Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. Malachi 2:10-11 ESV
Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament and features yet another prophet who is sent to correct the peoples’ wrongdoing and give them God’s words. Even after their exile and return, the people of Judah still committed abominations against God and had fallen into sin yet again. As the Old Testament reaches its end, it because very clear that it is impossible to please God by myself. Time and again, the people of Judah repent, only to start sinning again. Their half-hearted sacrifice of blemished livestock bares a stark contrast against God’s sacrifice of Jesus, a pure and unblemished Lamb.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:28-30 ESV
When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” he finished my condemnation by taking all my sin upon Himself. Because I trust in Him and believe what He says, His purity is put on me and my sin is cast upon Him. Like the people of Judah, I sin often and repeatedly, even when I know what I am doing is wrong. The Old Testament showcases both the faith of those who trust in God and how it is impossible to please Him on our own. Everything in the Old Testament lead up to Christ crucifixion and resurrection, making it possible for me to come to God with a clean and pure heart. While I am not perfect, I strive to be more like Christ while remember that His sacrifice has washed away all my sins.
Dear God, Thank you for sending Your Son to die for my sins. I know that I could never be perfect enough to please You. Please give me strength to fight against sin and temptation and forgive me when I fail. In Your Holy Name, Amen.
Nathanael (nborger2017)
Sixty-six books in a year 