Malachi 1-4

Pastor Tynna Dixon

There’s a story told about someone who was angry because their pastor preached a sermon series on “The Sins of the Saints”. The person argued that ethe sins of Christians are different from the sins of other people. The Pastor agreed and added, “they are worse”. Do you agree? The sins of Christians are worse because when we sin, we not only break the Law of God but we break God’s heart. When we commit deliberate sins, it is not just being disobedient or rebelling, but it is offense of a child against their loving Father. The sins we keep close to our hearts ant get away with hurt God. The book of Malachi closes the Old Testament with both confrontation and quiet hope. Imagine it like a mirror that is being held before God’s people, exposing their hearts, their worship, and their expectations.

Doubting God’s Love

Eugene Peterson is quoted as saying “The task of a prophet is not to smooth things over but to make things right.” Malachi called his message a “burden.” God gave him insight into the hearts of the people and the problems happening within society. Malachi called the people out for their lack of love for God. But the people he preached to doubted that God even loved them so why should they love Him? Israel had grown weary. Questions about God’s love was high priority in their complaints: “How have you loved us?” and “Where is the God of justice?” (Mal. 1:2; 2:17). Their doubts were not merely whispered in prayer but they spoke them with much frustration. Doubt can quickly shift worship from heartfelt devotion to an empty routine. Malachi reminds us that when we doubt God’s goodness, we slack from offering Him our best.

Dishonoring the name of God

Unfortunately, that doubt showed up as dishonor. The priests were guilty of breaking the very Law they were supposed to be obeying and teaching. They were a disgrace to the name of the Lord. They allowed people to bring less than their best to God. The offered defective, blind, lame, and sick animals for sacrifices as if their less than best was satisfactory to God. The people treated covenant faithfulness as if it were a burden instead of a precious gift. George Macdonald said, “Nothing is so deadening to the divine as an habitual dealing with the outside of spiritual things.” What the priests were doing wasn’t ministry at all. It was empty religious rituals that was dishonored God’s Holy name.

With Eagar Expectancy

I am so glad that the book of Malachi does not end with doom and gloom. Instead, it ends with expectancy. Malachi points forward to a messenger who will prepare the way and to a Lord who will suddenly come to His temple (Mal. 3:1). He warns of a refining fire that will purify and a rising sun that will bring healing in its wings (Mal. 4:2). Expectancy turns eyes forward, past the corruption of the present moment, and toward God’s faithful intervention. It calls us to live with our eyes wide open because the Lord’s coming is not just a warning but a promise of hope and renewal.

Today, we live, like Israel, in the space between promises spoken and promises fulfilled. Although doubt may knock, and dishonor may be tempting, but expectancy will keep us going. Expectancy keeps us balanced and steady.
Malachi closes with expectation that points to Christ and the day when righteousness will prevail overall. Until then, let’s honor Him with our sincere worship, let’s keep trusting Him while we wait on Him and live our lives with expectancy that His promises are still Yes and Amen. Yes, His promises still stand.