Ep. 217. Malachi 3-4 | The Great Day of the Lord

EPISODE 217

THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD: MALACHI 3-4

Here we need to continue to pay special attention to context. Look at 3:6 and see that God is addressing the "children of Jacob." In a modern-day setting, this text is usually presented as an argument for the importance of tithing, never mind the fact that we have already seen, and hopefully not ignored, that this book is a rebuke to sinful priests of God and rebellious people. When God says, "From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from my statutes." He is not talking about our American or European ancestors. He is talking about the rebellious ones who came out of Egypt. Those who rebelled against God from the first day they left Egypt until they were taken into captivity in Babylon.

Malachi is speaking to a group of people who have been banished to captivity for seventy years, who have been restored to Jerusalem, who faltered in rebuilding the temple, who shirked their responsibility to rebuild the wall, and who offered profane offerings to him in worship. By the way, it was those offerings that he was referring to when he was rebuking them for their lack of tithes. Remember, he has just said it would be better to close the doors of the TEMPLE. That's what he's talking about here. Think back to Haggai chapter one; it was the people's neglect of God that had them living in lack and futility. However, as believers, we know that there is "no condemnation" for those who are in Christ Jesus. We know that the blessing is attached to the work of Jesus on the cross, and the curse of sin has been abolished. How can we, in good faith, believe that Malachi is God's rebuke to weak-willed Christians? It isn't even a good understanding of what God has graciously given to us through our Savior.

Be careful in your reading of the Scripture to hold fast to the context so that you might rightly enjoy Jesus.

ADDITIONAL READINGS: Isaiah 33:14-15; Deuteronomy 9:7; Matthew 11:14; Haggai 1:1-11