and you shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it all around on the altar. Then you shall cut the ram in pieces, wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and with its head. And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. “You shall also take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram” (Exodus 29:15-19). However, sometimes fires were kindled in vain. In Malachi, we read, “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the LORD of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands” (Mal. 1:10). Malachi gives us five reasons why they were kindling fires on the altar in vain.
First, they were kindling fires in vain because they were giving God the leftovers. They were offering the lame, the sick, the blind, the stolen, and the blemished to God. We read, “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, “In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:6-8). God is a great God. He deserves the first fruits of all that we have (Mt. 6:33).
Second, they were kindling fires in vain because their hearts were not in it. Malachi records, “You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the LORD of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the LORD” (Malachi 1:13). As you recall, Jesus dealt with the same thing in His day. We read, “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:’ These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Matthew 15:7-9). We must not merely go through the motions. We must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
Third, they were kindling fires in vain because they were not listening to God’s word. We read, “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart” (Malachi 2:1-2). If we refuse to hear God, He will refuse to hear us. In Proverbs, we read, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
Fourth, they were kindling fires in vain because they were living hypocritical lives. We read, “Judah has dealt treacherously, And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, For Judah has profaned The LORD’s holy institution which He loves: He has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob The man who does this, being awake and aware, Yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!” (Malachi 2:11-12). Malachi’s brethren were awake and aware of what God’s law said about marrying those of other nations, but they did it anyway. Although they sinned willfully, they continued bringing their sacrifices expecting God to receive them. He would not. To obey is better than to sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). We cannot sin willfully and still worship acceptably.
Fifth, they were kindling fires in vain because they were mistreating their wives. We read, “And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.” For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” (Malachi 2:13-16). In like manner, Peter wrote, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Mistreating our mates will get us in trouble with the One who instituted marriage, witnessed the vows being exchanged, and made the couple one.
Although we don’t kindle a literal fire on a literal altar today, we must still avoid these five things. If we are guilty of one or all of these things, they will make our worship vain.
