Is He Worthy to Follow?

Introduction

Malachi 3:13-4:6 – Is He Worthy to Follow? Malachi’s closing words, the closing words of the Old Covenant Read text Prayer These are hard words, ending with destruction and a curse. But not the last words.

1. Wallowing in Complaint, 3:13-16

Have you notice the repeated question “How?” in opposition to the Lord? There is a scoffing tone in each of these that reveals that they are willingly clueless as to their rejection of God’s ways.

1:2 “I have loved you.” “How have you loved us?” He chose them for his people. 1:6 “You priests have despised my name.” “How have we despised your name?” They offered polluted sacrifices. 1:7 “You offered polluted food on my altar.” “How have we polluted you?” They gave the worst of their flocks when God requires the best. 2:17 “You have wearied the Lord with your words.” “How have we wearied him?” They questioned God’s justice, called wrong things right. 3:7 “Return to me, and I will return to you.” “How shall we return?” By not robbing God. 3:8 “You have robbed me.” “How have we robbed you?” By not bringing their tithes and offerings.

All to question God’s worthiness of Honor, Faithfulness, Trust.

And now we come to the 7th accusation, and the 7th incredulous objection.

The question is, Is He Worthy to Follow? In the face of seeming injustice and futility, their words are hard against God.

v. 13-16

They have spoken against God. This is perhaps the summary of all the other complaints.

It is vain to serve God.

Why were they questioning his love, offering cheap sacrifices, forsaking their spouses in divorce, not bringing their tithes, and refusing to return? Because they felt he was not worthy to follow wholeheartedly.

14 – What is the profit of our keeping his charge?

Profit – based on the word “cut”

What is my “cut” in following Christ? What’s in it for me? There’s no apparent temporal benefit.

14 – What is the profit in walking as in mourning before the Lord?

Mourning for sin is a part of true worship. (No specific sin mentioned here)

Luther, #1 of 95 Thesis: When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Mt. 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

When they asked, “How shall we return?” (3:7), they were displaying that they saw no point to mourning for sin.

15 – We call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers prosper, are not caught in their sins.

The prosperity of the wicked (ungodly) is a common theme in the OT

Psalm 73

Begins with the recognition that God is truly good to his people

Almost stumbles

Envious of the arrogant, always at ease, they increase in riches

I went to the sanctuary (posture of worship) – discerned their end

Nevertheless, I am continually with you – whom have I in heaven but you?

The difference between the Psalmist and these complainers is one of posture/worship.

If we’re honest, we all face this question, is he worthy to follow? Likely that some of you are contemplating whether to even continue in the faith.

Mars Hill – stories of abuse, hurt, pain, even no longer identifying as Christian

Many other prominent Christian personalities have abandoned the faith

Philosophical questions Hypocrisy of believers Abuse of power Personal hurt

How do we deal with the difference between what we observe and what ought to be?

Deconstructing faith

Healthy to ask honest questions Healthy to have doubts and unanswered tension Healthy to walk away from those elements that are not essential to true Christianity

Reconstructing faith (from Jeffery Curtis Poor, blog writer, who deconstructed and reconstructed)

Do read the Bible Don’t withdraw from community Do pray honest prayers Don’t let fear stop you Do grieve

Psalmist – Whom have I in heaven but you? Jesus’ disciples – To whom would we go?

Am I feeling the force of this question – is he worthy to follow?

2. Standing in Community, 3:16-18

Those who feared the Lord – 7 times “fearing the Lord” is addressed in Malachi

The essence of true religion in the OT, distinguishes the people of God from the people who have no regard for him; reverential awe and adoration combined with the healthy reaction to a consciousness of his displeasure. Perfect love casts out fear of wrath, but there is still a fear of the Lord in the Christian’s life.

Thomas Watson – There is a difference between fearing God, and being afraid of God. The godly fear God as a child does his father; the wicked are afraid of God as the prisoner is of the judge.

These are the ones who stand against the complainers. When the majority mock God, these are faithful to their standing.

Spoke with one another

In the face of the ungodly majority who say following God is vain, the faithful few must stand together.

They spoke to one another – what did they say?

The verse gives a clue – the Lord paid attention and heard them – not only the result, but the reminder they give one another.

Hear – give regard to, respond to; “God will hear and respond.”

Book of remembrance – a covenant renewal document – Neh 9-10

“Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests” (Neh. 9:38)

Should we sign a document? In a sense we do through our membership and accountability to one another – our Book of Remembrance is our commitment to the local church, and the community relationships we form.

Heb. 10:23-25 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

They shall be mine – treasured possession – God’s promise of faithfulness

Once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked – this points to the judgment to come (Ch. 4)

Am I standing in community, or attempting to stand on my own? Do I go beyond being served to serving and encouraging my brothers and sisters?

3. Righteousness in Judgment, 4:1-6

The Day of the Lord – the end of the arrogant and the end of the God-fearers

Judgment – 1, 3

The holiness of God will not forever be mocked It is the day “when I act” – judgment delayed is not

Righteousness – 2

For those who fear his name – righteousness

Sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings

Zechariah – John will give knowledge of the Messiah, “the sunrise shall visit us from on high” (Luke 1:78) Attributed to the Messiah from Justin (2nd Century) Grounded in the work of the Messiah – life, death, resurrection of Christ But, the Day of the Lord is in two parts, which the prophets don’t see The emphasis is on righteousness – righteousness shall rise

Now and not yet, pointing to our future reality that we don’t yet see.

Can you imagine a righteousness that is unpolluted with corruption?

Can you imagine living, moving, breathing with no vestige of guilt? Can you imagine loving others without any remnant of hatred? Can you imagine giving selflessly without thinking of receiving in return? Can you imagine having private thoughts utterly untarnished by evil? Can you imagine forgiving those who hurt you and have no malice remaining? Can you imagine being speaking truth with no guile or no mixture of falsehood? Can you imagine having no anxiety of having to measure up to deserving God’s love?

No wonder we will be leaping like calves from the stall? Free from sin and guilt, released to joy and freedom,

Remember the law – it’s their refusal to honor the covenant to which Malachi speaks

This is the memory that can save your life. When tempted to stop fearing God, remember how he has spoken. Remember how he has saved us. Remember his gospel. Remember his Son. Remember your confession.

Past has power to the present through memory.

I will send you Elijah the prophet – John the Baptist

Sounded a warning, called for repentance, pointed to Jesus

Jesus identified JtB as the Elijah who was to come, YET John 1:21 – Are you Elijah? Are you the Prophet? – “No”

Coming of Messiah in two stages = two stages in the coming of Elijah

It would be easy to just point to JtB as the decisive fulfillment of this (the spirit and power of Elijah [Luke 1:17]), yet miss the greater point – God precedes wrath with mercy

Any messenger who comes to prepare the way for the Lord is doing the work of Elijah.

We would be foolish to ignore

Turn the hearts of fathers to their children, children to their fathers.

Not a blanket promise for familial closeness Though the gospel has implications to our horizontal relationships Speaks of “unified obedience to the faith on the part of everyone” (McComisky) The preaching of the gospel is for everyone

Lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction (curse)

The gospel message is to help us avoid being struck with destruction The grace is in the warning (“lest”)

“He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found”

As you hear the message of warning and the offer of mercy today, I call you to come follow Jesus, to place your faith and trust in him alone for your salvation. He is worthy to follow. Will you come?