Where Is My Honor? A Cry for Repentance and Reverence for Yahweh's Sacred Name

"Where is My Honor?"

The words of Yahweh, spoken through the prophet Malachi, pierce through the centuries like a thunderclap, calling us to examine the depths of our hearts. “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?” (Malachi 1:6). These words are not relics of the past but an urgent cry from the Creator to His people, a plea to return to the reverence and love He is due.

"To You Who Despise My Name"

Yahweh’s rebuke was directed at the priests of ancient Israel, those entrusted with teaching His truth and leading His people in worship. Yet, their actions betrayed their words. They offered defiled sacrifices, blind, lame, and sick animals—offerings they wouldn’t dare present to earthly rulers. They treated Yahweh’s table as contemptible, as though the One who created heaven and earth were unworthy of their best.

But are we any different today?

Ministers stand in pulpits, declaring a gospel stripped of Yahweh's Sacred Name. They replace it with titles and traditions, profaning the holy by elevating human customs above the eternal truth. Congregations gather in His Name but fail to honor it, choosing convenience over commitment, tradition over truth. Yahweh asks us still, “Where is My honor?”

"In What Way Have We Despised Your Name?"

The priests of old, like many today, defended themselves in ignorance: “In what way have we despised Your Name?” They did not recognize their hypocrisy, just as many leaders today fail to see how they defile Yahweh’s table. Every time we substitute His Sacred Name for man-made titles, every time we offer Him half-hearted worship, we repeat their sin.

Yahweh’s Name is not just a label; it is the essence of His character, His covenant, and His presence among His people. To despise His Name is to despise Him.

Would He Accept It Favorably?

Imagine bringing a blind, sick animal to a governor. Imagine excusing it as “good enough.” Would a governor accept it? Of course not. Yet, we often bring Yahweh the leftovers of our lives, our rushed prayers, our neglected study of His Word, our casual worship. We offer Him what costs us nothing, expecting Him to accept it as though He should be grateful for whatever crumbs we spare.

Yahweh’s question echoes still: “Would he accept it favorably?” If we would not dare to treat an earthly ruler with such disrespect, how much greater is our offense to the King of Kings?

"Fall to Your Knees"

Let these words sink into your heart. This is not a call to mere reflection but to repentance. Yahweh is not looking for excuses; He is seeking a broken and contrite spirit. His Name is holy. His altar is holy. His worship is holy.

Tears should stream down our faces when we realize how lightly we have treated the One who holds our breath in His hands. We have stripped Him of the reverence due to Him, choosing our own ways over His commands. We have despised His Name.

Return to Him

Yahweh’s rebuke is not without hope. His discipline is meant to draw us back to Him. He does not need our offerings; He desires our hearts. He calls to the priests, the pastors, the ministers, and the people: Return to Me, and I will return to you.

Strip away the traditions that nullify His Word. Speak His Name with reverence. Serve Him with your whole heart. Do not offer Him the scraps of your life but the first fruits, the best of your time, your energy, your worship.

Let us fall to our knees, weeping for our failure to honor Yahweh as He deserves. Let our repentance rise as a sweet-smelling aroma, not of defiled offerings but of hearts surrendered fully to Him.

His Name Will Be Great

Yahweh declared in Malachi 1:11, “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My Name shall be great among the nations.” Whether we honor Him or not, His Name will be magnified. The question is, will we be among those who honor Him, or will we continue to despise Him?

Let us not wait for another rebuke. Let us not delay until it is too late. Now is the time to give Yahweh the honor He is due. Cry out to Him. Repent. Restore the reverence of His Sacred Name. Where is His honor? Where is His reverence? Let it begin with you.

By: Carlos Jimenez