A NATION AT SUNSET

SERIES: HOPE AT THE END OF THE AGE.

TEXT: MALACHI 1:1.

In 515BC, after 70 years of Babylonian captivity, the people who were still in Babylon were released. Although they had their land, national identity restored, they realized they were not the nation they used to be and they got discouraged.

In 587BC, Babylon had destroyed Solomon’s great temple and took the nation of Israel into captivity to Babylon.

In 538BC, Cyrus allowed some of the Hebrews captives to return to Israel to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.

50,000 Jews returned to Israel to start the work of capturing the nation’s formers glory under the leadership of Zerrubabbel.

In 515 BC, after much delay, the temple was rebuilt, the priesthood was reestablished and sacrifice had once again resumed.

The appointed feasts of the Lord were now being observed.

In 456BC, Ezra visited Jerusalem and in 445BC Nehemiah became the governor of Judah.

By this time, the optimism of returning to Israel turned to skepticism. The people were skeptical of the love of God, decrees of God, worship of God and service of God.

Their faith turned to apathy (laziness). Their national patriotism turned to indifference.

The nation of Israel was in a spiritual low, the temple priests became careless and people doubted God.

The returnees had married foreign wives and their culture was diluted and their faith was polluted by foreign beliefs and practices of other religions.

There was no dedication to family, marriage and raising children to be obedient to YHWH. Adultery, divorce, sorcery were rampant. Their fields did not produce well, so their economy was falling.

Corruption was rampant in government, it was a pathetic situation in Israel.

Like the situation in Israel we too find our hopes broken and promises given to us turn to ashes.

Like old Israel we look forward to the second coming of our Messiah, even our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, we need a word, open vision and Malachi message in for our nation, we need a ray of hope this morning. Let us learn:-

THE MESSAGE IS A DIFFICULT WORD-Malachi 1:1.

“The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.”

Malachi uses the word “burden” for the message he had deposited in his heart.”

• A “burden” is used to describe a donkey carrying a heavy load for its owner.
• The load God gave Malachi was not comfortable, easy or light, it weighed heavily on his heart.
• The task of the prophet is not to smooth things over but to set things right.
• Malachi had no choice on the message he had to preach to the nation.

A preacher was once reprimanded by one of his church members for preaching a message titled: “The sins of the saints.”

• The preacher’s critic said, “The sins of the saints are no different than the sins of a non-believer.
• The preacher disagreed. “The sins of a saint are much worse than the sins of the sinners.”

1. When a lost sinner sins they break the law of God.

• When a saved persons sins they break the heart of God.

2. When a believer deliberately sins it is not like a servant being disobedient to his master, it is the offense of a child against the loving father or mother.
3. It is difficult for God’s preacher to discharge his burden upon the people he loves.
4. But God has given every called preacher a burden to preach the hard messages to the saints.
5. God’s preacher is called to preach the message of comfort and encouragement, but also give the message that discomforts and discourages the saints.
6. Sometimes the burden (oracle) the Lord gives His messenger is difficult to deliver, but it does not dismiss the preacher from preaching the message.
7. The preacher does not pick the messages he preachers, God picks the messenger to share the message He wants.
8. A physician who heals must also be the surgeon who wounds in order that he may heal.
9. A true messenger of God will deliver the message lovingly and honestly.

THE MESSAGE IS DIVINE-Malachi 1:1.

“The burden (oracle) of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.”

Malachi references the covenant name of God (YHWH) to remind them of the covenant that God entered into with His people-Exodus 6:2-8.

• The children of Israel of Malachi’s day had dishonored God (YHWH)-Malachi 1:6.
• To “despise” means to disdain, to scorn, to say we do not want His name.
• The God who had chosen them, protected and provided for them, blessed them, made a covenant with them was no longer welcome, taken seriously, consulted. He was no longer part of the national picture and identity.

The priest had destroyed the covenant of “LEVI”-Malachi 2:8.

• The people on the other hand had profaned (polluted and wounded) the covenant of the fathers-Malachi 2:10.
• The people had broken their marriage covenant with YHWH-Malachi 2:14.
• Their marriage with YHWH was on the rocks.
• Today let us be reminded that God, nor His covenant have not changed.
• God is the “unmoved mover,” the eternal God.
• You and I are married to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
• The faithfulness He demanded of us in the Old Testament is still demanded of us in the New Testament. Only that ours is sealed with the blood of His son, Jesus Christ.
• We as christians are to live in faithfulness to the covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Many christians by mistake, say they are no longer under the law, however Jesus says something much different-Matt. 23:23.

We are under grace! Ok.

• Grace requires more than the law ever did.
• The law requires “No adultery.” Grace requires us not even to lust!!
• The law required, “No murder.” Grace requires us not to even hate in our hearts.
• The law requires an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth; Grace requires us to turn the other cheek.
• Law required love your neighbor hate your enemy; grace requires us to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us.
• We are to live in faithfulness to the covenant relationship under the blood of Jesus Christ!!
• We are under a covenant with YHWH, the God of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• Let us not wander far from our covenant, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”-Heb. 10:31.

IT IS A DECLARED MESSAGE-Malachi 1:1.

“The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi 1:1.

“By” means hand. This denotes “authority.”

• The hand” symbolizes the receiving or the discharge of authority.
• Malachi had been given the message and the authority to declare or release the message to the nation.
• Malachi spoke to a nation whose sins were very similar to ours today.

1. We refuse to respond to God’s love-Vs. 2.

“I have loved you says the Lord. But you say, how have you loved us? Was Esau not Jacob’s brother? Declares the Lord, yet I have loved Jacob”-Malachi 1:2.

2. We refuse to honor God, even though we are His children-John 1:21; Malachi 1:6.
3. Their ministers/pastors refused to lead their people.
4. Divorce/breakdown of the family were common-Malachi 2:14.
5. They were stewards who refused to tithe-Malachi 3:8-10.

• They were God’s people but all they could do was complain against Him-Malachi 3:14.

6. God warned them, “The day of the Lord” was coming-Malachi 4:5.

• Those who are right with God would receive glory, those who are away from Him would face judgement.

CONCLUSION

• As we look at the book of Malachi, we see that their sins are similar to our sins today as children of God.
• Are you neglecting God in your heart?
• Are you into a covenant relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ? Are you saved?
• Are you truly walking with your Savior daily?