DEFAMING GOD

Malachi 2:17–3:6 ESV

17 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?” 1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Malachi 2:17-

Questionable Justice

Questionable Justice

“Not guilty by reason of insanity.” This was the unbelievable sentence recited by Judge Barrington Parker following each of the thirteen charges leveled against John Warnock Hinckley, Jr., for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. The trial is said to have cost $2.5 million. As would be expected, reactions to the verdict varied from clever maneuvering of language to a travesty of justice. Arthur Eads, district attorney of Bell County, Texas, declared: “Only in the U. S. can a man try to assassinate the leader of the country in front of 125 million people and be found not guilty.” Many echoed the sentiments of Eads that the verdict was symptomatic of a runaway leniency in the justice system. (TAKEN FROM G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 19.)

G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 19.

We live in a world and a society that wants justice. Some might say that justice however, is in the eye of the beholder.

We live in a world and a society where swift reaction comes when justice is not served. Right or wrong.

Our passage today finds the Lord bringing another accusation to the Israel regarding their attitude toward Him and their wrong actions that have come as a result. In this case, it is the fact that they have doubted God’s justice and have defamed Him as a result.

PROPOSITION: God’s patience is long but His judgment is sure. We must trust Him to bring about justice in His time.

Notice some important truths from our passage this morning:

1. THE NATURE OF ISRAEL’S DEFAMATION (2:17)

Malachi 2:17 ESV

17 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?”

A. They supported those that do evil

B. They believed that God supported those that did evil

C. They doubted God’s judgement

There are times when we want to doubt as well. There are times when we might say the fight just isn’t worth it because the wicked always win. What does the Scripture teach regarding the judgment and justice of God?

1. God’s justice is Impartial

1 Peter 1:17 ESV

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

2. God’s justice is inescapable

Romans 2:3 ESV

3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

3. God’s justice is infallible

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

4. God’s justice is a vindication of the righteous

Romans 8:33 ESV

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Psalm 17:1–2 ESV

1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!

Isaiah 50:8–9 ESV

8 He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Is 50:

2. GOD’S RESPONSE TO ISRAEL’S DEFAMATION (3:1-6)

Malachi 3:1–6 ESV

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

A. God’s messenger will prepare the way (1)

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” “My messenger,” who “will prepare the way,” is distinguished in 3:1a from the divine Lord of hosts, who is the speaker and to whom the pronouns “I,” “my,” and “me” refer. So the messenger in v. 1a is someone different from the Lord of hosts. And despite the fact that “my messenger” and “Malachi” are the same in Hebrew, the future-oriented context of vv. 1–5 and the parallel between 3:1 and 4:5 make clear that “my messenger” is not Malachi. Nevertheless, the play on Malachi’s name suggests that his own ministry of preparation was intended to foreshadow the work of this promised messenger in 3:1a. But in v. 1b, another idea is in view, for v. 1b speaks in poetic parallelism, in which two lines express the same idea in different words.

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” “My messenger,” who “will prepare the way,” is distinguished in 3:1a from the divine Lord of hosts, who is the speaker and to whom the pronouns “I,” “my,” and “me” refer. So the messenger in v. 1a is someone different from the Lord of hosts. And despite the fact that “my messenger” and “Malachi” are the same in Hebrew, the future-oriented context of vv. 1–5 and the parallel between 3:1 and 4:5 make clear that “my messenger” is not Malachi. Nevertheless, the play on Malachi’s name suggests that his own ministry of preparation was intended to foreshadow the work of this promised messenger in 3:1a. But in v. 1b, another idea is in view, for v. 1b speaks in poetic parallelism, in which two lines express the same idea in different words.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1778.

B. God will make good on His promises (1) (will suddenly come to His temple…)

C. The Messiah will come (1) (…behold, He is coming...”)

D. The Messiah will be a refiner and a judge (2)

E. The Messiah will be a lasting and permanent priest (3)

F. Messiah will make all acceptable to God once again (4)

G. Messiah’s focus will be judgment (5)

H. This is a reminder that God always wins (5)

I. This is a reminder of the great grace of God (6)

CONCLUSION:

1. Do you find yourself discouraged and doubting God as a result?

2. Have you defamed God by thinking that maybe sin isn’t so bad?

3. Have you defamed God by not calling sin as it truly is?