Reading: Malachi chapter 1 verses 1-14
Ill:
The world’s easiest test.
(1). The books Outline.
• There are two main ways people look at the book of Malachi;
• You can take your pick as to which you prefer.
(1stway): By questions.
• The book of Malachi is constructed around six key questions:
• So you can divide the book by the six key questions it contains.
(1).
• Chapter 1 verse 2b:
• "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?'
"I have loved you," says the LORD.
"But you ask, 'How have you loved us?'
(2).
• Chapter 1 verse 6c:
• "But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
"A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honour due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name.
"But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
(3).
• Chapter 2 verse 14:
• “You ask, "Why?"
You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
(4).
• Chapter 2 verse 17:
• "How have we wearied him?" you ask.
You have wearied the LORD with your words.
"How have we wearied him?" you ask.
By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"
(5).
• Chapter 3 verse 7:
• "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
(6).
• Chapter 3verse 13:
• 'What have we said against you?'
"You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD.
"Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'
• There are a couple of other secondary questions in the book;
• But these six primary questions are one way to understand the book.
• All these six key questions:
• Reveal an insensitive people and a sensitive God.
(2nd Way): 3 fold division:
• I think this is an easier way to get to grips with the book;
• The book divides into three sections.
(1). GOD AFFIRMS HIS LOVE (CHAPTER 1 VERSES 1-5)
Quote: Verse 2 in The Message:
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
(2). GOD CONDEMNS THEIR SINS (CHAPTER 1 VERSE 6 TO 2 VERSE 17)
(a). Priests committed two main sins in the book:
• Cheap sacrifices (gave second best to God).
• Popular sermons (told people what they wanted to hear).
(b). People committed five main sins.
• Mixed marriages (married Gentiles).
• Heartless divorce (traded wives like some people trade cars).
• Doubtful questions (unbelief not taking God at his word).
• Unpaid tithes.
• Slanderous talk.
(3). GOD SEEKS THEIR REPENTANCE (CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1 TO CHAPTER 4 VERSE 6)
• The last three verses of the prophecy;
• Are built around the two greatest men in the Old Testament – Moses & Elijah.
• He calls the people to return to the Law that came by Moses;
• And he will send them one more prophet - an Elijah type figure.
(2). The Books setting:
• The background to the Book of Malachi is very similar to that of Haggai and Zechariah.
• Now if you are like me, that probably doesn’t help at all!
• The book was written 100 years after the return of Judah (southern Kingdom);
• From their exile in Babylon.
• The Persian king Cyrus conquered Babylon in 538bc.
• He was a benevolent dictator.
• He told the captives in the land that they could return to their home land;
• Providing they built a temple in which they would pray for him to their God.
So we are picking up the story 100 years after a remnant of Jews;
• Originally about 50,000 had returned to their homeland (Judah - southern Kingdom);
• The temple has been rebuilt and is now complete.
• But these 100 years have not been spiritually good,
• The nation was in decline. Spiritual apathy had set in.
Things were not good;
(a).
• The capitol city Jerusalem was still relatively deserted;
• And the farmland was largely barren and uncultivated.
(b).
• Recent harvests had been poor;
• And swarms of locusts and lack of food made life hard and precarious.
(c).
• Although the temple was finished,
• It was so small compared to Solomon's and it had done little to lift morale.
(d).
• Although Nehemiah had repaired the walls,
• The people still preferred living out in the country,
• Where they could more easily hide from attack.
This meant that Judah (southern kingdom):
• Was now comprised of a small hill town, with some surrounding villages;
• It was a pale reflection of the kingdom of David in its heyday.
• The people were disappointed, disillusioned and even despairing.
• They were beginning to ask whether it had been worthwhile returning to Judah at all.
• They said, 'We've been back 100 years,
• And where's this kingdom we were going to build?'
• If they were not actually saying it;
• They were thinking that they would have been better of back in Babylon.
There was just one piece of good news:
• They had learned their lesson about idolatry in the exile.
• Never again did they go after other gods or seek to change their religion.
• But having said that, the practice of this religion had become a formality.
• The people attended the temple,
• But it was largely out of tradition - a ritual without reality,
• And certainly no longer a priority.
Their whole attitude had changed - they were now asking:
• What was the minimum amount of time they needed to spend on religious activity,
• And what was the minimum amount of money they could get away with giving.
• Furthermore, the priests were like the people.
• They were not bothered about how many people came to attend the services,
• As long as they just got through it and made their living.
• The services were conducted in a casual and careless manner,
• As if anything would do for God.
With this attitude in the religious life:
• It was no surprise that it affected their moral life too.
• When people question the purpose of bothering about God,
• It's not long before they stop bothering to be godly.
• Or to put it more simply,
• When one generation is asking, 'Why bother about God?'
• The next generation will be asking, 'Why be good?'
Ill:
For example, even though they knew that trading on the Sabbath was wrong:
• They built their equivalent of out-of town supermarkets;
• Just outside the gates so they could open them on the Sabbath.
• Consumerism took over,
• With a devastating effect on family life.
• The question, 'Why be faithful to God?'
• Soon became 'Why be faithful to your wife?'
• Especially when your wife, gets older and loses her sex appeal.
• Why not trade her in for a newer model?
Furthermore, the nation was short of women following the return from Babylon,
• So they were marrying outside of the people of God.
• Not only were they divorcing and remarrying,
• But also they were remarrying non-Jewish women, in contravention of the Law of God.
• The city of Jerusalem was being filled with abandoned wives;
• And since there was no welfare state,
• Widows, orphans and abandoned wives had an especially hard time.
The people didn't have a government to blame:
• But they did have a God to blame,
• Which is precisely what they did.
• They said, 'God's not bothered about us, so we're not bothered about him.'
• It sounded very impressive.
• 'God has stopped loving us, so we've just stopped loving him.
• We can't believe in a God of love - just look at the situation we're in.
• We have to look after ourselves. He's abandoned us,
• So we might as well just look after number one.'
Their criticism of God had two sides to it.
• On the one hand they said, 'God doesn't reward good living',
• And on the other hand, 'He doesn't punish bad living. So why bother?'
• This was the situation that Malachi had to deal with.
• His prophecy is short and final.
• This was God’s last word to hi people for 400 years!
• Until John the Baptist would explode on the scene.
(3). The books writer:
• We know nothing about Malachi the person;
• He does not even tell us his father's name as prophets usually do.
This prophecy is anonymous:
• Most people think that 'Malachi' is the name of the author,
• But it's not actually a name at all - but a title.
• The word ‘Malachi’ simply means 'Messenger'.
• 'Malachi' is never used as a name anywhere else in the Old Testament,
• But the word is frequently translated as 'messenger' throughout our Old Testament;
• Even in this book (chapter 2 verse 7, chapter 3 verse 1) it is translated as 'messenger'.
• So Malachi is just an anonymous messenger, a 'nobody';
• Who brings God's last word to his people in Israel.
• The important thing about a messenger is the message.
• Malachi was concerned about being faithful, not being famous.
• Many Jewish scholars believe that the author was actually Ezra,
• But we have no evidence to decide one way or another.
The Books content: Chapter 1:
• Very much splits into two parts;
• Part 1: verses 1-5: They doubted God’s love.
(A). THEY DOUBTED GOD’S LOVE (VERSES 1-5).
• Malachi begins his prophecy, with the revelation of God's love for his people.
• But the people just couldn't see it.
(1). The quality of his love (verse 2):
• "'1 have loved you," says the Lord'.
• This was a burden of love.
• Our English language fails to convey adequately what is revealed here.
• The Hebrew tense implies continuity suggesting; ‘I have loved, I do love, I will love you’.
Ill:
• Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 3.
• "I have loved you with an everlasting love”;
Ill:
One day C. H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend.
• As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof.
• At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE.
• Spurgeon remarked to his companion;
• That he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message.
• “Weather vanes are changeable,” he said, “but God’s love is constant.”
• “I don’t agree with you about those words, Charles,” replied his friend.
• “You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth:
• Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love.”
Despite God's disappointment in us, his creatures:
• God's love continues to shower on us as the rain,
• Or shines on us as the sun, it is free and undeserved.
• It is completely unmerited on our part.
• God loves us despite our failings and shallowness and unfaithfulness to him!
Ill:
• The truth that God's love is independent of merit is obvious;
• By observing his dealings with his ancient people Israel.
This truth:
• Can also be a marvellous comfort, especially when we are aware of our sins.
• Our sins do not hinder God's love, but they do hinder our awareness of it.
• God corrects and chastens,
• But doesn't change his love - Hallelujah!
• Malachi tells the people; “God loves you!”
• But look how the people respond.
(B). They question of his love (verses 2.
Question:
• Why did they feel so unloved as to ask the question in verse 2:
• 'How have you loved us?'
Answer:
• Remember they were suffering economic hardships;
• And persistent opposition from their neighbours.
• It was these hard, difficult, depressing conditions;
• That was causing them to question the love .of God.
Quote: Corrie Ten Boom:
• Born April 15, 1892, in Amsterdam, Holland.
• She was the youngest of 3 sisters, 1 brother.
• Her father was a watchmaker.
• In 1922 Corrie became the first woman watchmaker to be licensed in Holland.
• In 1940 the Nazis invaded, and life would never be the same again!
• 1942 her family became very active in Dutch underground hiding refugees.
• 1944 the entire family was arrested, and sent first to Dutch prisons,
• Then finally to notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany.
• Where she was released by a clerks error;
• Just days after her sister Betsie ad died.
• Corrie writes in one of her many books;
• These telling words:
“Often I have heard people say, ‘How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!’ Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp.
I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there.
Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie,’ said Betsie, ‘He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.” ” Corrie concludes, “There is an ocean of God’s love available—there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love—whatever the circumstances.”
• The people of Malachi’s days;
• Were doubting God’s love.
Ill:
Story in a missionary magazine which read:
• While my husband Frank and I were living in Pakistan many years ago,
• Our six-month-old baby died.
• An old Punjabi who heard of our grief came to comfort us.
• “A tragedy like this is similar to being plunged into boiling water,” he explained.
• “If you are an egg, your affliction will make you hard-boiled and unresponsive.
• If you are a potato, you will emerge soft and pliable, resilient and adaptable.”
• The missionary concluded: “It may sound funny to God,
• But there have been times when I have prayed, ‘O Lord, let me be a potato.’”
Notice: how God answers their complaint (verses 2c-5):
"Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says. "Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals."
4 Edom may say, "Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins."
But this is what the LORD Almighty says: "They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD. 5 You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the LORD -even beyond the borders of Israel!'
• In answer to their question:
• God proves his love to them in two ways.
(1). He graciously chose Jacob, their father and rejected Esau;
• Nowhere in the Bible does it say Jacob was more worthy of God's love,
• Or more lovable than Esau;
• In fact if you read their life stories;
• Esau is in many ways a much better man than Jacob.
Verse 2
• 'Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated',
• Has been a problem verse to many Christians.
The contrast here between 'loved and hated';
• Is a Hebrew way of describing loving selection and calling,
• Rather than emotional feeling,
Ill:
The words of Jesus in Luke chapter 14 verse 26:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple”.
Jesus is not saying that a follower must dislike, detest, abhor, loathe their father, mother etc.
• The principle here is one of priorities.
• Jesus is saying he must be put before his father, mother, bothers, sisters etc.
So Malachi, like Jesus:
• Was using the Hebrew way of describing loving selection and calling,
• Rather than emotional feeling,
• God in his wisdom chose Jacob over Esau;
• Even though Jacob was a deceiver and in many ways an unpleasant character.
• Question: Why did he do it that way? Answer: I don’t know;
• Question: But here is a harder question: Why did God choose us to be among the elect?
Ill:
• The story is told of a group of theologians;
• Who were discussing the tension between predestination and free will.
• Things became so heated that the group broke up into two opposing factions.
• But one man, not knowing which to join, stood for a moment trying to decide.
• At last he joined the predestination group.
• “Who sent you here?” they asked.
• “No one sent me,” he replied. “I came of my own free will.”
• “Free will!” they exclaimed. “You can’t join us! You belong with the other group!”
• So he followed their orders and went to the other clique.
• There someone asked, “When did you decide to join us?”
• The young man replied, “Well, I didn’t really decide—I was sent here.”
• “Sent here!” they shouted. “You can’t join us unless you have decided by your own free will!”
Anyway; back to the passage:
• God says I do love you proof of that is;
• He graciously chose Jacob, their father and rejected Esau;
(2nd). He judged the Esau’s decedents (Edomites) and gave Israel the best land.
• He gave them a land flowing with milk and honey.
• They (the people) had polluted and destroyed the land by their sinful ways.
• Yet God in his goodness;
• Had restored them once again to their land and delivered them from captivity.
(2). They despised his name (verses 6-14).
6The LORD Almighty says to the priests: "A son honours his father, and a servant respects his master. I am your father and master, but where are the honour and respect I deserve? You have despised my name!
"But you ask, `How have we ever despised your name?'
7"You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
"Then you ask, `How have we defiled the sacrifices[c]?'
"You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. 8When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD Almighty.
In these verses God turns to the priests;
• Those who should have been the spiritual leaders of the land;
• But were behaving worse than the people.
• They were not honouring God’s name;
• They were taking the best of whatever they could for themselves.
• They did not value their spiritual privileges;
• And they were bringing to God the poorest animals available for sacrifice.
Such was the hypocrisy of the priests that in verse 10 God says:
“I wish that someone among you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered!”
• In other words God would rather have the temple closed;
• Than have to watch priests and the people ‘playing at religion’
Verse 11 is also a shocking rebuke to the people of God:
“But my name is honoured by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honour of my name. For my name is great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty”
• Whether this verse means that the heathen Gentiles were worshipping the true God;
• Is debatable – mixed interpretations.
• I think the point Malachi is making is;
• The heathen Gentiles were offering better sacrifices than his own people were.
• The gods of wood, silver and stone;
• That were dead and useless;
• Were receiving better sacrifices that the living God;
• The one who had delivered them from bondage. Maker of heaven & earth.
Punch-line to Malachi chapter 1 is:
• What are we offering to the Lord?
• Is it our best?
• Or are we giving him second or third or fourth best?
The people of Malachi’s days were careless – are we;
• Careless in their giving.
• Careless in their worship;
• Careless in their daily conduct.
• Careless with the Lord’s name (verse 11-12 & 14)
Question: What about us?
• As we sing our last hymn;
• I remind you of a quote by C.H. Spurgeon:
• “Christians don’t tell lies, they just sing them!”
