Q#1 - How have You loved us? (1:2)
The question seems to deserve an answer like, "Are you serious?" But there are times when the love of God seems distant at best. Israel had been through some of those times (due, in large, part to her own sins) but rather than blow off the question, God answered with, "Remember Jacob and Esau." God has chosen Israel from among al the nations to be His special people; and, despite centuries of rebellion, God has protected and preserved them, even to this day. He loves them.
With so much evil in our world, including the persecution and suffering of many believers around the world, the same question is often asked today. But God's love is still evident. At the individual level, just like Jacob and Esau, God has chosen each and every believer and will preserve them all until His return. On the larger scale, God's love is evident in so many ways despite the darkness of evil around us. For an example, take three minutes to watch http://youtu.be/BZrb45SeJXE, especially the comments beginning around the 2:09 mark.
Qs#2&3 - How have we shown contempt for Your name? (1:6) How have we defiled You? (1:7)
As I pointed out in my last post, Israel had failed to "bring her A-game" in worship. God took this personally and challenged them, "When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" (1:8)
Contempt for God's name is so prevalent in our culture we've probably just grown used to it and might all ask the same questions. In addition to my thoughts in that last post, I'll just jump on one little soapbox here… OMG! Could we please eradicate the expression those letters stand for from our habits of speech? I find it highly offensive and I believe God does, too. Ok, moving on…
Q#4 - Why [do You not listen to us]? (2:14)
God gives a straight up answer to this one: "Because you don't take the sanctity of marriage seriously." There is no cultural gap of application here. Divorce rates continuing to hover around 50% for first marriages (even among believers) and society is seeking to completely redefine this most sacred of all human institutions. As I watch even my close friends suffer through heart-wrenching family break-ups, I weep and pray… and hope God is still listening.
Q#5 - How have we wearied [You]? (2:17)
God doesn't get tired, right? Well, according to Malachi, He gets tired of hearing people justify bad behavior and complain when He doesn't serve up justice according to their standards. Eventually, we're going to wear out His patience. (3:1-5) True justice is coming, "But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears?" (3:2)
I think the words of Jude apply: "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life… show mercy, mixed with fear… To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
Q#8 - What have we said against You? (3:13)
According to Malachi, the offending verbiage was, "It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?" Not many of us dare to say it out loud, but I suspect most of us have had the thought cross our minds. "What good is it?" "Why do I try so hard to serve God?" We even find ourselves envious of the wicked like Asaph in Psalm 73.
Before we speak rashly against the Lord, let's remember the promise at the end of Malachi: "You will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." Even if we don't see it now, as the old song says, "It will be worth it all."
Qs#6&7 - How are we to return? (3:7) How do we rob You? (3:8)
Ah, finally a good question! And yes, I switched the order of the final inquiries so I could end on a positive note!
In Israel's case, the path home led by the collection box. The Law required each citizen to give a tithe of various resources at the temple to support the work of the priests. In return for this simple act of obedience, God promised abundance. But the people had decided they would rather keep their ten percent than trust God for His blessing. The result? "You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me." (3:9)
How do WE return? Well, a lot could and probably should be said about tithing in our churches today. Times are tough. But is that an excuse to withhold from God what He expects us to give in support of the ministries we benefit from? Is it better to play it safe and pretend we can manage our money better than God can?
I say we, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." because God says, "Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (3:10)
Any questions?
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