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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Introduction

His name means “Messenger of Jehovah.”

God sent this messenger to confront the people of Judah with their sins and restore their relationship with God. He described his words as a “burden,” which means “a weighty message” or a “judicial sentence.” His words reminded them of their willful disobedience and that God was not pleased with their actions.

We will see where he also tells the remnant who loved and honored God that God would bless them.

Malachi is the last of God’s prophets to speak until John the Baptist arrives on the scene about 400 years later.

Last week we began to look at some questions that God accused His people of posing:

I.         QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

The questions around which this book is built are those that the prophet attributes to the apostate Israelites of his day. These questions may or may not have been voiced verbally, but God certainly knew that they were on their hearts.

            A.        “Wherein Hast Thou Loved Us?” (1:2-5)

The proof to these Israelites should have been obvious in their family history.

                        God said, “I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau.”              

                        God made Israel the everlasting nation, not Edom.

            B.        “Wherein Have We Despised Thy Name?” (1:6-2:9)

They were offering imperfect sacrifices–blind, lame, and sick animals–and God was not pleased.

Worship was no longer coming from the priest’s or the people’s love or adoration for God. It had simply become a job to the priests and was just dead religion for the people.

When they accepted imperfect sacrifices from the people, they were leading the people to believe that this was acceptable with God.

That is where we left off last week. Tonight we want to look at some more questions the people of God posed to God.

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            C.        “Wherefore?” or “Wherefore Have We Dealt Treacherously Every Man Against His Brother?” (2:10-16)

The people were being unfaithful. Although they did not openly say that they rejected God, they were living as if He did not exist.

Just as the priests had destroyed God’s covenant with Levi, the people had violated other of God’s covenants by intermarrying with the heathen who worshiped other gods.

Also they were putting away their own wives so that they could enter into new marriages with these heathen women. Divorce was becoming commonplace and occurring for no reason other than discontentment and a desire for change.

                        The bottom line is that God hates divorce and God hates unfaithfulness!

In verse 14, the answer to their question is that God was a witness to their treachery.

            D.        “Wherein Have We Wearied Him?” (2:17–3:6)      

                        2:17

                        The Israelite attitude was reprehensible in God’s sight.

The people had become practical atheists. They lived their lives as if God did not exist as they snubbed the idea that their sin would be judged.

They mistook God’s longsuffering either as an indication of God’s approval of their actions or as an indication that He didn’t exist.

                        God was tired of the way His people had twisted His truths.. 

                        3:1

                        The first messenger here is speaking of John the Baptist.

The coming of this messenger was to be the first of a twofold eschatological event.

John the Baptist preached against moral decline and against hollow religious formality, thus preparing the way for Christ’s first appearance.

                        3:2-6

                        The second step would be the coming of the Lord in His day. (i.e. judgment.)

                        God will bring about all His promises to Israel because He is immutable!

            E.        “Wherein Shall We Return?” (3:7-12)

This question shows that the people did not agree with God’s assessment that they had gone astray.

The proof that they had gone astray was that they had ignored God’s command to give a tithe of their income to His temple.

            F.        “What Have We Spoken So Much Against Thee?” (3:13-15)

                        Vs. 13-15

                        These verses describe their arrogant attitude toward God.

                        When we ask “What good does it do to worship God?” we are being selfish.

                        We must worship God just because of Who He is! He deserves to be worshiped!

II.       THE FAITHFUL FEW. (3:16-4:6)

            3:16-18

God will remember those who remain faithful to Him–who fear, love, honor, and respect Him.

            4:1

            Judgment is coming to the wicked!

            4:2-6

            Those who fear the Lord will experience His blessings.

            These last verses are filled with hope.

            Regardless of how life looks now, God is in control of everything including the future!

            Those who love and serve God can look forward to a joyful celebration.

Conclusion 

So that concludes our study of the Old Testament Prophets.

So what is our faithfulness to God like? Is it genuine or is it feigned? Is it in truth or is it in hypocrisy? God knows!

We can fool others and may even fool ourselves, but God knows our hearts!

The Messiah is coming again one day soon! The question is, are you ready for His appearing?

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!