For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of Armies.

(Malachi 1:11, emphasis added)

Malachi is reaching out to men in the priesthood. Matthew Henry provides this insight. “¹The prophet is here, by a special commission, calling the priests to account, though they were themselves appointed judges, to call the people to an account.” It is necessary that God’s ordained priests stand for what is right in God’s sight. It is necessary to remind God’s priests to Whom they are accountable.

The Priests were taking their position and authority for granted. They had an obligation to teach the people of Israel. The Priests rose in stature. They did not pay proper respect to God’s Word. They used His Word and their commission as Priest to advance themselves. God speaks through Malachi to the Priests. He chastises them for their failures to worship Him. God points out the love these men have for themselves. He also tells them they are unable to save themselves much less save those under their charge.

The hearts of the Priests were involved in their own gain. They were disrespectful of God. It was He Who appointed them to be Priests and Judges of the people. It is God Who sets the matter straight. There is no place in the world where the Name of the Lord will not be known. There is no place in the world where the Name of the Lord will not be revered. There is no place in the world where an unrepentant rebel can flee and avoid God’s reach. “For My Name is great among the nations,” says God.

These verses show the beauty of God’s unending and immeasurable capacity to love even the most wicked. He chose Israel as His favored nation not because they were great, but because they were small. He did not choose Edom, that is to say Esau’s family. That nation of people were swallowed up in conquest. God did not favor Esau, but He did favor Jacob. Our Father reaches down to the least and makes them great. He humbles the great and subdues evil. He protects His people from harm. Edom is no more, but Israel is alive. To where did all the peoples of Edom go in death? Their bodies went into the grave and their spirits returned to God Who gave them. That’s Gospel! This is Impartial Grace.

1 Matthew Henry. “Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Bible; Malachi 1.” Publication date unknownhttps://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mhm/malachi-1.html. Date accessed: 04/01/2018.