Return To Me Series

I invite you to find the book of Malachi with me if you will [page 954 in your pew Bibles].

Today’s Scripture

You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:17-3:5).

The people were clearly disillusioned and God was taking the blame.

1. Dealing with Disillusionment

“You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ By saying, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.’ Or by asking, ‘Where is the God of justice’” (Malachi 2:17)? The Bible says God is wearied about the complaints of the people. How would you describe our day? We are disillusioned and we are disappointed.

1.1 Reasons to Question God

School shootings, inflation at a 40-year high, Putin tearing apart Ukraine for his ego, and crime is on the rise in many of our major cities. This week, a drunk driver crashed into a gas station, knocked over the pump, and injured eleven children in the process. A New York City teenager was released just three days after he assaulted a police officer on the subway, and his assault was caught on video. It’s been nearly two months since DFW has seen rain, and grassfires are all over our area. When you look where we are, you can understand where they were.

Again, how would you describe our day? We are disillusioned, and we are disappointed. Like our day, the question posed in verse 17 shows you how bad things were.

1.2 Is God Guilty of Evil?

People were so lawless that people wondered if God could be bothered with all the evil in the world. The levels of sin, crime, and corruption were so high that some wondered if God was pleased by it all. The complaint is, “You’re blessing the sinners and not helping the saints.” The complaint is, “You’re being good to the evil people and BAD to Your children.” All this wearied the Lord.

The prophet Isaiah tells us, "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary…” (Isaiah 40:28). God doesn’t come home from the office worn out in need of a nap. You cannot pray too much that God says, “I cannot take it anymore.” But the Bible says your sins do weary the Lord (Isaiah 43:24).

1.3 Blasphemy

And when you call evil good and good evil, this is blasphemy. To call into question the goodness of God who sends rain on the just and unjust is profane (Matthew 5:45). To question the essence of our Heavenly Father who makes the sun rise upon the evil and the good is perverse (Matthew 5:45). Again, the people’s blasphemy wearied the Lord. Their failure of faith wearied the Lord. It was a failure to believe God was real and He was good. The Lord knows who are His. It was a failure to know God’s character was holy and just. God is wearied by such arrogance.

1. Dealing with Disillusionment

2. I’m On My Way

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1). In verse one, it’s as if God says, “You are asking, ‘Where am I?’ Do you want me to do something? Do you want me to come down there? You want me to bring justice?” You can hear the wheels turn when God says, “I’m on my way.” Be careful what you ask for. “You want justice. Wait for the God of justice to walk through those doors.” Nearly all people who want God to show up think God will take their side when He arrives.