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Malachi

Malachi. “My Messenger” Do We Honor God? Malachi 1:1-14. Background. 537 BC – First return of exiles begun 536 BC – Rebuilding temple begun 521 BC – Haggai and Zechariah encourage people to restart the building 516 BC – Temple completed 458 BC – Ezra leads a new group of returnees

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Malachi

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  1. Malachi “My Messenger” Do We Honor God? Malachi 1:1-14

  2. Background • 537 BC – First return of exiles begun • 536 BC – Rebuilding temple begun • 521 BC – Haggai and Zechariah encourage people to restart the building • 516 BC – Temple completed • 458 BC – Ezra leads a new group of returnees • Ezra’s work was to teach the people to obey the word of God • 444 BC – Nehemiah leads a third group of returnees • He leads in the rebuilding of the walls • Joins Ezra in trying to revive Israel spiritually

  3. Introduction • Malachi, “My messenger”, arrives shortly after the time of Ezra and Nehemiah • ca. 425 – 400 BC • He brings a final message from God before a period of 400 years of silence • Haggai and Zechariah had promised great blessings for Israel if they would turn to God • Ezra and Nehemiah tried to stir up the people to take their spiritual obligations seriously • All had some success, at least during their lives • Now Malachi comes to give God’s evaluation of their spiritual condition and the consequence

  4. Method of teaching • Malachi uses an argumentative format to teach • God makes a statement or brings a charge against Israel • Israel’s objection(s) to the statement or charge is raised • Then the objection(s) is refuted

  5. God’s love for Israel • Mal 1:1-5 • God states His love for Israel • Israel doubts that love • God explains His love by comparing what will happen to Israel (Jacob) with what will happen to Edom (Esau) • Edom was destroyed like Israel had been • But God wouldn’t allow Edom to be reestablished • Even if rebuilt, it would be destroyed again • [Destroyed many times, final time: 100 AD] • As they watch, they should realize God’s love is what is keeping them alive

  6. Honoring God • Mal 1:6-11 • Charge against the priests: God isn’t being honored even as much as parents or masters • Objection: “How have we despised God’s name?” • Response: The sacrifice is defiled • Objection: “How is it defiled?” • Response: Blind, lame, sick offerings • They offered what cost little or nothing • An offering they wouldn’t give to their governor • [Question: Do we try to offer God second best?]

  7. Honoring God • But God is willing to forgive if they would repent • But repentance requires a change in their actions • Repentance requires a desire to please and worship God • If you wish you could close the doors so you wouldn’t have to assemble, then God is not pleased and will not forgive • Or perhaps God is wishing someone would close the doors to keep out those who worship in vain • Because one day, God will be honored • Even among the Gentiles (in the church)

  8. Worship • Mal 1:12-14 • Charge: They profaned the worship by treating it as common and boring (tiring / wearying) • No objection raised • Further explanation • God deserves better worship than half-hearted worship, cheap offerings, or unfulfilled vows • God deserves better than half-attention and drooping eye-lids • God is the Great King • [Question: Would you be sleepy if you were in the presence of the president?]

  9. Lessons • Do we doubt God’s love for us? • Perhaps we simply aren’t looking at the alternatives • Do we truly honor God? • Do we offer Him the best of what we have? • Do we try to get by with just enough? • Would our offerings to Him be acceptable if made to our governor or president? • Do we wish we could be someplace else? • Do we find ourselves bored or sleepy? • Do we truly honor God and fear Him?

  10. Conclusion • Too often we act as if God were unimportant • Worship as a formality to be performed as quickly and cheaply as possible • Worship as a chance to catch-up on sleep • God as a pauper who should be thankful for whatever we choose to give • God as one who has no ability to punish • But God is the Great King and is to be feared • He knows what true honor and respect is • He knows what we are capable of • He can, and will, punish those who do not honor Him as He deserves

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