Difference between revisions of "Malachi 2:17-3:6 Hope in God"
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| − | == | + | ==Common Questions: Why do ''good'' ''things'' happen to ''bad'' ''people''? (2:17)== |
| − | === | + | <p>Actually, I think that we probably don't care as much as we claim about good things happening to bad people. What we really care about is why great things have not happened to me! Really, we ask,</p> |
| − | ===Image: === | + | ===A Related Question: Why has God not acted on my behalf yet?=== |
| − | ===MTR:=== | + | In fact, I kind of think this is the question that the people are asking in verse 17 they just frame it in a way that seems more righteous by asking for God's judgement on the wicked. |
| + | ====The failure of the people was a failure to see the big picture. God had blessed them abundantly.==== | ||
| + | =====He brought them out of Egypt.===== | ||
| + | =====He guided them through the wilderness.===== | ||
| + | =====He delivered them during the time of the judges===== | ||
| + | =====He prospered them in the united monarchy.===== | ||
| + | =====He patiently withheld judgement during the rebellion's of the divided kingdom. | ||
| + | =====Even in the judgement of exile God preserved a remnant.===== | ||
| + | =====God returned the people to the land.===== | ||
| + | ====Anyone paying attention should have realized that God had been faithful in the past and so he would be faithful in the future.==== | ||
| + | ===The question actually betrays a deeper, more dangerous question. Is God really just?=== | ||
| + | ====This is a dangerous question because the answer is very simply, yes!==== | ||
| + | ====If you doubt God's justice then you have a wrong view of something.==== | ||
| + | =====Perhaps you don't know the whole story.===== | ||
| + | =====Perhaps you don't know the bigger picture.===== | ||
| + | =====Perhaps you don't know the true outcome.===== | ||
| + | =====Perhaps you have not been patient enough.===== | ||
| + | =====Perhaps you don't have the correct definition of justice.===== | ||
| + | ====It is okay to ask the question if you are willing to listen to the answer, it is not okay to ask the question in rebellion to God.==== | ||
| + | ====God is never the problem, we are always the problem!==== | ||
| + | ===Questions are okay, rebellion is not!=== | ||
| + | ====The term weary (יגע) can refer to being physically spent but that is not something that can happen to God.==== | ||
| + | ====Instead "The term, then, vividly conveys God’s patient and gracious endurance of their rebellious and insulting attitude toward him and that the time for his patience is almost over. <ref>Richard A. Taylor and E. Ray Clendenen, Haggai, Malachi, vol. 21A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2004), 372</ref>"==== | ||
| + | ====The description of God as weary is not a weakness, it is a statement that "you need to watch out! God is not going to put up with this.==== | ||
| + | ===Image: Mark 9:23-24 is one of my favorite passages=== | ||
| + | <p>23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”</p> | ||
| + | I cannot tell you the number of times that I have been forced to tell God "I believe you, I trust you, but I don't see how this will work out. Help me to trust you more." | ||
| + | ===MTR: Determine right now that when doubts arise you will face those doubts by crying out "“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"=== | ||
==The Scary Answer: Because God has not chosen to judge them yet. (3:1-3:4)== | ==The Scary Answer: Because God has not chosen to judge them yet. (3:1-3:4)== | ||
| − | ==The Assuring Answer: God's children have no need to fear His Judgement. (3:5-3:6) | + | ==The Assuring Answer: God's children have no need to fear His Judgement. (3:5-3:6)== |
=Conclusion: = | =Conclusion: = | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 28 June 2023
Theological Proposition/Focus: Right living stems from right hope
Homiletical Proposition/Application: There are so many things in which we might hope, we need to make sure we hope in God!
Introduction:
Image:
Need:
Subject:
Preview:
Text:.
Setting the Stage:
Body
Common Questions: Why do good things happen to bad people? (2:17)
Actually, I think that we probably don't care as much as we claim about good things happening to bad people. What we really care about is why great things have not happened to me! Really, we ask,
A Related Question: Why has God not acted on my behalf yet?
In fact, I kind of think this is the question that the people are asking in verse 17 they just frame it in a way that seems more righteous by asking for God's judgement on the wicked.
The failure of the people was a failure to see the big picture. God had blessed them abundantly.
He brought them out of Egypt.
He guided them through the wilderness.
He delivered them during the time of the judges
He prospered them in the united monarchy.
=====He patiently withheld judgement during the rebellion's of the divided kingdom.
Even in the judgement of exile God preserved a remnant.
God returned the people to the land.
Anyone paying attention should have realized that God had been faithful in the past and so he would be faithful in the future.
The question actually betrays a deeper, more dangerous question. Is God really just?
This is a dangerous question because the answer is very simply, yes!
If you doubt God's justice then you have a wrong view of something.
Perhaps you don't know the whole story.
Perhaps you don't know the bigger picture.
Perhaps you don't know the true outcome.
Perhaps you have not been patient enough.
Perhaps you don't have the correct definition of justice.
It is okay to ask the question if you are willing to listen to the answer, it is not okay to ask the question in rebellion to God.
God is never the problem, we are always the problem!
Questions are okay, rebellion is not!
The term weary (יגע) can refer to being physically spent but that is not something that can happen to God.
Instead "The term, then, vividly conveys God’s patient and gracious endurance of their rebellious and insulting attitude toward him and that the time for his patience is almost over. [1]"
The description of God as weary is not a weakness, it is a statement that "you need to watch out! God is not going to put up with this.
Image: Mark 9:23-24 is one of my favorite passages
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
I cannot tell you the number of times that I have been forced to tell God "I believe you, I trust you, but I don't see how this will work out. Help me to trust you more."
MTR: Determine right now that when doubts arise you will face those doubts by crying out "“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
The Scary Answer: Because God has not chosen to judge them yet. (3:1-3:4)
The Assuring Answer: God's children have no need to fear His Judgement. (3:5-3:6)
Conclusion:
Image:
- ↑ Richard A. Taylor and E. Ray Clendenen, Haggai, Malachi, vol. 21A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2004), 372
