Malachi 3:13-4:4

Introduction

  • One hundred years have passed since the return of 50 000 Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem … 537 b.c.
    • By 433 b.c. Nehemiah returns to serve the Persian king having completed the rebuilding of all the walls of Jerusalem
    • Along with Ezra he had ensured that the temple was fully functional
  • However, despite the revival that had taken place early on after their return, Israel was back to its old way of life that had led to their exile. 
    • Despite Nehemiah’s reforms there was no change of heart for Israel
  • Many regard the book in a very negative light because it speaks extensively of God's displeasure with his people Israel…
    • However, just look at its positioning and its structure …
      • Malachi is the last of the prophets …
        • This was followed by 400 years of silence.
        • A period of great suffering and very little prosperity…
          • No God, no blessing. 
      • However in terms of structure it starts with the assurance of the love of God … Mal 1;2
        • And it ends with …They will be mine... Ch 3;16
      • The criticisms that go on in between are designed to get them to repent and turn back…
        • Awareness of sin precedes repentance
      • What message did the next prophet preach 400 years later 
        • Repentance … Ch 4;5 & Math 3;1
    • So in Malachi we have The Gospel found in the New Testament…
      • A God who loves his people
      • A stiff-necked people who despise their God
      • A holy God who must judge the sins of the people… 
      • But he is a loving God who creates a righteous way of forgiveness.
    • This last message via Malachi must surely be considered important
  • Listen to Paul …
    • Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Rom 15;4
  • The truth is the very same conditions found in Malachi’s day exist today.
    • All too often in the church … 
      • We doubt the love of God… Ch 1;2
      • Christian leaders are often found to be corrupt or slothful
      • Our worship is not of the heart … It is rote, mechanical.
      • Our giving is either short or reasons for giving are corrupt.
      • So often especially in the church we break faith with our wives who come to us as a gift from God himself
  • So we continue with our considerations this morning …
    • Hopefully with an ear keen to hear and a heart willing to act. 

Reading: Ch 3;13-15

  • We need to understand that God chose Israel as his special people …
    • Their purpose was to reveal the glory of God to the nations… Isa 43;21

God's accusation … Man's response

  • Israel's accusation is directed at defaming…
    • God’s CHARACTER
      • You have said harsh (Arrogant) things against me…vs 13
    • God’s SERVICE
      • It is futile to serve God …vs 14
    • God’s JUSTICE …
      • The evil prosper …not the faithful … vs 15
  • God calls them harsh words …
    • Harsh …Arrogant words… Chazaq
      • Hard & hurtful, prevail against, come down heavily on.
        • Come down more aggressively than previously … ch 2;17
      • You grow firm and strong in your opinion… 
        • The accusations moving from … I would not agree (Wearied) to You’re Talking nonsense. 
        • Pharaoh used harsh (Arrogant ) words … 
          • Who is the Lord that I should obey him Ex 5;2

Defaming God’s character

  • In their arrogance they ask …
    •  “What have we said against you”...
      • Effectively this is You are talking nonsense … 
        • Your accusation is not true … It's a lie. 
          • We go to the temple, worship you, take our sacrifices, pay our tithes… What more do you want?
      • They are defaming God's good character.
        • The holy God is lieing about them
        • The omniscient God has got it wrong …
    • Hear God’s response in the opening verses of Malachi …Ch 1
      • You place defiled food on the altar … vs 7
        • But you say “How have we shown contempt” … vs 6
        • Try offering that to the governor … and see the response …
          • Why then to the Lord Almighty … Vs 8
        • They respect the governor but not the Almighty. 
      • Shut the doors, don't light the fires, I will not accept the offerings … vs 10…
      • Clearly God’s accusation is 100% accurate.
        • They are showing contempt (Disrespect) for the Lord … vs 6
  • What is going on with God’s people Israel…
    • On the surface they are doing the right things … 
      • Going to church … They look like believers … bibles and sacrifices
      • But God does not seek the sacrifices … or church attendance.
    • He seeks an obedient heart …Reformed hearts.
      • Whose worship is driven by love… not appearances 
        • The Lord your God will give you obedient hearts, so that you will love him with all your heart and all your soul… Deut 30;6
      • The worship of the disobedient is unacceptable…
        • Because it is not of the heart 
  • I have said I love you … Ch 1;2
    • But in your disobedience you bring second rate offerings … Ch 1;14
      • You have the best and give the worst … Ch 1;14
    • Clearly there is a love problem …We love ourselves more than God…
      • But in their arrogance they disrespect God and defame his character …
        • Which is the sinner's first line of defense.
  • Challenge …
    • Translate that to Medway Community Church 2025 …
    •  we self seeking worshippers who are praying for a life of ease …
      • That will in all probability drive us away from God…
    • Is the Lord Jesus another attachment … not a priority.

Defaming Futile service

  • They claim …it is futile to serve God …What did we gain … vs 14
    • Clearly they choose to forget God's manifold blessing throughout their history … 
      • From the exodus to the promised land
      • From nation building with Joshua, David, Solomon.
      • God’s revelation and direction thru the prophets…
        • There were years of prosperity at the hand of God
    • But in their affluence they choose to disobey God and serve other gods,resulting in their exile in Babylon…

  • But their faithful God brought this stiff-necked back into the land and re-established them 
    • Only for the pattern of disobedience to be repeated
  • What they forgot was that blessing was conditional on obedience …
    • They failed to understand that God wanted a relationship with his people.
      • He loved them for who they were
        • They loved him for what they could get out of him….
          • What have we gained … vs 14
      • They were after prosperity …
        • God wanted sanctification
      • God’s love was eternal. 
        • Their love was for self enrichment.
  • By contrast see the life of Paul …
    • For me to live is Christ…
      • Our bodies must be a living sacrifice … Rom 12;1
    • In most cases prosperity leads us away from God
      • God requires us to live a life of sacrificial service …
      • Service because we love him not for personal gain.
      • In the face of this service there is tremendous blessing

Defaming the justice of God

  • The evil prosper… the faithful flounder…
    • The evil challenge God and escape accountability… vs 15
  • This is surely the most atrocious assumption, the highest insult. 
    • They are claiming that the righteous God is not keeping his promises. 
    • He promised them prosperity …
      • But it was conditional on obedience…
        • Not obedience for the sake of authority or control. 
        • But because obedience to God's word is the best and most rewarding way of life. 
    • Marriage lived in accordance with his word is an example.
      • When a wife is the suitable helper and they build together
      • When the husband loves a treats his wife as Christ does the church
        • The relationship is without compare
        • And their offspring thrive in that atmosphere.
      • When there is selfishness expressed, domination by either party. When trust is broken …
        • It is problematic …
        • And the offspring often suffer irreparable damage. 
    • The evil may prosper for a time but they must ultimately give account to God the judge…
      • E.g. That is exactly what happened to Pharaoh
        • He should have obeyed …
          • His disobedience led to the decimation of his army. 
  • The Lord is righteous in all his ways … Psl 145;17
    • He is just, holy and fair in all his dealings. 
      • Whether dealing with the righteous or unrighteous …
      • He acts according to his promises and word.
    • We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God … Rom 5;2
      • But we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character, hope … Rom 5;3-4
      • Hope does not disappoint because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit… Rom 5;8
  • And that is exactly what Malachi is preaching.

Conclusion

  • Listen to Asaph ad he speaks into my life… Psi. 73
    • Surely God is good to those who are pure of heart … vs 1
    • I slipped when I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked … vs 3
      • They had no struggles, their bodies were healthy and strong. They were free from the burdens common to man … vs 5
      • Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure … vs 13
    • When I tried to understand all this it was oppressive to me …vs 16
      • Till I entered the sanctuary of God … then I understood their final destiny … vs 17
    • Those who are far from you will perish … vs 27
      • You destroy the unfaithful …
    • I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge… vs 28
  • Listen to Malachi …
    • Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, the LORD listened and heard … vs 16
    • They will be mine says the Lord Almighty in the day when I make up my TREASURED possession … vs 17
  • Listen to Jesus …
    • I will come again and take you to be with me … John 14;3
  • The prosperity of the wicked is a fact but is short term …
    • The righteous shall be with the Lord forever … Rev 5;10