Malachi 3:6-12 The Citizen

Theological Proposition/Focus:

Homiletical Proposition/Application:

Introduction:

Setting the Stage:

Malachi was written to a Jewish remnant in Palestine. After the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, the people were deported. In 536 BC some of the people were allowed to return and in 516 BC a new temple had been constructed. Nehemiah who had come to help rebuild the city returned to Persia in 432 BC. Xerxes was king and he imposed heavy taxes on Palestine. Malachi wrote to the people in this context.

The theme is one of patient hope in God and special emphasis is placed on God's demand for justice. Malachi taught that spiritual apathy is unacceptable before God. God has plans for the future and expects his people to change their attitude and worship him through faith always trusting that he is sovereign. God’s standards have theological, social, and ethical implications and God expects his people to live by those standards.

Malachi's style is one of asking good questions and significantly, Malachi is the last prophet to write before John the Baptist comes on the scene more than 400 years later.

Body

Problem 1: We have a tendency to turn away from God (6-7)

In Malachi 1 the people had asked an important question. Does God even love us? You see the people had returned to the land and built the temple, yet they had not been blessed the way they expected. The people were stuck in the absence of blessing wondering if God still loved them.

God is faithful we are disobedient (6-7a)

The Bible is filled with examples of people who disobey God. Time and time again, The people of Israel failed to obey.

Exodus 32:7–9

In fact, as Moses was receiving the very law of God, the people were breaking the law.

God patiently waits for his people to return

However, as we see in the second half of the verse, God promises to return to those who return to him.