How Has God Loved Us?

Malachi 1:1 this book comes at the end of the OT. It provides summary/concluding observations about the nation of Israel's relationship with  God as well as at least two significant foreshadowings of what is to come in the NT. The Elijah to come and the Messiah's sudden appearance in the temple.

Malachi is probably the prophetic counterpart to what we read in the book of Nehemiah (450 B.C.). The correction offered in this book tracks closely with Nehemiah's major reforms; the lax priesthood, a defiled sacrificial system, restoring tithing, and undoing their intermixing with pagan nations through marriage.

Israel’s Standing With God at the End of The Old Testament

Backstory: At that time God had restored Israel. He brought them back to the land following a 70 year long period of punishment and exile in Babylon. They were punished for their repeated violation of the covenant. This punishment was to be an example to all nations... even God’s chosen people were subject to impartial, righteous judgment.

God's prophets had warned Israel of their coming punishment but also of God’s promise to show mercy upon them... allow them to re-establish Jerusalem... to rebuild the temple... to re-engage in a positive covenant relationship with Him. All this came to pass during the days of Ezra, Zechariah, and Haggai. Judah's miraculous national restoration was also an example to the nations. Mercy…  forgiveness, redemption, and restoration... all were possibleeven in the face of great sin.

Malachi addresses a remnant of Israel. They are back in the land but still suffering… still subjects of the Persians... still struggling with much of the moral decay that had gotten them into such a mess in the first place… and because of this they question God's love for them.

Possible Application For You

Judah had been punished, but forgiven and restored... However, they continued to suffer the ongoing consequences of their actions... because of this suffering (lack of blesssing) they doubted/questioned God's love for them.

In the same way if we have allowed ourself to slip into addictions, adultery, deceit, abuse, hatred, division... then are restored through God's great mercy... even though we have repented, we may continue to suffer ongoing consequences of past choices... depression, anxiety, extreme temptation, loss of reputation, broken relationships, physical injury, financial problems, etc.

Not all suffering is the consequnce of sin... but some is. So, you might suffer from personal sin, you might suffer from family sin, sins within the Church, sins within society... And when you continue to suffer the ongoing consequences of sin (even though you have repented and sought forgiveness) you may doubt the reality of God's love for you.

At the end of the OT this is a doubt God wants to address with Israel.

God’s Love

Malachi is structured by a series of rhetorical questions and answers between God and His people. The first one concerns the nature of His love.

Malachi 1:2a YHWH views His actions as proof of love. His acts of love are set within the context of Israel’s national covenant made at Sinai. However, these same proofs of God's love apply within the new covenant you entered into through baptism.

Choosing - God chose Israel to serve a special purpose in his plan to reveal Himself to the nations of the earth. Likewise, God has chosen you to be part of the first resurrection, which is for a purpose far greater than your own personal salvation from death…  it’s a choosing to be part of His plan to bring righteous rule to all nations and individuals on earth. TO LOVE IS TO CHOOSE.

Revelation - God revealed Himself to Israel as the one true God, creator of all things. Likewise He has revealed Himself to you thrugh the convicting power of His holy spirit. TO LOVE IS TO REVEAL YOURSELF.

Truth/Law - God revealed truth to Israel through His commands, statutes, and judgements. He has revealed all this to you as well as a magnification of His law through Jesus Christ. TO LOVE IS TO COMMIT TO ACT A CERTAIN WAY.

Patience & Longsuffering - God lavished great patience and mercy upon Israel. He gave them every opportunity to willingly submit themselves to His rule. God likewise shows great patience, mercy and forgiveness (grace) to you as you work out your salvation (unto the first resurrection). LOVE IS PERSISTENT, LOYAL, FAITHFUL.

Correction - when Israel had shown themselves incapable of pulling out of a downward spiral of sin and disobedience God punished them. Strong enough to get their attention, but light enough so they would not be permanently destroyed. Likewise, God disciplines His spiritual children when they need it... unto spiritual growth rather than destruction. LOVE PROVIDES DISCIPLINE.

That’s Not How We Want to Be Loved

Malachi 1:2b  Judah looks at their current status and they don't see YHWH's dealings with them as any kind of love they understand.... "this isn't what love looks like to us".

Malachi 2:17; 3:14 - they want peace and prosperity... they want God to fix the social evils around them... they want to be blessed in all they do.

Judah was restored to the land but beseiged with turmoil on every side, political intrigue, social unrest, injustice, taxation. Others were getting more than them...  where were their blessings? How is that love? To this day there is great confusion about what exactly the love of God looks like.

They do not realize that God is exercising anoher attribute of His love... PATIENCE. If He were to swoop down and exercise swift judgment even the people who think they are righteous would be destroyed in His righteous wrath over evil. LEsson: be careful in calling down God’s judgment Amos 5:12, 1 Corinthians 11:31 (part of the Passover admonition)

Judah wants God's loving blessing but they need God's loving correction...

Malachi will go on to show that they are actually disrespecting YHWH in their worship, neglecting to provide righteous instruction in truth, acting faithlessly in their marriage covenants, withholding tithes and offerings, speaking arrogantly against Him [future sermon].

God's Choosing is Love in Action

Malachi 1:2c God's first response when they express doubt of His love is to answer "I chose you to be my people from among all others, that is my first great act of love".

God uses the example [type] of Esau and Jacob is cited to highlight the choosing. Both twins were descended from Abraham and both had a legitimate legal claim on the blessings. But God's choosing isn't based on rights, Romans 9:10-16.  

Deuteronomy 7:7 Esau was more appealing [a man’s man]… his father Isaac liked him more. But God purposefuly chose otherwise. The subsequent choices the men made proved it was a wise choice…          1 Corinthinas 1:27-30

God's calls and chooses based on His "grace"... His desire to show love... God wants all of us to know that He does not owe anybody, anything. If you are called and chosen, if you are blessed in the flesh, if you are forgiven, if you are resurrected... each is a great blessing... but you didn't deserve it... it was not given to you as payment for service or recognition of your personal excellence. All these are given by God as acts of love... as He pleases (so it behooves us to discover what is pleasing to God).

Through Jesus Christ you have entered into the greatest plan and purpose in all the universe... and of all time. Since the Passover is a time of remembrance perhaps we should remind ourself that we have been chosen to participate in a purpose far greater than our own personal salvation.

National Doom For Esau

The lesson based on Esau causes a lot of misguided discussion concerning predestination and choosing [election], versus individual freedom of choice, and so forth. Did Esau never have a chance? did God show partiality etc.?

Esau the man made his own choices. He never sought what was pleasing to God. He could have, but He didn’t. Within the context of the old covenant Esau and Jacob must be viewed as more than just men. They are types/symbols of two separate nations; Israel (Jacob) and Edom (Esau). One chosen, one not. Personal salvation is not the issue... although the personal application is real.

Malachi 1:3-5 does this mean every man woman and child born in Edom was doomed? No. God's declaration is for the nation of Edom. As a nation they would serve as a prime example of what happens to those who oppose, criticize, and mock what God is doing... by opposing, criticizing, and mocking the people He works through.

Verse 3 probably refers to Edom being driven out of their land by the Nabateans in the 6th century. Note: Obadiah and Ezekiel 35:1-14 go over the destruction of Edom, and the reasons for their destruction in greater detail [give specific examples of their glee from Obadiah].

Deuteronomy 23:7-8 as individual men, women, or children the people of Edom had an open invitation to enter into a covenant relationship with God. But, as a nation they are not chosen. Within the covenant God's love for individuals is universal. His love of nations is not.

Note: God's judgment on nations is often confused with judgment unto salvation. For example, when Christ returns He will execute judgment upon the nations. It is not time for a general judgment upon individuals for their sins. That judgment only comes after the 1,000 year rule of Christ (IE. the great white throne judgment, when Edom, Ninevah, Sheba, Chorazin will rise up for judgment).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

God Corrects & Disciplines Those He Loves

Malachi 1:4 God's response to wickedness within the covnenant nation of Israel is correction... to lead them to repentance… to forgiveness… to restoration... this is a demonstration of His love. To a nation outside the covenant (and in the case of Edom arrogant hostility to it) God's response  is judgment, condemnation, and for Edom permanent destruction.

“Edom may proudly boast that they will restore themself, but I will thwart their efforts and destroy them. But, for my chosen I will show love”... God’s love may be expressed through correction… but because of His choosing… correction, punishment, and suffering have purpose.

Hebrews 12:4-13 [Proverbs 3:1-12] God says "if I didn't love you I would leave you to your own devices {like Esau]... but because I love you I will engage [Malachi goes on to engage with their problems].

Correction, rebuke, discipline, etc., are meant to move you forward to the spiritual creation desired by God...  If you are headed in a wrong direction and God does not offer you correction... is that love?

Revelation 3:14-23 Just as it is better to humble yourself rather than be humbled... it is better to correct yourself now rather than be corrected. Correction is never pleasant whether it comes from within or without. even self-correction can be painful... but being subject to correction is worse.

Personal Application

Correction and/or consequences of sin can leave you resentful, bitter, doubtful of His love. Remembering God has chosen you for a greater purpose gives such suffering meaning and purpose.

This Passover season let’s remember that choosing by God… a choosing for a purpose far greater than just our own personal salvation.