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Malachi 3:7-12

The fifth debate focuses on Tithes and Offerings. In verse 7: “Ever since the time of your ancestors, you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

Note the two uses of the word “return” – God wants his people to return to Him, and God wants to return to His people.

Let us consider today’s message from these two angles:

1. We are to return to God v8-10

a. Do not rob God of what belongs to Him

b. Return to God what is His (tithe)

2. God will Return to Us v11-12

a. God will Rebuke Our Enemy

b. God will make us the Object of Envy of All Nations

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Malachi 2:17-3:6 is the fourth round of debate between God and Israel. They wearied God with their words, yet they asked, “How have we wearied Him?”

So God showed them how their words wearied Him. Behind the litany of problems enumerated lay a far more serious problem: God’s people had lost their faith in God.

In this debate, God wants Israel to renew their faith in Him. Hebrews 11:6 says: “And without Faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

A person without faith in God cannot please God; he who doubts must not expect to receive anything from God.

In these 6 verses in Malachi, God reminds Israel of three important things about faith:

1. Faith must be established on the Promises of God’s Word (3:1)

2. Faith must be established on the conditions of God’s Word (3:2-5)

3. Faith must be established on God himself (3:6)

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Malachi 2:10-16

The third round of debate between God and the people of Israel is found in Malachi 2:10-16. in this debate, Good mentions the word “unfaithful” several times.

The NIV translation uses the phrase “breaking faith.” This term does not refer to their religious faith, but fidelity in marriage, that is, they were breaking faith in their marriage.

God wanted the Israelites to renew their marriage covenant. in these seven verses, God rebuked Israel for two forms of sin, and gave them advice.

1. God Rebuked Israel’s Two Sins (10-14)

a. Breaking Faith and Forsaking Righteousness

b. Hypocrisy

2. God’s Advice for Israel (15-16)

a.Godly Offspring

b. Seek to Please God
— First: God hates divorce
— Second: God hates a man’s violence towards his wife

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Malachi means my messenger. God used his messenger to speak to the people. The book of Malachi is very unique, because it is written in the form of a debate between God and the Israelites.

In Malachi, the Hebrew word “Maw” appeared seven times – this means “in anything?” We can use this word to divide the debate into parts.

Today, let us study the first round of the debate: “How have you loved us?” This is the Renewal of Faith (1) – Renewal in the matters pertaining to loving God.

God told them, “I have loved you.” But they replied, “How have you loved us?” We often question God’s love in two circumstances:

1. In situations where it seems there is no love

2. In situations full of love. When we are surrounded by love, we tend to forget we are loved.

God pointed out three proofs of how He loved them.

1. The Grace of God’s Election

2. God’s Grace of Rebuilding People’s Homes

3. God’s Grace of Using His Chosen People Again

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