The Jealous God

Series Introduction: The oracle delivered by Malachi is a collection of themes, nonetheless united around one profound idea: The LORD God is a jealous God. Though the word jealously is not once mentioned here in this text, it is the underlying motive behind God’s arguments with His people. Now when we think of jealousy we typically assume a negative trait in someone, and surely the idea of someone being jealous nods to the idea of someone being unjustifiably suspicious or envious of another person’s actions or achievements. Jealous, however, can also be understood as a person’s vigilance towards their rights and/or possessions. And that’s exactly the sort of jealous God that the LORD is. He is entirely worthy of all glory and praise, and He is set on receiving what is appropriate for Him: all worship and praise.

English Standard Version Chapter 20

I the LORD your God am a jealous God

English Standard Version Chapter 34

you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God

English Standard Version Chapter 4

the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

English Standard Version Chapter 32

They have made me jealous with what is no god;

they have provoked me to anger with their idols.

So I will make them jealous with those who are no people;

I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

English Standard Version Chapter 24

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”

English Standard Version Chapter 39

I will be jealous for my holy name.

And this is the chorus that Malachi joins in.

Malachi is just a “blip” on the radar of Old Testament prophets. And while very little apart from what is read here can be known or assumed about him as a person, he stands in a long line of spokesmen for God to His people. And when God speaks, we should listen. Some may say, “Talk is cheap,” but that is never the case with God. God always means what He says, and He always says what He means. And the message of Malachi is profoundly clear: God’s people are not giving Him the glory He deserves, and He will not tolerate it anymore. God is jealous and the cry of Malachi is, “Give HIM what HE deserves!” This is our theme.

Scripture Introduction: Look now with me in your Bible at the first chapter of the last book in your Old Testaments, Malachi. Today we’ll read and spend the rest of our time in this first chapter, and each sermon to follow will cover each subsequent chapter. Follow along now as I read these first fourteen verses (Read verses 1-14).

As we now read these first fourteen verses, keep in mind the cry of Malachi, “Give God what HE deserves.” (Read verses 1-14)

Sermon Introduction: Do you get the picture? “Give God what HE deserves.” This is still a needful message for us today. Malachi speaks following the Babylonian captivity, his ministry reinforces the influence of Ezra and Nehemiah in rebuilding the people of God that have returned to their precious city Jerusalem. Malachi goes to show that religious activity and “spiritual rebuilding” is all in vain if not done with careful respect toward God.

The church today is filled with much “spiritual activity” and a lot of really “religious” people, but much of this Christianity cares more about man’s ideas and comforts in worship and life, and very little about what God actually expects, what God requires. We live in a time in which the idea that God has requirements for our worship and living towards Him sounds very legalistic, and so the way of the present generation is to “loosen” worship up a bit. The result however, is a routine that looks nothing like what is pleasing to God, and the people become blind to their error. We would do well to head this message from God through Malachi and “Give HIM what HE deserves.” In this first chapter of Malachi we recognize:

A jealous God, dispossessed by His people.

God has a people He has set His love upon (verses 2-5).

They doubt His love, calling it into question (verse 2)

In His patience He has given them unmerited favor while others (Edom) receive His just wrath (verses 2-4)

They only rejoice when God’s love is profoundly convenient for them (i.e. the destruction of their enemies). In this they fail to realize that apart from His grace, that would be them (verse 5)

He is their Father & Master (verses 6-10)

They dishonour and disrespect Him; they despise Him (verse 6)

They have polluted their worship to His, their sacrifices are unacceptable (verse 7)

They have polluted their worship to His, their sacrifices are unacceptable (verse 7)

They give Him less honor than they would the best of each other (verse 8)

Yet, they still expect His favor (verse 9)

He wishes someone would restrain them from their vain religion (verse 10)

He is deserving of glory, honor, and praise from dawn to dusk, every waking moment in all purity (verses 11-14)

They profane worship because they are weary of it (verses 12-13)

They are cursed for their deceptive service of worship (verse 14)