Malachi 1:1-5 - Doubting God's Love

Introduction

Contemporary message

Convicting message

Comforting message

Message Introduction

Before Malachi rebuked them of their sins, he needed to reassure them of God’s love. There is profound pastoral wisdom in that approach. (Iain Duguid)

God’s people have doubted and disputed His love

Lord, what have you done for me lately

What is the evidence?

Lesson Objectives

Message Outline

1. Sober Responsibility: An urgent message from the LORD

2. Steadfast Loyalty: God professes His love to His People

3. Shocking Reply: His people doubt God’s love for them

4. Striking Rebuttal: God’s love is demonstrated

5. Strong Promise: Perspective, Proclamation and Praise of the Greatness the LORD

Message Exposition

1. Sober Responsibility: An urgent message from the LORD

Malachi 1:1 ESV

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Too many Pastors do not feel a heavy burden or load when they go into the pulpit. They take the privilege of preaching for granted. As a result, they take God for granted. They go in with an “ho hum” attitude. They see this as light and easy. There’s no sense of waiting us or seriousness. Their presentation on Sunday is a show. It is a form of mockery. It’s a comedy routine. It’s theater. But Malachi side as a heavy burden.

oracle - Lit. “burden”

word of the LORD

Israel

Malachi

2. Steadfast Loyalty: God professes His love to His People

Malachi 1:2 (ESV)

2a “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

1 John 4:7–11 (ESV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

There is no word in the English language that has been stripped of the depth of its meaning such as the word love.

We have cheapened the word today.

We so easily use this phrase today. We speak of love in superficial ways. We speak of love in careless ways. We speak of love during act of immorality and sinfulness.

The love we profess to people today lack depth and true meaning.

We say we love someone, yet we think such terrible thoughts about them, speaks such appalling words to and about them, and then act in such horrendous ways towards them.

Is that love?

Scripture tells us that Christians demonstrate love for one another because of the very character of God that is at work in them and through them.

This love comes from God.

It is not natural to us. It is a love not found in humanity in and of themselves. It is a divine gift.

This love comes from God.

God is seen as the fountain, foundation, and source of all true love. (RC Sproul)

Many in the world and some in the church have focused on a degraded view of the love of God. Our culture believes that God’s primary character is love and that His other attributes are subordinate to or absorbed in his attribute of love.

And as a result, humanity is stripped away the holiness of God. It is diminished the justice of God. It does not truly believe in the sovereignty of God.

They see a God who is made up of parts. Partly holy. Partly just. Partly powerful. But ultimately loving. The do not hold to a God who is all of his attributes all of the time.

They single in on one attribute (Love) and as they do so, they ultimately diminishing it, minimize it, cheapening it (Love). And they create a God who is not the biblical God.

Eternal Love

God’s love for his people goes beyond time and space. God’s love for his children is eternal. God has always existed. God has no beginning. He has no end. God has always been and always will be. As a result, God has always been a God of love.

Scripture tells us that before the foundation of this world, God set his love upon his children. The triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit made a covenant before this world was ever created to set their love on their people and to redeem them.

The Father planned from all of eternity how humanity would be saved. The Son provided salvation by leaving Heaven, taking on a human body, living as a servant even to death, in order to redeem God’s people. The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our salvation, and he applies the work of God to his people.

All of this is by grace alone. All of this was done in love.

Steadfast and Faithful Love

God’s love for his people is steadfast and loyal. He is faithful. He will not deny himself.

All of us have experienced hurts by those who are supposedly people in love with us. When we have been hurt and betrayed, it is normal for us to focus on the person and the pain that they have caused. We magnify our hurt. And as a result, we intensify our perceived deficits. We miss the surplus that we have in God. The love of God is the most steadfast love that you will ever experience.

Ephesians tells us that God’s love surpasses all human understanding and comprehension.

When you feel broken and in despair because of how others treat you, meditate deeply on how much God loved and continual loves you in the sending of his son for you.

Jesus was ultimately rejected so that you would never be. He was forsaken so that you never will experience the rejection God ever again.

Love for us is a loyal love. It is a steadfast love. It is a merciful love. It is a covenant of love.

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Comfort yourself in knowing that God is love.

Does that make you tremble? Isaiah says, "This is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

Have you learned the love of God in a way that makes you tremble? Malachi's burden in this book is to show us a God whose goodness makes us tremble with reverent fear. For example,

If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts. (1:6)

I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations. (1:14b)

My covenant with him [Levi] was a covenant of life and peace [in other words: just as in 1:2, "I have loved him!"], and I gave them to him that he might fear: and he feared and stood in awe of my name. (2:5)

I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. (3:5)

In other words, Malachi's burden in this book is to show us a God who makes us tremble with reverent fear. Therefore when he begins his prophecy to Israel in chapter 1 with the good news, "I have loved you, says the Lord," he unfolds the love of God for us in a way that makes us tremble before the majesty of God

Malachi (Lesson 1: God Loves Us: “Ho Hum!” (Malachi 1:1–5))

The Lord tells them, “I have loved you” (the tense of the Hebrew verb means, “I have loved you in the past and I continue to love you”).

3. Shocking Reply: His people doubt God’s love for them

Malachi 1:2 (ESV)

2b But you say, “How have you loved us?”

Doubt the love of God

There is

· Uncertainty

· Reservation

· Misgiving

· Distrust

· Disbelieve

· Suspicion

· Skepticism

Have you ever felt that way?

They are almost saying, prove it, show us you love us. They tend to focus on the circumstances and do not see the greatness in glory of God.

Their indifference and apathy have caused them to drift away. They do not see the greatness and graciousness of their God. They see the greatness of their problems and pain.

Stephen Nichols in his message on this passage asked whether this is an ignorance in the people that they are unaware, uninformed, naive of God’s love or an arrogance (hardiness, superiority, pride, overconfidence, self-importance) of the people in that they are raising their fist towards God.

That’s not clear from this passage

Nevertheless,

· Do you question God?

· Do you doubt His love for you?

· Do you put God on trial?

· Do you accuse Him of wrongdoing?

4. Striking Rebuttal: God’s love is demonstrated

Malachi 1:2 (ESV)

2c “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob

Esau was Jacob’s twin brother

What then is God's answer to the question, "How hast thou loved us?" His answer is, I have loved you with free, sovereign, unconditional, electing love; that is how I have loved you.

My love for you is electing love because I chose you for myself above your brother Esau.

My love for you is unconditional love because I chose you before you had done anything good or evil—before you had met any conditions—while you were still in your mother's womb (Genesis 25:24).

My love for you is sovereign love because I was under no constraint to love you; I was not forced or coerced; I was totally in charge when I set my love upon you.

And my love for you is free because it's the overflow of my infinite grace that can never be bought.

Electing love of God

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

The truths spoken of in this passage from Ephesians and here Malachi is controversial. Many will question it. Some will reject it.

However, what we see in these passages are that God’s choosing in election is seen as a manifestation of the eternal love of God.

Some will resist the biblical concept of election and predestination, that God from all of eternity, elect only some unto salvation and chose to pass over others.

But I want you to focus on the fact that if you are a believer, you were chosen in God before the foundation of the world and you have been predestined to adoption into the family of God.

Pause there. Think deeply about that truth. God chose you.

Why?

What is the goal of God’s choosing of certain humanity for salvation?

The purpose for which we were born an our great purpose of life is to glorify God by mirroring and reflecting his holiness and character. We are here to display him to a world that does not know him.

We are called to be a light in the darkness. We are called to be a voice of truth in the midst of lies. We are called to be a steady, dependable, unswerving and consistent presence in the midst of unstable, inconsistent, erratic, fickle time.

Some see that the choosing/electing love of God is unfair.

However, if we recognize that all people have opposed the rule of God in their lives. They have doubted his word. They’ve questioned his character. They have resisted his authority in their lives.

As a result, all of us are guilty and deserving of the judgment of God.

Some believe that God should spare everyone. I do not know why He did not.

Some believe that certain people are good enough to receive God’s mercy and grace. Scripture clearly rejects that message. In fact, for Grace to be gracious, it must be unmerited and undeserved.

We all deserve judgment. We all deserve God’s wrath. None of us deserve forgiveness, freedom, or entrance into the family of God.

So why do some receive it and others do not?

Grace, mercy, God’s love.

In God’s economy some people receive justice. Others receive mercy. No one receives injustice.

Is there something in us that causes God to offer grace and mercy to us and not others? Does God see some good in us that causes us to be chosen? No!

God’s love for us is based on his will and good pleasure. God’s love for his people is found in his love for his son. We find our blessing in the beloved Son.

So what should the result be of God’s electing love? The results should be gratitude, appreciation, thankfulness, and worship.

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

God’s electing love

God’s love is seen in His choice of Israel

God’s love is seen in His care for His people

When you hear of God’s love what do you feel? What do you think?

Cause you to tremble in reverent fear

Cause you to take credit

Malachi 1:3 ESV

3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

The Love of God is seen in the Hatred of God

Some believe that God loves sinners and hates the sin? They see that and all loving God cannot hate anything or anyone. Is that true?

Romans 9:13–18 ESV

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

In one of the most striking rebuttals found in Scripture, we find God’s love has its limits. This passage in Malachi and this passage in Romans, makes it very clear that God it’s a hatred for some people. Most of us think God is not capable of hatred. Some have tried to soften this phrase by saying that God loved certain people less than he loved his cabinet people. While it is true that God has a creator love for all people, that does not seem to be the tenor of this passage or other passages.

As uncomfortable as it may be for many of us, there is a dimension of the character of God towards sinners that reflects his hatred and discussed for the rebelliousness of our human race. In elevating God’s love, some are diminishing the holiness of God. Scripture tells us that he can’t look upon sin. He hates sin with an eternal hatred. Scripture speaks of an eternal hell. God does not send sin to hell but sinners to hell. Unrepented people become the object of God’s wrath. They are removed from his grace and love. They spend eternity suffering under the divine wrath of God.

How can we avoid such a terrible judgment? Is there anything we can do to appease the wrath of God? God has given only one answer to that question. We must trust in Christ alone for salvation we must look to him and his work on the cross for our forgiveness and freedom. We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, because of the work of Christ alone. Justified means that we are declared not guilty before God. We are viewed as innocent in his sight. Because of our character and conduct? No! Because of the character and conduct of Christ alone.

Malachi 1:4 ESV

4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’ ”

God’s hatred of them

Opposes them

He will not be resisted - They will stay under judgment

The are given up to wickedness. God is judging a wicked country. These are not innocent people.

God will be angry with them forever.

5. Strong Promise: Perspective, Proclamation and Praise of the Greatness the LORD

Malachi 1:5 ESV

5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

The purpose of God in revealing this news to the Israelites is that God’s greatness is seen in His love for them and His rule and reign over the world

Beyond the border - when we see the world as it is, we may doubt His sovereignty and control all over the world. He will accomplish His purposes

Spread the vision of our great God

Bringing It Home: Christ - Our Loyal Lover

How has God loved us?

Cross

Sin

Suffering

Substitute

Satisfaction

Salvation (forgiveness, freedom, family)

Certainty

Promise

Romans 8

Comfort

Assurance of God’s love

Discussion Questions

What new thoughts have you had since reading and studying the passage or from hearing James’s message?

What verse from this passage will you commit to meditate on and memorizing this week? Write it down. Share it with others.

Bringing It Home

Pondering the Passage:

What is the main point of the passage?

Learn

What did I learn?

Where has my thinking, beliefs, and values been challenged in this passage?

Do I find any of the characteristics ways of thinking or behaving of the ungodly in my life?

List and describe those areas in which I struggle.

Love

What does this passage teach me about God?

Has my thinking about God changed?

How have I learned to love God more and others selflessly as a result of this passage?

Have I learned ways that I have acted unlovingly towards others that I must change?

Live

What are the practical steps that I can take to apply to what I have learned in this passage?

Where must I change?

What do I need to repent and confess?

How will pondering and personalizing this passage change how I live my life today and moving forward?

Praying the Passage (ACTS)

What specific things can I pray adoring God because of what I learned in this passage?

What specific things do I need to confess based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to thank God for based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to request in prayer (supplication) based on what I learned from this passage?