The worship by the Gentiles

In the previous passage, both the people of Israel and the priests were rebuked because they were offering defiled sacrifices. In today’s passage, the priests are rebuked because they have profaned the name of God. “‘For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place frankincense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be great among the nations,’ says the Lord of armies” (v 11). (1) This is a prophecy of what will take place in the future. The phrase “from the rising of the sun even to its setting” signifies the universality of God’s rule (ref. Ps. 50:1; 113:3). (2) In the future, a time will come when the Gentiles worship the Lord as King and exalt His name. This prophecy had already been given in verse 5: “And your eyes will see this, and you will say, ‘The Lord be exalted beyond the border of Israel!’” (3) This will take place when the message of the Messiah’s death and resurrection is proclaimed throughout the whole world.

The corruption of Israel

Although the Gentiles will one day exalt the Lord, the Israelites were at that very time profaning His name. (1) “But you are profaning it by your saying, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised’” (v 12). They were complaining that the altar was defiled, even while they themselves were offering defiled animals upon it. What a truly perverse attitude. (2) “You also say, ‘See, how tiresome it is!’ And you view it as trivial” (v 13a). They regarded the sacrificial system itself as burdensome and treated it with contempt. To despise the system that the Lord had graciously given as a means of grace is the same as despising the name of God. (3) God will not accept such offerings. On the contrary, those who present defiled offerings are cursed. The reason is that God is the great King: “‘For I am a great King,’ says the Lord of armies, ‘and My name is feared among the nations’” (v 14b). Psalm 10:16 says, “The Lord is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.” Isaiah 33:22 says, “For the Lord is our judge, The Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our king; He will save us.” Let us also break free from formalistic worship and an inertial faith, and let us join the company of saints who offer true worship to God.