Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
Start with story of 1995 car accident.
Today, we’re picking up the story of Jeremiah and Hope.
Background from Jeremiah last week.
Babylon holding Jerusalem under siege, breaks through the walls, burns the city down.
King Zedekiah captured, family killed in front of him then eyes gouged out.
Held captive.
Just as God promised – 70 years in exile, Israel returns to Jerusalem and rebuilds.
By 515 BC the temple is rebuilt – temple not like our church building.
The temple was the center of spiritual life, containing the tangible glory and presence of Almighty God.
Hope Meets Reality
Hope Meets Reality
Approximately 100 years later.
They’ve gone several generations from the return and temple rebuild.
Now they’re settled into life as usual and are sliding away from God again.
The rebuilding of the temple had not produced the messianic age many expected.
The warm response to Zechariah’s call to repentance had grown cold, because God apparently had not restored the covenant blessings.
Prophet Malachi, writing a short time later, called the people to repentance:
We’ll walk quickly through the whole book.
The first part is God’s word to the priests.
Doubted God’s love:
MalachiYou Are Loved – but the people were already doubting God’s love.
(trim verse)
You Are Loved – but the people were already doubting God’s love.
How often do we do that?
Doubt God’s love because things didn’t turn out as we expected, or went the other direction?
Starting with this doubt, the prophet then shows the downward trend of moving away from God again.
Despised God’s name:
the priesthood had become corrupt; v.7 polluted the sacrifice.
Lame animals.
Giving God the leftovers instead of their best.
he priesthood had become corrupt; v.7 polluted the sacrifice.
Lame animals.
Giving God the leftovers instead of their best.
v.10 it would be better to shut the temple doors so you don’t light useless fires on the altar.
Defiled the covenant:
priests teaching false doctrine, leading people astray.
priests teaching false doctrine, leading people astray.
(warning to pastors and anyone who teaches others)
Divorced their wives:
harsh with their wives, marry other women who serve foreign gods.
“Does violence to the one he should protect.”
v.16 does not love wife but divorces her.
harsh with their wives, marry other women who serve foreign gods.
“Does violence to the one he should protect.”
Downplayed God’s justice:
wearied the Lord by turning His goodness upside down and ignoring Him as if He didn’t show up.
wearied the Lord by turning His goodness upside down and ignoring Him as if He didn’t show up.
Denied God’s goodness:
robbed God of tithes and offerings.
Didn’t bother giving.
God said, try Me.
Give and I will give back more than you can use.
(it is through man’s generous giving that God’s goodness is shown to the needy, helpless, lowly.
They robbed God of tithes and offerings.
Giving is a response to God’s goodness and provision.
They robbed God of tithes and offerings.
Giving is a response to God’s goodness and provision.
Didn’t bother giving.
God said, try Me.
Give and I will give back more than you can use.
(it is through man’s generous giving that God’s goodness is shown to the needy, helpless, lowly.
Disregarded God’s righteousness:
God treats the evil people better than He treats us.
God treats the evil people better than He treats us.
Notice the path of deterioration – they returned from exile, were happy and celebrated for a time, but after several generations, and not seeing the promised Messiah yet, they lost interest.
They became lazy in their worship, then stopped giving God their best, then every area of their lives went down hill – marriages, parenting, care for others.
We shouldn’t judge Israel and Judah so harshly, though.
We are no different.
All around us we see the same disregard for God and His righteousness.
Are we tired of waiting for the Messiah?
Why do we lose interest?
God Loves You
reference to
reference to
Starts in You are loved
Even though Israel and Judah have wandered yet again, God is patient in His love.
I do not change so you are not destroyed.
I do not change so you are not destroyed.
Refer to
v.7 return to Me and I will return to you.
v.7 return to Me and I will return to you.
v.7 return to Me and I will return to you.
the faithful remnant will be God’s treasured possession.
There will once again be a distinction between the wicked and the ones living for God.
emphasize Faithful Remnant, treasured possession, distinction between righteous and wicked.
There will once again be a distinction between the wicked and the ones living for God.
God begins with a declaration and reminder of His love.
Then He proceeds to call them out for their complacency, wandering, and sin.
In the end, God promises to reward the faithful and to purify the unrighteousness out of His people.
God’s Love Refines You
Read Malachi 2:17-3:5
Malachi 2:
Dangerous to ask.
As if He isn’t coming.
Answer to Where is the God of justice? ( the one who will make everything right)
Answer to Where is the God of justice? ( the one who will make everything right)
3:1 I will send my messenger – reference to Elijah/John the baptizer.
3:1a I will send my messenger – reference to Elijah/John the baptizer.
Suddenly - the Lord will come to the temple.
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