Chapter 1

The book opens really in this verse:

2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob [Mal 1:2 ESV]

This sets the format for this book.  God makes a statement, and then the "answer" of the people questions the statement, disbelieves, says they don't see it.

Jacob and Esau.  Playing favorites is what I thought this was always about.  Now, looking at it this morning, I think it really means that God loves all his creation.  But as part of His plan, He selected Jacob for special blessing, Jacob as His people, and He as their God.  Esau had blessing too.  Abraham gave him some pretty good blessings.  He lasted a long time.  But Esau spurned his birthright.  Jacob coveted it.  The birthright was a big deal, not something to be spurned.  Also, remember that Isaac was the son of promise, not Ishmael.  But Ishmael also received blessings.  They are stated specifically.  God loves all the world, but Israel had a special place.  That's what this means.  That's what they should have seen.  God goes on to say that Edom will never be great, that He opposes whatever they do.  He calls them "the people with whom God will be angry forever".  Who are these people, exactly?

The second statement is to the priests, and asks why they don't fear God as master, and honor Him as their father?  They reply, What do you mean?  We don't act like that!?  God really indicts them.  He says they offer polluted food on the altar, and so they pollute Him.  They offer sick, blind, lame animals to God.  A civil official would never accept these, yet they offer them to God.  A civil official would be very angry with them over such gifts, yet they expect God to favor them despite the trash they offer Him.  They have not honor, they have no fear of the Living God.  This verse, so telling in any generation really, but especially telling of those supposedly dedicated to serving God:

13 But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. [Mal 1:13 ESV]

It's just a job to them, and not an interesting or compelling job.  They take no pleasure in service, they give service to God Himself of no use or value.