What is God Doing About Evil?

What Is God Doing About Evil?

Malachi 2:17-3:5

I. Introduction

A. This week I listened to a podcast about Matthew Falder, known as Lux on the Dark Web.  He created several websites that show depictions of “Hurtcore” where they would gather the most atrocious images of children being sexually and physically assaulted and, in some cases, killed.  One site dealt with how to get away with these crimes.  For four years he taunted the police saying that he could not be caught.  When he was finally apprehended in Australia it turned out to be a 21-year-old man who had done this from his home where he lived with his parents. When sentenced he was given only 15 years for his crimes.  Is this just?

II. Setup – What is God doing about evil in the world?

A. You have wearied the Lord – Annoyed.  He is tired of their complaints

B. How have we wearied Him? – They again act as if they are innocent

C. By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them

1. They can see the sin and injustice of others, but they cannot see it in themselves

2. For the Jewish people who have returned they see the injustice of Persia who are in control of their country

3. They feel like since they are the people of God, they should be blessed while other nations should experience judgment

4. They see faithful people enduring hardship while those who are ignoring the law prosper

5. They see sinful people doing evil things with no consequence

6. But God is always most interested in the righteousness of His own people

7. They are relying on the sacrificial system to make them righteousness rather than their own practice of righteousness – They are being religious therefore they must be righteous

D. Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

1. This is a questioning of the righteousness of God – He is allowing for the ungodly to prosper therefore He must not be righteous Himself

2. This is the long-standing question of theodicy – asking about God’s righteousness in the face of evil and suffering in the world

E. Application

1. This is a great question – If there is evil and suffering in the world where is God? Is He all loving and perfectly righteous?

2. What is God doing about injustice in the world?

III. He will come (1)

A. Explanation

1. Behold I send my messenger and he will prepare the way for ME

a. Isaiah 40:3-5 – Isaiah gives this same prophecy

b. Mark 1:1-4 – Shows that John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy

c. Luke 1:76-79 – Zechariah, the father of John prophesies

d. Matthew 11:7-15 – Jesus affirms it

2. And the Lord who you seek will suddenly come into His temple

a. See first in Luke 2:25-32– Simeon declares Jesus to be the Christ coming into the temple

b. Jesus’ return to the temple in justice – Matthew 21:12-14.  Jesus brings justice to the temple ahead of the nations

3. And the messenger of the covenant who you delight, behold, he is coming says the Lord of hosts

a. Matthew 26:26-29 – The institution of the Lord’s supper – Jesus says of the cup that is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins

b. Jesus is the one who will bring the new covenant through His perfect sacrifice on the cross

B. Application

1. God is doing something about the problem of sin and evil in the world

2. He comes Himself to take care of the problem – He is not distant but comes to us to rescue us.

3. He experiences the pain of injustice on the cross

4. We should recognize that God has entered our world to rescue us from sin and evil. We have hope because of His presence

IV. He will Purify (2-4)

A. Explanation

1. But who can endure (stand) the day of His coming – This question is pointed at the priesthood.  Can they continue in their sinful ways when the Lord comes to His temple? This rhetorical question must be answered with “no one!”

2. Why? Because He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap        

a. A refiner is one who heats metals until they melt. They melt and the dross rises to the top to be swept away.  What is left is the pure metal.

b. The fuller is one who cleans something – When they are done there is a fabric that is perfect in color and spotless

3. He will purify the sons of Levi – the priesthood

4. He will refine them like gold and silver

a. With heat – The process may hurt ad be difficult, but in the end, they have purity

b. We should never fear the purification process because ultimately it brings us closer to Christ

5. The result –

a. They will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord – This is the ultimate job of the priest

b. The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord

i. Jesus will be the perfect and fulfilling sacrifice acceptable to God

ii.He represents both Judah and the priesthood (Jerusalem)

B. Application

1. This purification happened when Jesus came – He brought about true worship and righteousness to those who would trust in Him

2. He made all His people the priesthood.

3. We are called to be a pure and righteous people filled with His Holy Spirit

4. Jesus has called a world of sinners to faith and purified them through the Holy Spirit.

V. He Will Judge (5)

A. Explanation

1. Then I will draw near to you for judgement (justice) – This should be what we want, a divine arbiter of right and wrong who is ultimately dealing with the problem of evil in our world

2. He will be a swift witness

a. Swift – Quick acting.  He is not going to let the evil doer run free for long

b. the one who truly knows right from wrong and sees all things – He knows everything we have ever done

3. Against 4 groups:

a. Sorcerers – Those who try to go around God’s power and produce outcomes for themselves without reliance on Him – This is the opposite of loving God

b. Adulterers – Those who break their covenantal commitments and cause violence as denoted in 2:16

c. Liars - Those who swear falsely – Those who lie for personal gain against the good of others

d. Cheats - Those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, widows, orphans, and those who thrust aside the sojourner – the cheats – This is the opposite of loving your neighbor

4. And do not fear me! – He will bring judgement on these!

B. Application

1. This should be a mirror to show us our own sin. So often we hear about judgement and we cheer it on if it applies to others, but for our sin we think we deserve mercy

2. We should know that Judgement is here and is still coming when Jesus returns the second time

3. We should fear being caught in any of these categories because they are the opposite of what we are saved to

VI. Conclusion

A. The reality is that all of us have been all four of these things at one time

B. Our only hope is the judgement that is taken on by Christ on the cross

C. This is why we need a Savior

D. CS Lewis in the book Mere Christianity makes the case that we cry out for justice, but by doing so we acknowledge there is a justice that is above us and that all of us know and adhere to.  It demands a moral lawgiver. This can only come about if there is a perfectly holy and righteous God.

E. What will you do when you face Him?

Isaiah 40:3–5 – Isaiah prophecies it originally

3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Mark 1:1–4 – This shows that John fulfills theprophecy

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 1:76–79 – John’s father, Zechariah affirms it

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Matthew 11:7–15 – Jesus affirms it

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 2:25–32 – Simeon recognizing baby Jesus coming into the temple

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Matthew 21:12–14 – Jesus cleansing the temple

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

Matthew 26:26–29 – Jesus instituting the New Covenant

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”