Divine Love & Hatred
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Connection:
Q - Have you ever heard someone proclaim something like the following statement: “I could never believe in that sort of a God!—in a God who chooses who will be saved, and who chooses who will be damned! That God would be an evil monster!”?
Whenever I hear things of this nature I tremble within! Knowing that the Scripture teaches both realities, of God’s electing grace and reprobating wrath—whenever someone boldly blasphemes against God’s divine right in these things, it makes me wonder: are they simply ignorant of the Scriptures? or do they know the Word and yet choose to disbelieve it? or are they deceived and worshipping another god and imagination of the heart of man? It is never a good thing to rail against the wisdom of God—none can avail against the sovereign Lord!
Brothers and sisters, if there is one thing that is certain, it is this: who are you o man to answer back to God? If God has spoken and decreed such things, even of election and reprobation, then all mankind is required to submit to them in faith. Let us not harden our hearts through unbelief. But let us press onward to know the deep things of God revealed to us in Holy Scripture, which have been spoken for our good!
Need:
We need to be assured of God’s electing love, and warned of God’s reprobating hatred. And so the controversial subject for this evening’s Bible Study is:
Theme:
Divine Love & Hatred
Purpose:
To assure God’s elect of God’s love and to warn God’s enemies of God’s hatred. And we’ll see tonight that God speaks such things through the prophet Malachi in order to calm the fretful hearts of his children.
Recap:
Last week we began with the opening of the Book of Malachi (which was God’s final Word in the OT era to his people who had been gathered back into the promised land after a time of exile). We saw that Israel had become corrupted in their religion; they had become cold and callused toward the LORD; and they were suffering in consequence of their rebellion and disloyalty. God has promised such rich blessings—but they weren’t experiencing them. They were in disarray, in a fog, in a miry bog.
And yet the Book of Malachi comes to both assure the saints of God’s love in the coming Christ; and to warn the wicked of their rebellion and evil ways, calling them to repentance and true religion. Malachi is purposed toward stoking into flame true, pure, and holy religion through Jesus Christ. So as we continue this evening, may we come to know, love, worship, and serve our God in the splendour of holiness, and the assurance of faith—even as we come to tread upon holy ground as we meditate on the deep things of election and reprobation, from the whole counsel of God!
Read Text:
Malachi 1:2-5 ESV
Kaiser: The theme of Malachi’s first message is the theme of the whole book, “I have loved you, says the Lord” (1:2). Like a banner over a Bible conference, this theme of the love of God must stand as the masthead over every page. His banner over us is love!
And so on this note, let’s open together in prayer, praying for the Spirit’s light and heat!
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY
And so firstly, we see the biblical doctrines of:
(1) Election & Reprobation from God’s Sovereign Will - v. 2-3.
(1) Election & Reprobation from God’s Sovereign Will - v. 2-3.
“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”
(1) Election & Reprobation from God’s Sovereign Will - v. 2-3.
(1) Election & Reprobation from God’s Sovereign Will - v. 2-3.
I will never forget when I read the following story from CH Spurgeon: *****************
And so, this book opens up for us:
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.
Israel had been backsliding and had become cold and callused toward the LORD. But they were still the beloved people of God. They were still his holy kingdom of priests. They were still a people set apart for his own possession. They were still the visible Church of God, the Congregation of the OT. And so God begins this sharp book by first reminding them of who they are, before He rebukes them for what they aren’t. “I have loved you!”. But this rebellious people was full of doubt….
But you say, “How have you loved us?”
And it doesn’t seem that this question is one of humble shock: how could you love us? A sinful people! But rather one of doubtful demand: how do we know that you love us? Show us some proof!
Remember the people of God at this time were disillusioned because it seemed that God’s promises weren’t coming to pass—even though the people were hindering God’s work through their sin—they still expected latter-day-glory. But because they weren’t experiencing this, they cry out in despair: how have you loved us, Lord? where is the proof!
And so the Lord responds to their question by posing them a question and then a silencing statement:
“Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated.
You all remember who Jacob and Esau were… the twins born to Isaac and Rebekah. We read of their story in Genesis 25 where we see that:
The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
Though neither Jacob nor Esau had been born yet—while the children were struggling in the womb—the LORD chose the older son, Esau, to serve the younger son, Jacob. In a divine reversal, when the firstborn should have been the heir—the second-born got the blessing. And the Apostle Paul picks up on this passage and refers to it, while quoting from Mal. 1, to defend the doctrine of unconditional election:
For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
In love, God predestines! And this brings us all the way back to our text for this evening: I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated!
Calvin: God preferred Jacob to his brother, the first-born, but not on account of any merit: if then the free mercy of God availed so much in the election of Jacob, it follows that the same still prevails with regard to his posterity. If it be again asked, whence comes it that some are [elect] and others are reprobate, the answer is, because it so pleases God. Hence Paul ascends higher and says, that before they were born, and had done neither good nor evil, it was said, the elder shall serve the younger; and then he brings forward this prophecy—“Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” … It seems hard to many, that God should choose some and not all, and that he should regard no worthiness, but of his own free will choose whom he pleases, and reject others. But whence comes this objection, except that they wish to restrain God and subject him to their own judgment?
Who can limit the Almighty? By grace alone, in predestining love, God chose Jacob to the heir of the promises, and his offspring after him. What is the proof that God has loved Israel? God chose Jacob, their forefather, by divine election—and promised that his covenant mercy would flow through his offspring in the saving blessings of God’s grace! They are beloved for the sake of their forefathers as Paul writes in Rom. 11. This we see in Gen. 35:
God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.”
The channel of God’s saving purposes, of election, of salvation, and of redemption—would flow through the lineage of Jacob, not through Esau. Esau was rejected, he sold his birthright, and God fit him as a vessel of wrath. Jacob was loved by God, but Esau was hated. And because Jacob was loved—Israel could know that they were loved too, because the promise was not simply for Jacob, but for his children as well, to a thousand generation of those who love God and keep his commandments!
Election flows within the vein of God’s covenant. But not all in the Abrahamic covenant were elect (Jacob and Esau were both born of Isaac), Esau was Jacob’s brother—but Jacob was loved, and Esau was hated; Jacob was one of the elect, but Esau was a reprobate. God’s choice is the ultimate determiner of salvation—but the proof that God still loved Israel, was because He promised his love and saving blessings to flow through Jacob and unto His Offspring and Nation.
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers…
But on the flip side, because Esau was rejected, and left to act in his rebellion and sin, God poured out his judgments upon him and his posterity. The nation that would come from Esau was an accursed nation indeed! Jacob would be blessed, but Esau would be cursed.
The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened.
Our text continues: I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”
And so in the rest of the prophetic literature of the OT Edom (the descendants of Esau) lies cursed, scorned, and shall be ruined and judged by God (both historically, and eternally). This text indeed preaches the double edges sword of election & reprobation—of salvation & damnation. May we take it’s teaching to the heart!
Before moving on—I would like us to read three paragraph’s from Calvary’s statement of faith for the Eldership:
V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace.c (a. Rom 8:30; Eph 1:4, 9, 11; 1 Thes 5:9; 2 Tim 1:9. • b. Rom 9:11, 13, 16; Eph 1:4, 9. • c. Eph 1:6, 12).
VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice. (a. Mat 11:25-26; Rom 9:17-18, 21-22; 2 Tim 2:19-20; 1 Pet 2:8; Jude 1:4).
VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel. (a. Deut 29:29; Rom 9:20. • b. 2 Pet 1:10. • c. Rom 11:33; Eph 1:6. • d. Luke 10:20; Rom 8:33; 11:5-6, 20; 2 Pet 1:10).
Let us not forget that God opens up Malachi, proclaiming this divine love, this sovereign grace, and this unconditional election—to comfort his people and saints who are true Israelites indeed! And this is God’s heart for us too, that we would rest in His eternal and unshakeable and immutable love for us in Jesus!
From our passage we learn firstly of:
(1) Election & Reprobation from God’s Sovereign Will - v. 2-3.
Q - Any questions or comments about this first point or verses 2-3?
Well let’s continue on now, and speed along quickly through the 2nd and 3rd points:
(2) National Judgments by God’s Providential Reign - v. 4.
(2) National Judgments by God’s Providential Reign - v. 4.
If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ”
(2) National Judgments by God’s Providential Reign - v. 4.
(2) National Judgments by God’s Providential Reign - v. 4.
Continuing on, God describes the fruit of Esau’s reprobation, and the national judgments that shall fall upon the people of Edom for their sin:
4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,”
God has pronounced his curse upon Edom—and if Edom tries to forget this, and build up a city of sin, God will not allow it. He has spoken and he will not turn back. He will not show mercy to the wicked descendents of Esau in the land of Edom! For:
the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ”
Like the Tower of Babel, it doesn’t matter what sinful man tries to do! They may build, but God will tear down. They may seek to restore their land, but God over overturn their foolish desires. They will never be known as a city of renown—they will be known as the wicked country—and the eternal burnings of God’s wrath will come against them for their sin, as they walk in the sins of their forefather Esau, who despised the Lord his God. As Job exclaims in his sorrow:
If [God] tears down, none can rebuild;
if he shuts a man in, none can open.
And thus… God’s Prophetic Word has spoken—Esau I have hated:
RSB: Like love, hatred is not merely an emotion but a covenantal term that includes the actions that flow from it. It is not merely that Esau (and the nation that comes from him, Edom) suffers the absence or lessening of blessing, but that he receives judgment that works its way out in the course of history. (Ps. 5:5; Is. 61:8; Hos. 9:15; Amos 5:21; Mal. 2:16).
For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens;
behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom,
upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
Night and day it shall not be quenched;
its smoke shall go up forever.
From generation to generation it shall lie waste;
none shall pass through it forever and ever.
Though the Church of Israel is the covenant people of God for all generations—Esau is the assembly of the wicked, which was consumed by God’s fury—and interestingly the nation of Edom was obliterated in AD 70 according to history. Which teaches us that…..
God judges nations—God judges peoples—God judges lands—God judges countries (Rom. 1-2). And his judgments are righteous and true. Let all people turn from their evil ways, especially the nation of Canada—lest God’s curses continue to consume our land, lets God’s judgments continues to ruin our Christian Heritage (Ps. 72). In our passage we see secondly:
(2) National Judgments by God’s Providential Reign - v. 4.
Q - Any questions or comments about these national judgments of God?
And in our last main point then for this evening, we see:
(3) Personal Exultation in God’s Greatness and Glory - v. 5.
(3) Personal Exultation in God’s Greatness and Glory - v. 5.
Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”
(3) Personal Exultation in God’s Greatness and Glory - v. 5.
(3) Personal Exultation in God’s Greatness and Glory - v. 5.
How would you respond to these truths? How would you respond to God telling you that he has elected his people by unconditional love, that he has reprobated all the rest who are dead in their sins and willing slaves to evil, and that his judgments are going to fall upon the nations who do not serve the LORD God? How are you responding to these truths even now? This is how you and I ought to respond:
5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord
What other way is there to respond than to worship the living God? What other way is there to respond than to cast down our crowns, to relinquish human pride, to reject fleshly efforts—to ascribe all glory to God—that salvation is of the LORD—and that from him, and through him, and to him are all things, to God be the glory—Great is the Lord! And to say with the Psalmist:
Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
Henry: God’s goodness being his glory, when he does us good we must proclaim him great, for that is magnifying him. It is an instance of his goodness that he has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants, and for this those that love his salvation say, ‘The Lord be magnified’ Ps. 35:27.
But God isn’t only great in the Church of Israel, in the People of God! He’s also great to the ends of the earth:
beyond the border of Israel!”
God is great in saving nations, in judging nations—and in ruling over all things for the glory of His Son, who is seated on High with all things under his feet! He is conquering his enemies and saving his elect people. God is great is his severity and in his goodness—among his people and in all the world! As we’ll see soon in the book of Malachi:
For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
Poole: Let the Lord be magnified, let his name be great and his praise great for his free love to Israel, for his great displeasure against the border of wickedness, [and] for his truth in both.
As we deal with these mysterious truths—let us examine our hearts in our response. Can we say with our Lord:
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Can we say with our text, and with the Psalmist, in light of these great truths:
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!
We see in our text that we ought to possess and express a:
(3) Personal Exultation in God’s Greatness and Glory - v. 5.
Q - Any questions or comments about the author of this book?
So let us come to a few moments of applications then from our passage:
(A) Uses and Applications from our Text:
(A) Uses and Applications from our Text:
(i) Instruction, (ii) Consolation, (iii) Exhortation, (iv) Admonition, (v) Examination, and (vi) Glorification.
(A) Uses and Applications from our Text:
(A) Uses and Applications from our Text:
(i) Instruction in the hard truth of divine election & reprobation—and it’s blessings and curses.
Though these truths can be difficult, they are necessary for our sanctification and growth in grace and knowledge. We must not fight against them, but submit to them as God’s fatherly will for our lives:
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Instead of kicking against the goad, let’s glory in the mercy of God in Christ. Dear Christian—God has had mercy on you!
(ii) Consolation to the elect of God, who are loved and chosen unconditionally in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let this truth of election ground your faith. You aren’t the reason you’re a Christian—God is! You were dead in sin—but God made you alive together with Christ! By grace you are saved, through faith, and this is NOT of yourselves, lest any may should be! Rest in God’s electing love to you dear Christian:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
You are loved in the Beloved Son of God! So:
(ii) Exhortation to the people of God to live by faith and to not doubt or question the love of God for us.
The people of God in our passage were going through grand trials of faith. Body and soul. Internal and external. And yet, they should never have doubted God’s love which is eternal in Christ for the saints!
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Kaiser: We must be careful not to doubt [God’s] love just because we may be in some affliction, like the struggling remnant of Malachi’s day. When God says that he has loved us in the past and has continued to love us in the present, we must believe him instead of insultingly demanding, “Where is the proof?”
Instead of seeings trials as denials of God’s love—see them as proofs of God’s love:
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
(iv) Admonition to those who sell their birthrights like Esau, and who rebel against the Great God of Jacob.
Esau was born into the church of the OT, he was visibly a part of the people of God, as a son of Abraham. He was a child of the promise—but he rejected the promise…
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
We must not foolishly turn aside from the Lord Jesus Christ, and so prove our unregenerate hearts. We must cling to our birthright in the Lord Jesus, who causes us to be born again unto a living hope. Let us persevere in faith and repentance—and so received the promised blessing of God. But because of this warning….
(v) Examination of our lives as to whether or not we are elect or reprobates; whether God loves us or hates us.
How can we know if we are like Jacob, or like Esau? How can we know if we are in Christ, or in Adam? How can we know if we are elect or a reprobate? By their fruits you shall know them. Let us examine ourselves:
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Brothers, if we are living in faith, in repentance, and in the fruit of the Spirit—then we can know that we are elect of God, in the full assurance of faith, and that we are safe in the arms of King Jesus—who loses none of his own. But be warned—it is possible to be deceived. So ensure that you test your faith and life by the measure of Scripture—and not by anything else. May we all be found in Christ on the last day, by grace alone, in the power of the Spirit—and enter into the eternal kingdom of glory.
(vi) Glorification of the LORD who is great in grace toward his elect, and great in wrath toward his enemies.
God has infinite and immeasurable riches of grace and kindness toward us who are in Jesus. Oh let us glory in the Cross! Let us glory in God’s love! Let us glory in the Spirit. let us give all the glory to our Triune God!
The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
(A) Uses and Applications from our Text:
Q - Any questions or comments about these applications from our text?
Well then, let us hear our final conclusion:
(C) Divine Love is Lavished on the Elect of God and Divine Hatred is Laid upon the Enemies of God—So Let us Cry out: Great is the LORD!
(C) Divine Love is Lavished on the Elect of God and Divine Hatred is Laid upon the Enemies of God—So Let us Cry out: Great is the LORD!
Tis not that I did choose thee, for Lord that could not be; this heart would still refuse thee, hadst thou not chosen me. Thou from the sin that stained me, hast cleansed and set me free; of old thou hast ordained me, that I should live to thee; To God be the glory, great things He has done!
(C) Divine Love is Lavished on the Elect of God and Divine Hatred is Laid upon the Enemies of God—So Let us Cry out: Great is the LORD!
(C) Divine Love is Lavished on the Elect of God and Divine Hatred is Laid upon the Enemies of God—So Let us Cry out: Great is the LORD!
Q - Any final questions or comments for this evening, from Mal. 1:2-5?
Amen, let’s pray.
