Major Messages from the Minor Prophets: You Have Wearied Me — Malachi

The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “And he said, Hear you now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?” (, NIV). What does it mean to weary God? The same thing it means to weary men. We exasperate them, we annoy them, we aggravate them, we enfuriate them. When Malachi uses the world weary in this verse, he is not implying that God becomes physically tired. God is a Spirit, and does not grow weary as in aching muscles, and sore joints. But God can be exasperated, and annoyed, and aggravated, and infuriated by the behavior of His people.

The great Old Testament example of this is found in Deuteronomy chapter 9. It’s one of those “You-didn’t-know-it-them,-but-let-me-now-tell-you-now” moments. Moses is preaching a series of sermons to the people of Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land. This is a whole new generation. Their parents were the ones who left Egypt as slaves. They’ve all died and this second generation of Hebrews are about to take possession of the land God will give them. In Moses recounts the story of meeting God at Mt. Horeb, and the “Golden Calf” incident. He tells them,

“Remember this and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the LORD ... 13 And the LORD said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! 14 Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.” (, , NIV84)

As we arrive at Malachi’s era, it’s 900 years past the “Golden Calf” incident and God’s Covenant People are still exasperating Him. The Prophet is blunt in 2:17 ... “You have wearied the Lord ... “

They’ve Wearied with Their Divided Hearts

• They’ve Wearied with Their Divorces

They’ve Wearied with Their Divorces

• They’ve Wearied with Their Doubts

They’ve Wearied with Their Doubts

• They’ve Wearied with Their Dishonesty and Theft

They’ve Wearied with Their Dishonesty and Theft

They’ve Wearied with Their Disillusionment and Cynicism

• They’ve Wearied with Their Disillusionment and Cynicism

I. GOD IS WEARIED BY THEIR DIVIDED HEARTS 2:10-11

1. idol worship has remained an issue among God’s covenant people

a. they had not ceased their worship of Yahweh, but they had added other gods to their pantheon, and this resulted in a divided heart

their pantheon, and this resulted in a divided heart

b. faithlessness to the Father has consequences

1) when the people broke faith with God, they also broke faith with each other

2. the reason behind their idolatry is that Jewish men have been marrying non-Jewish women who then introduced pagan worship to their husbands

women who then introduced pagan worship to their husbands

a. Israelites were forbidden to marry those who were devotees of pagan gods

“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. 16 And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.” (, NIV84)

“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,” (, NIV84)

• “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,” (, NIV84)

1) Malachi points out three terrible truths about these unlawful marriages

A. THE COVENANT DENIED

“Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?” (, NIV84)

1. God was the father of Israel — He had created this special nation at Mt. Sinai

a. the rhetorical question “Is there not one father to all of us?” is stressing the uniqueness of Israel as a nation

uniqueness of Israel as a nation

2. if in fact Israel was a special creation of God, a holy family, the prophet asks “Why do we deal treacherously each man with his brother?”

we deal treacherously each man with his brother?”

a. Malachi is referring to the sin of intermarriage which defiles, the covenant that Israel had so eagerly agreed to at Mt. Sinai

had so eagerly agreed to at Mt. Sinai

“When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” (, NIV84)

3. the practice was a menace to the distinctive faith which was the basis of God’s covenant with Israel as well as the national existence

covenant with Israel as well as the national existence

a. to marry pagan unbelievers was a denial of their covenant with God

B. THE NATION DEFILED

“Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.” (, NIV84)

1. God condemns the intermarriage of His covenant people with the pagan people around them in the strongest terms possible

around them in the strongest terms possible

a. the NIV quotes God as saying, A detestable thing has been committed in Israel

b. the word detestable is actually the word abomination — a much stronger word

1) an abomination is an action so evil that God finds it repulsive

2. holiness is a fundamental attribute of God

a. because Yahweh is holy, his people were to be holy — set apart from the world of sin in all areas of their lives, including marriage

sin in all areas of their lives, including marriage

b. such marriages had always been condemned because of the danger of seduction into idolatry

into idolatry

c. now, however, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god, the holiness of the nation had been violated

had been violated

C. THE PERPETRATORS DENOUNCED

“As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty.” (, NIV84)

1. those who continue in this practice will find themselves and their descendants cut off and deprived of their position as members of the covenant nation

and deprived of their position as members of the covenant nation

II. GOD IS WEARIED BY THEIR DIVORCES 2:12-16

“Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. 15 Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.” (, NIV84)

1. the real problem expressed in theses verse is not divorce per-se, but the trivializing of the marriage covenant

the marriage covenant

a. the result is that one’s worship is affected

b. God announces, Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears, you give your offerings, but God ignores both, and you can’t figure out why

give your offerings, but God ignores both, and you can’t figure out why

c. you want to know why? ... you have broken faith with ... the wife of your marriage covenant

covenant

2. divorce under the law of Moses was permitted

a. if a husband found some indecency in his wife he was permitted to send her away so long as he provided her with a legal document declaring her to be a free woman

so long as he provided her with a legal document declaring her to be a free woman

1) remarriage following such a lawful divorce was permitted ()

b. unlawful divorce would be the casting off of a wife for any reason other than indecent behavior

indecent behavior

1) that begs the question: What is considered “indecent behavior?”

ILLUS. The Jews were still struggling with this 400 years later in Jesus’ day. One school of thought, the more conservative one, said that “indecent behavior” was adultery and that was the only reason a man could divorce his wife. The liberal opinion was that trivial things, such as burning the husband’s meal one too many times was an “indecent behavior” and grounds for divorce if the husband so chose.

school of thought, the more conservative one, said that “indecent behavior” was adultery and that was the only reason a man could divorce his wife. The liberal opinion was that trivial things, such as burning the husband’s meal one too many times was an “indecent behavior” and grounds for divorce if the husband so chose.

2) evidently one of the things that was happening was that Jewish husbands were casting off their Jewish wives for the surrounding pagan women for no reason what-so-ever

casting off their Jewish wives for the surrounding pagan women for no reason what-so-ever

3. unlawful divorce was another sin against the covenant which had become common in the postexilic community

the postexilic community

a. Malachi says that God, Himself, is a witness to their scandalous behavior, the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her ... Has not the LORD made them one?

LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her ... Has not the LORD made them one?

b. the prophet accuses these Jewish husbands of breaking faith with their wives

1) it’s literally dealing treacherously

2) to renege on the covenant vows of marriage is to be a traitor to the vows and to one’s spouse, and even to the God who witnessed those vows

to one’s spouse, and even to the God who witnessed those vows

c. the language indicates the seriousness of divorce

ILLUS. In the ancient world women were virtually destitute after divorce, especially if they had no male children to care for them. Casting off such a faithful spouse to satisfy the lust of the flesh is therefore considered by God a treacherous act.

they had no male children to care for them. Casting off such a faithful spouse to satisfy the lust of the flesh is therefore considered by God a treacherous act.

4. and, just in case they don’t get it, God blunting declares, in vs. 16 I hate divorce

a. God concludes by telling these men, So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith

break faith

III. GOD IS WEARIED BY THEIR DOUBTS

Malachi 2:17 ESV

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

“You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” (, NIV84)

1. the people of the postexilic community also stood guilty before God of terrible sins

a. the national revival that took place under Zechariah had been short-lived

2. Israel has fallen back into old practices, and they’ve wearied God

a. they’ve wearied God with their divided hearts

b. they’ve wearied God with their divorces

c. they’ve wearied God with their doubts ... and more on top of these

3. in vs. 17 we see that doubt and skepticism wearies God

A. THE COMPLAINT OF THE PEOPLE (2:17)

1. the Prophet tells them “You have wearied Yahweh with your words”

a. again the people feigned innocence, and demanded proof, saying “Wherein have we wearied him?”

we wearied him?”

2. Malachi offered as proof the fact that they were alleging, “Everyone who does evil is good in the eyes of Yahweh”

good in the eyes of Yahweh”

a. this is the age-old complaint: the wicked prosper while the righteous are in low estate

estate

1) the Jews are essentially saying to God, “Lord, we’re the ‘good guys’ ... we’re your covenant people, and we have faithfully served You, yet we’re suffering while our pagan neighbors are prospering ... What gives?

covenant people, and we have faithfully served You, yet we’re suffering while our pagan neighbors are prospering ... What gives?

b. the Jew’s underlying assumption here is that prosperity always results from divine blessing and implies divine approval, while poverty and misfortune always results from divine cursing and implies divine disapproval

blessing and implies divine approval, while poverty and misfortune always results from divine cursing and implies divine disapproval

1) since Israel is struggling and their pagan neighbors are prospering, then ipso facto, God must “delight” in the wicked else they would not be so blessed

facto, God must “delight” in the wicked else they would not be so blessed

c. their conclusion is that Yahweh is not a God of justice

1) either evil is pleasing to God or there is no God of justice

3. their doubts and skepticism reveal a very select memory

a. the Lord had amply demonstrated his immanence and his justice throughout the history of his relationship with Israel

history of his relationship with Israel

1) it was in response to their cries for help that the Lord had delivered them from oppression in Egypt by “a mighty hand” ()

oppression in Egypt by “a mighty hand” ()

2) He had given them the sacrificial system so that he could dwell among them and righteous laws which if Israel followed would bring glory to them and to him before the nations

righteous laws which if Israel followed would bring glory to them and to him before the nations

3) the Lord had guided the people throughout the period of the judges and the monarchy, alternately delivering them or disciplining them as was necessary, climaxing in the exile and restoration

monarchy, alternately delivering them or disciplining them as was necessary, climaxing in the exile and restoration

b. Nehemiah recognized these things, confessing the Lord’s righteousness, faithfulness, and compassion since the time of Moses ()

b. Nehemiah recognized these things, confessing the Lord’s righteousness,

faithfulness, and compassion since the time of Moses ()

4. Malachi’s audience had concluded (as we sometimes do), in effect, that God was either unjust or negligent — either way, he was not being faithful to his covenant

either unjust or negligent — either way, he was not being faithful to his covenant

a. no wonder the Lord was weary of them!

b. I must point out that the same people who are now claiming to be so righteous and deserving were the very ones offering God blemished animals, complaining about how burdensome it was to worship God, marring pagans, and divorcing their wives

deserving were the very ones offering God blemished animals, complaining about how burdensome it was to worship God, marring pagans, and divorcing their wives

c. there were hardly paragons of virtue

1) many of their hardships and problems were self-inflicted

B. THE PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE (3:1)

“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.” (, NIV84)

1. here we have a Messianic prophecy that serves as a promise — God responds with, “You want justice? I’ll you justice”

“You want justice? I’ll you justice”

a. The God of judgment was nearer than any of the skeptics imagined

b. Malachi stressed that the coming of God would be both certain and sudden

1) the word see that begins vs. 1 of chapter three is actually the world behold

2) the term suggests something shocking, and certain to happen

c. the messenger of vs. 1 is a reference to the person we know as John the Baptist

1) his message is that of repentance, and he tells his audience, “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” ()

at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” ()

2. but there’s more; after the messenger ... prepares the way ... Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple

you are seeking will come to his temple

a. the Jews expected Messiah to come to judge the heathen

b. Malachi warned the skeptics that they would be the first to be judged

“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years. 5 “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.” (, NIV84)

ILLUS. Here’s a great Old Testament illustration of the adage, “Be careful what you wish for!”

wish for!”

IV. GOD IS WEARIED BY THEIR DISHONESTY AND THEFT

“Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “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. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.” (, NIV84)

1. the attention of Malachi now shifts to another sin of the people

A. THE INDICTMENT (3:7–8)

1. disobedience was an ever recurring sin in Israel — “From the days of your fathers you have turned from my statutes”

have turned from my statutes”

a. God’s divine blessing under the Old Covenant economy was contingent upon Israel’s obedience to God’s law

Israel’s obedience to God’s law

1) to turn aside from God’s statutes, to disregard His Law means forfeiture of His blessings

blessings

b. but the promise of grace comes on the heals of the indictment — Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty

I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty

1) in spite of the fact that they deserved to be rejected as covenant breakers, God graciously pleads with his people to return to him

graciously pleads with his people to return to him

2. but once again we hear Israel’s refrain “How shall we return?”

a. their answer indicates how thoroughly depraved they’ve become — their self-righteousness blinded them to their own need for repentance

self-righteousness blinded them to their own need for repentance

3. God’s indictment is couched in the form of a rhetorical question, “Will a man rob God?”

a. the Hebrew verb translated rob in occurs only here and in Proverbs 22:23

22:23

1) the word to mean to take by force

2) God’s Covenant People have audaciously committed strong-armed robbery against God

against God

b. again the people vehemently deny the charge, and demanded proof of this indictment — “Wherein have we robbed you?”

indictment — “Wherein have we robbed you?”

c. the Lord fired back the response: “with regard to tithes and offerings”

4. the tithe was an annual contribution to the Levites of one tenth of the yield of the field ()

()

a. they had robbed God by withholding from His ministers those gifts which were rightfully theirs

rightfully theirs

b. the unfaithfulness of Israel’s priests was no excuse for failing to comply with the law

5. the result is that the entire nation is under God’s curse

B. THE INDUCEMENT (3:10–12)

1. in response to their disobedience, God offers a three-fold plan

a. 1st, He issues a challenge — “bring all the tithe into the storehouse,” i.e., the temple treasury

treasury

1) if they bring the tithes into the temple storehouse they would see a change in their fortunes

their fortunes

b. 2nd, He offers His personal commitment — God will open the windows of heaven and would send a blessing that will be like open floodgates

and would send a blessing that will be like open floodgates

1) there will be so much blessing they will not have room enough for it

c. 3rd, the consequence is that even their pagan neighbors will take notice that God is blessing His people

blessing His people

1) the heaven-blessed Jews will live in “a delightful land”

2) obedience was the key to blessing under the Old Testament economy

V. GOD IS WEARIED BY THEIR DISILLUSIONMENT AND CYNICISM

“You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ 14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’ ” 16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. 1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the LORD Almighty.” (, NIV84)

1. the last accusation against the people involves the words of certain cynics, the words of the faithful, and the words of God

of the faithful, and the words of God

2. the words of the disillusioned cynics are found in vv. 13-15

a. Yahweh charges that the words of the people had been hard or harsh against God

1) they had used offensive language

2) again the hardened sinners denied the accusation by means of a rhetorical question, so the Lord spelled out what those offensive words were

question, so the Lord spelled out what those offensive words were

b. 1st, there was a negativity in their attitude, “You have said, It is vain to serve God,” i.e., serving God is unprofitable business

i.e., serving God is unprofitable business

1) they thought that serving God demanded too much and returned too little!

2) there’s was a What’s in it for me? attitude — What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?

his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?

c. 2nd, they challenge God’s goodness, claiming that evildoers prosper, and that those who challenge God escape

who challenge God escape

1) thus in the eyes of many, serving God was of no benefit, and disobeying him brought no punishment

brought no punishment

3. the words of the faithful are found in vs. 16

a. among the skeptics was a cadre of faithful, like the seven thousand in Elijah’s day who had not bowed the knee to Baal

who had not bowed the knee to Baal

b. their names will be written in a scroll of remembrance

4. the words of God are found in vv. 17-4:3

a. of those who fear the Lord God says, they will be mine, and will make up my treasured possession

treasured possession

b. in His compassion Yahweh will spare them and he will use them as His illustration between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not

between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not

c. God will spare them when the Day of Judgement arrives (4:1-3)

1) that day will be a glorious day for the righteous

2) that day will be a terrible day for the wicked

3) that day will be a victorious day for the Lord

IV. APPLICATION

1. our hearts need to be kept singularly focused on Jesus

a. a believer with a divided heart cannot faithfully serve the Lord

b. we need to regularly — even ruthlessly — evaluate our hearts for idols, and root them out when we discover them

root them out when we discover them

2. our nuptial loyalty must be singularly devoted to our spouse

a. nothing so damages a culture as run-away divorce

ILLUS. For fifty years we have had “no fault” divorce in America, and it has been a disaster for families and a disaster for the nation. Marriage has lost its moral sanction and legal power. Presently marriage is the only type of contract where one of the parties, in this case a spouse, can nullify it without penalty. Before no-fault divorce a married person had to prove the other spouse was unfit to remain in this binding sanctioned contract.

disaster for families and a disaster for the nation. Marriage has lost its moral sanction and legal power. Presently marriage is the only type of contract where one of the parties, in this case a spouse, can nullify it without penalty. Before no-fault divorce a married person had to prove the other spouse was unfit to remain in this binding sanctioned contract.

It has opened the floodgates to greater number of divorces

It has enticed many couples to skip marriage and go directly into living together

• It has enticed many couples to skip marriage and go directly into living together

It has gutted the social and sacred obligation of raising healthy and successful children

• It has gutted the social and sacred obligation of raising healthy and successful children

It often causes a financial drain of resources that drops many females into poverty putting them on government assistance

• It often causes a financial drain of resources that drops many females into poverty putting them on government assistance

b. God understands this and so commands So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not

b. God understands this and so commands So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith

break faith

3. divine justice will certainly be carried out but on God’s timetable, not ours

a. remember that serving God is worthwhile, even when life seems difficult and unjust

b. at Christ’s second coming the righteous will be delivered and the wicked will be judged

be judged

ILLUS. Ray Stedman, in his book Talking to my Father tells the story of Henry Morrison and his wife who had been missionaries in Africa forty years, and were returning to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were unsure of their future. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man.

As the ship moved across the ocean, Morrison lamented to his wife, "Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."

"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said.

"I can't help it; it doesn't seem right."

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President's arrival, but no one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly."

His wife replied, "Why don't you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But you're not home yet!'"

Related Media

Related Sermons