Malachi - Cameron Jungles - 9-4-2013 PM

Honoring God’s Covenant: The Message of Malachi (Eastside Baptist/Wed PM/Sept. 4, 2013)

 

Setting and Context

Ø  Malachi, the prophet

§  “My Messenger”

§  Ministered in Jerusalem in post-exilic Judah

§  After Haggai, Zechariah

Ø  Roughly 515 to 457 B.C.

§  Before reforms of Ezra (in 457)

Ø  Spiritual apathy and disobedience to the covenant from apparent unfulfilled promises. People thought God had forsaken them.

Ø  Message: God loves his people; he is worthy of honor from his people, expressed in true worship and obedience to his covenant.

 

Structure & Message

Ø  Malachi the Prophet (1:1)

Ø  Series of 6 Disputes (1:2-4:3)

§  Six disputes revolve around the peoples’ assumption that God did not love them and their resulting unfaithfulness to the covenant.

Ø  The Law and the Prophets (Moses and Elijah, 4:4-6)

 

God Loves Israel (1:2-5)

Ø  Though the people questioned God’s love, God affirms his abiding love and commitment to his people.

§  Demonstrated in his electing love of Jacob over Esau and in his judgment on Edom (Esau) in fulfillment of Obadiah’s message.

 

Unacceptable Worship (1:6-2:9)

Ø  Ironically, it was Judah who wasn’t loving and honoring God.

Ø  Priests were dishonoring God by offering blemished animals as sacrifices.

Ø  Demonstrating disloyalty to their covenant with God.

Ø  Called to repent and honor God.

 

Unfaithful Spouses (2:10-16)

Ø  Disloyalty to God’s covenant expressed in their disloyalty to their marriage covenants.

Ø  Guilty of divorcing Hebrew wives and intermarrying with foreign women, resulting in idolatry.

Ø  Religious rituals will not cover up for blatant disobedience.

 

Hypocritical Complaints (2:17-3:5)

Ø  Complaining about the lack of God’s justice against evil.

Ø  Meanwhile they were guilty of polluted worship and injustice.

Ø  In answer to their request, God promises to come in judgment and restore pure worship and true justice.

 

 

A Call to Return to God (3:6-12)

Ø  “Return to me, and I will return to you.”

Ø  How should they repent?

Ø  Stop robbing God and bring their tithes and offerings to the temple, so that the Levites and the poor may have their needs met.

 

Illegitimate Complaints (3:13-4:3)

Ø  Their complaints that God did not love them and that God was not justly punishing the wicked were illegitimate.

Ø  God will come in his time and his way and judge the arrogant wicked and will come as the “sun of righteousness” for his people.

 

Last Words (4:4-6)

Ø  Malachi points the people back to the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).

Ø  People are urged to keep the Torah covenant (Moses), and a second Elijah will come before the Day of the LORD.

 

Important Themes

Ø  God’s love for his people is unfailing, even when present circumstances seem like God is far away.

Ø  God is worthy of honor and deserves love and loyalty from his people.

Ø  That love and loyalty should be expressed in:

§  Faithful obedience to covenant

§  True, loyal, fervent worship

§  Faithfulness to marriage vows

§  Love and justice to neighbors and poor

§  Not resting on religious ritual

 

“Jesus Lens” and Application

Ø  The promised Elijah did come in the person of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the coming of the Lord.

Ø  God demonstrated his love by sending Jesus as the “sun of righteousness” with healing in his wings for those who trust in him.

Ø  Jesus’ first coming brought healing and salvation, but it will be his second coming that will bring final justice and the Day of the LORD.

Ø  In the meantime, we who trust in Christ should honor him with true worship and love, loyal obedience, and love for our neighbors.