Untitled Sermon (10)

Intro.

Last week, we talked through some more of the things which the people of Israel and their leaders were guilty of.

Malachi 3:7–11 CSB

7 “Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return?” 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Armies.

What is their sin?

They were not giving their tithes

What made the tithes important?

It meant they were holding back from the LORD

The tithes were the income of the priests and Levites; they recieved no land inheritance.

It was to be used to help to poor and the alien and the helpless every three years

Then, in verse 10 we see the tone change for a moment. What does God command them to do?

Repent, give the tenth

What will happen when they do so?

Rain

Removing crop-eating bugs

Healthy crop

Speaking Against God

Malachi 3:13–15 CSB

13 “Your words against me are harsh,” says the Lord. Yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?” 14 You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Armies? 15 So now we consider the arrogant to be fortunate. Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God and escape.”

Now, we come to another point of guilt on the people of Israel that God is pointing out to them.

What is their sin here?

Speaking against God

Saying it is useless to follow God without getting something out of it.

What is wrong with their thinking here?

Ungrateful

Selfish

Celebrating wicked people and sins

In reading this I am reminded of a few passages from the Poetry of the OT.

Psalm 1:1 CSB

1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!

Psalm 37:1–15 CSB

1 Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. 2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants. 3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act, 6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. 7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. 8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. 9 For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there. 11 But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity. 12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him. 13 The Lord laughs at him because he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright. 15 Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Proverbs 24:1–2 CSB

1 Don’t envy the evil or desire to be with them, 2 for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.

The Israelite people had these texts! They should have known that God did not want them to view the ungodly in such high esteem, they should have known the end of their evil, and they also had the knowledge of the Patriarchs and their lives with God as examples!

So it is also with us, we do not have any excuse for ever adopting this frame of mind, seeing as God has told us and shown us how much better it is to serve God in struggle than to be wicked in prosperity!

The Remnant Speak

And yet, now we read something very hopeful among all this negativity:

Malachi 3:16–18 CSB

16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies, “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

in verse 16, two big things happen — can you see what they are?

There are still some righteous people left, and they take notice about what is going on.

God takes note of them and their desire to serve Him

Then, as we see God taking note of those who are faithful among all this wickedness and unfaithfulness, He makes a promise: “When I come to judge, I will remember and have regard for you.” (v. 17)

What is the intended end of this promise God makes?

To make it clear that God grants favor to the faithful

To make it clear that there is a difference between the righteous and the wicked.

Can we tell the difference in the righteous and the wicked in our own generation?

Do you think maybe believers today fall to this same line of thinking?

Brothers and sisters — our day is wicked. It always has been. Yet those who persevere and remain “faithful unto death” as the Lord says in Revelation God will always remember you!

He is your God, you are His sons on whom He desires to have mercy!

Paul says the things written beforehand (our Old Testament) are for our instruction. So, what can we learn from this?

Do not desire to be like the world, nor hold it in esteem.

Be grateful for the blessings of God and serve Him faithfully.

Know for certain that as the world around is wicked, and being faithful seems to be of no avail at times that God sees you! And He is taking notice and favors those who are righteous!