Don’t Doubt His Love
Malachi prophesied around 450 BC in Israel. He is prophesying about the same time as Ezra and Nehemiah. He was one of the last inspired prophets before the 400-years or dark period between the Old Testament and Jesus Christ. The Israelites had returned from the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem had been rebuilt, and the temple restored.
But the people had not learned from their lesson in exile. They had grown doubtful of God’s love (1:2), unconcerned in worship (1:7), apathetic to the truth (2:6–7), rebellious to the covenant (2:10), disloyal in their marriages (2:15; 3:5), and ungenerous in their offerings (3:8). To sum it up, they the Israelite people had been disobedient and broken covenant with God. God sends a message through Malachi.
In these first few verses, Israel had doubted God’s love for them. Why? The Messianic age that had been prophesied had not come to be.
v.1 Oracle is translated as burden. Why? There is always great substance in the prophets message. God’s Word is weighty. Sharing the Word of God is always a labor of love! I go to my study and I pray, Lord God give them the sweet nourishment from your Word. I’m overwhelmed, overjoyed, broken, honored to share all at the same time hurting for families. My desire is to see you enjoy God! To savor His glory!
A love that helps
A love that humbles
Does this love make you humble? Does this love make you want to serve, to cling to Christ? His goodness towards us should make us humble. His discipline should make us humble. He disciplines us because he has great love for us. Is shaping and molding us.
Philippians 3:18 “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”
A love that halts
He loves us so much that He gives us a refiner’s fire. Malachi 3:3 “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.”
A love that honors
Psalm 96