God’s love our Response - Malachi
Imagine you’ve been invited to a fancy dinner party. You’ve been looking forward to it all week, but when you show up, the host hands you a plate of leftovers, and not even the good leftovers—just the sad, forgotten bits from the back of the fridge. You’d be a little offended, right? I mean, if they truly cared about you, wouldn’t they offer something better? That’s kind of what’s going on in the Book of Malachi. The Israelites were supposed to bring their best to God, but instead, they were offering Him the spiritual equivalent of last week’s pizza crusts. And God? He wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. Malachi, the prophet, shows up to give them a serious talking-to—because when you offer God your leftovers, don’t be surprised when He isn’t impressed!
Open in Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with humble hearts, grateful for the opportunity to gather in Your presence today. As we open the pages of Your Word, especially the book of Malachi, we ask that You speak to us through the wisdom and truth You have preserved for us.
Lord, just as You spoke to Your people long ago, we invite You to speak to us now. May Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to understand the message of this book, convict us where we need change, and encourage us to live lives that reflect Your love and faithfulness.
Help us to hear Your voice, to be drawn closer to You, and to grow in our relationship with You. May we be transformed by Your Word today, and may we leave this place more aligned with Your will.
We ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Malachi, the final book in the Old Testament, is often seen as a blunt and passionate message from God to His people, Israel. Written between 460-435 B.C., Malachi stands as a sort of “last word” before the silence of the intertestamental period—those 400 years when God didn’t send a prophet to Israel, He was silent until John the Baptist. The book is brief, but in its four chapters, it addresses some deep issues: spiritual apathy, corruption among priests, empty rituals, and broken promises. It’s like the final wake-up call before the stage is set for the New Testament.
But before we dive into the specifics, let’s think about the bigger picture for a moment.
By the time Malachi wrote these words, Israel had returned from exile in Babylon and rebuilt Jerusalem. The people had been given a second chance. However, despite the renewal of their land, the promises God had made, and the restoration of the temple, something was still missing. Israel’s heart was not in the right place, and their relationship with God had become cold and ritualistic. They were going through the motions, but the fire of love and devotion that was supposed to fuel their faith had almost gone out.
The Book of Malachi opens with God declaring His love for Israel, but the people are quick to question it. “How have you loved us?” they ask (Malachi 1:2). From the outset, we see that the relationship between God’s people and God is strained, like a marriage where the love has faded and both sides are now questioning the other. God’s people had begun to doubt God’s faithfulness in the form of 6 disputes, and they weren’t living up to their part of the covenant/promise. Malachi’s words challenge them to wake up, to return to God, and to be serious about their relationship with Him once again and it is a warning for us today as well.
One of the key themes in Malachi is the problem of spiritual complacency. Israel had become apathetic in their worship. They were offering sacrifices that were less than their best—blind, lame, and sick animals (Malachi 1:6-14). Essentially, they were giving God their leftovers, not their first and best.
In addition to the problem of bad sacrifices, Malachi calls out the priests, who were supposed to lead the people in worship but had become corrupt and complacent themselves. They weren’t teaching the people properly, and they were failing in their duties.
Another major issue Malachi addresses is the broken covenant between Israel and God, particularly in the area of marriage. In the ancient world, marriage was seen as a reflection of the covenant between God and His people. But in Malachi’s time, many of the Israelites were divorcing their wives and marrying foreign women, which not only violated the sacredness of marriage but also went against God’s commands to remain faithful to Him.
Despite all of the harsh words and the stern rebukes in the Book of Malachi, there’s a strong undercurrent of hope. Malachi ends with a promise of a coming messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord. It’s a reminder that God hasn’t given up on His people, even though they’ve been unfaithful. The hope for redemption and restoration is there, even if it seems distant.
In a broader sense, the Book of Malachi speaks to the dangers of complacency in our own spiritual lives. It’s easy to fall into routines, to go through the motions of faith without truly engaging our hearts. We can offer our “leftovers” to God—our time, our attention, our love—without truly investing in our relationship with Him. Malachi’s challenge to Israel is also a challenge to us: Are we truly living in a way that honours God, or are we just going through the motions?
The Book of Malachi also challenges us to consider the nature of our own promises. Just as the Israelites were unfaithful in their covenant with God, we too can sometimes fail to keep our commitments, whether to God, to others, or even to ourselves. But God’s call to repentance and faithfulness is always there, and His love for us remains constant, even when we fall short.
In the end, the Book of Malachi is about more than just pointing out flaws and failures. It’s about God’s faithfulness to a people who continually struggle to remain faithful to Him. It’s about the hope that, despite our shortcomings, God will send a Redeemer, a Messenger, to restore what is broken and bring about true renewal.
So, as we look at Malachi, we see a powerful message about what happens when a people grow complacent in their faith and a loving reminder that God always offers the opportunity for renewal. Even when we fall short, God’s call to come back to Him remains, and that’s the ultimate message of hope found in this ancient book.
Sermon on Malachi 1:1-5: “God’s Love, Our Response”
Introduction:
It’s a joy to be with you all today as we dive into the Old Testament book of Malachi. It’s important to understand the context of book, as it’s packed with some very real and very relevant lessons for us today.
If you're wondering, “Why Malachi?” It’s because Malachi addresses the kind of stuff that you and I struggle with. He spoke to a people who were kind of in the spiritual doldrums—going through the motions, offering God what they thought they could.
spare, and questioning God's love for them. Sound familiar? Malachi begins with a simple but powerful truth: God loves us, and how we respond to that love matters.
Today, we’ll be looking at Malachi 1:1-5, and as we go, I’ll be sharing some thoughts and scripture references to help unpack what’s going on here.
Let’s read Malachi 1:1-5 (NKJV)
1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved;
3But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”
4Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
5Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, ‘The Lord is magnified(glorified) beyond the border of Israel.’
This is written to God’s people, they are collectively referred to as Israel, this is the old covenant people of God in the church family. God ultimately is the one speaking, He is the Lord, and then the messenger, the one delivering the mail: this man’s name is Malachi. Verse 1 reads as follows: “The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi”. What this means is that God has a burden for his children, God has a burden for a relationship and so Malachi is going to reveal the Father’s heart and it is God’s intent to help us to build a healthy relationship with Himself, which can then be translated to family and friends and that’s where Malachi is going. So God cares and God speaks.
When God speaks it is the word of the Lord and this is significant for us today because this book (Bible) is unlike any other book that has been or will ever be written. There are lots of words about God: in philosophy, religion and speculation. This is not a word about God, this is the Word of God and when we open it we receive a word from God. This is very important because what he/Malachi is claiming is this is the word of the Lord, so God is communicating to us, you are hearing from God and therefore you are receiving a message, a revelation and instruction from.
God as we open His word. Another interesting fact is that the mailman, the man delivering the message, his name is Malachi, we are told that the name literally means “Messenger of God”. Some Bible scholars say that this is a personal name, maybe a job title or even a job description. Nevertheless, sometimes individuals were given names because of a promise to God or a revelation shared by God himself which instructs the parents to give their child a specific name because God has a great plan and we can think of a number of examples from the Bible.
Ultimately, God is in control from the beginning to the end and he is not constrained by time because He created time. So, it is my belief, that Malachi is both his name and his appointed duty and as we read the book of Malachi we are going to learn a lot about God, but next to nothing about this man Malachi.
Here is why…. The prophecy is about God and His relationship with His children His people and Malachi doesn’t meddle in the middle.
Point 1: "God’s Love is Unshakable" (Malachi 1:2)
Let’s get straight to the point. How you start often determines how things end. I mean if you are angry with a friend/spouse because they have … (you fill in the blank). How you start the conversation to restore the relationship will determine the outcome. There is a sociologist, he's a researcher, his name is Dr. John Gottman. He's done some of the leading work on relational and marital conflict and after lengthy significant clinical studies, one of the factors that he says contributes to a very painful broken relationship is something called a harsh startup meaning the conversation starts as a conflict or as a criticism or with controversy. How many of you know exactly what this is like. There are certain times or people or topics that when you broach it with them it is a harsh startup and it brings out the mean and angry and the nasty.
The way you start the conversation sets the conversation in motion. It can either be civil or it's like adding 20 litre container of petrol to a fire and ultimately it is going to end very very badly. A harsh start-up can set the conversation in the wrong direction where does God start, He starts with LOVE.
In verse 2, God starts with a statement and declares, “I have loved you.” Simple, right? What we need to notice is that God starts first, He initiates. God starts with LOVE.
But here’s where things get interesting. The people of Israel—who, by the way, had just come out of Babylonian exile and were trying to rebuild their lives—are skeptical. They respond, “How have you loved us?”
I can imagine the scene: “Really, God? After all we’ve been through? After the exile? The oppression? The brokenness?” Here God’s people are angry with God and He still loves them. If you are angry with God, He can handle it. If you have questions, He can answer those too.
There are some here this morning with children and sometimes your kids accuse you of something that is not true. God here is the father and He is being accused of not loving them:
● You don’t love us
● You don’t bless us
● You love and bless wicked people who are your enemies
● Therefore we have come to the conclusion that we have no use for You and we have found you to be a failed father. (STRONG STATEMENT)
What can we learn from God in this interaction, which we can apply to our parenting and grand-parenting skill set? CONNECT before you CORRECT. God connects with his people by declaring that He loves them:
● God is a father, we see the father heart of God
● God knows what they are thinking, saying and doing
● God calls a family meeting
● God does not act like a sibling. → how many of us poked at our parents to get a reaction. Our kids just know what buttons to push. They shout, we shout. We get demoted from parent to sibling.
● God meets them where they are to walk them where they need to be ● God starts with LOVE
God says, “Let me remind you. I’ve loved you. Just like I loved Jacob, and I didn’t love Esau in the same way.”
God reminds them of their family. They knew their heritage and the stories were passed down from generation to generation, where most of us know very little about our family past our grandparents.
Abraham was chosen by God, not because he was good man. Abraham is not a Jew, but a gentile/ungodly. From Abraham, God promises that he will bring Jesus, saviour of the world. Sarah has Isaac, Isaac and Rebekah have twin boys, Esau and Jacob. The Bible tells us that they were fighting in the womb.
● Jacob is a bad guy
● Esau is a bad guy
Jacob → becomes Israel
Esau → becomes Edom
Another interesting fact is that Jesus, who comes to save the world is from the line of Jacob. King Herod, who tries to kill Jesus by killing anyone under the age of two, is from the Edomites.
Now, before we start thinking, “Wait, does God hate Esau? That doesn’t sound right!” Let’s pause and break this down.
The point here isn’t about hatred in the emotional sense we think of. The word “hate” should rather be seen in terms of "to prefer less" or "to choose less." God chose Jacob’s descendants, Israel, to fulfill His promises. Esau's descendants, the Edomites, were not chosen for that role. But make no mistake—God loved them too, but in a different way. His love for Israel is a love of covenant, a love with a purpose.
Let us use scripture to help us explore God the Father’s heart Luke 14:26:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
Does God expect us to hate our parents? No we are called to honour and love our parents. Does this give us permission to hate our wives and children? No God is very clear on this and calls us to respect and love our children and love our wives as we love ourselves. The word hate is not what we think it means, the correct meaning would be based on the “law of priority”. I prefer this item less. We are called to place Jesus above all these things.
God chose/preferred Jacob above Esau for a specific task.
Romans 9:10-18
10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
We deserve nothing but HELL, but we get this feeling that we are owed something. We fall into the trap of being entitled when in fact the only thing that we deserve is the punishment that is due to us for not living according to God’s laws and that punishment is death.
The truth is, we deserve nothing! And it is only because God is merciful that we are saved. Not because of anything we have done, because we have done nothing, but because of what God has done.
I get it. We’ve all been there, asking, “God, how do You love me, when I don’t feel loved or when life is hard?” Maybe you're in a season where you’re questioning God’s love. The temptation is to look at our circumstances and say, “How have You loved me?”
But here’s the thing: God’s love isn’t defined by your circumstances. He is steady, unchanging, and eternal. His love is perfect and does not sway because He is perfect.
Scripture Connection:
Remember Romans 8:38-39? “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God’s love is eternal and unshakable. Period.
Point 2: "God’s Love Demands a Response" (Malachi 1:3-4)
Now, moving on to verses 3 and 4. God, in His love, brings judgment upon Edom, saying, "I will demolish. They will be called the wicked land." Why? Because Edom had continually opposed Israel, and their response to God's covenant love was one of defiance.
Here’s the kicker: God’s love demands a response. You can’t just sit there and say, “God loves me,” and keep living like nothing has changed. When we experience God's love, we are called to respond with love, gratitude, and obedience.
It’s like if someone gives you a gift—say, a birthday gift—and you don’t say thank you or even acknowledge it. It’s a little awkward, right? God’s love isn’t just a one-way street. He gives His love to us, and our response is to love Him back, to live in obedience to His commands, to glorify His name.
I have a story about this. When I was a younger man, I was given a birthday gift from my amazing wife. A year later I was asked if I liked the gift as she had not seen it being used. I shrugged, and said, “Oh, I haven’t used it yet.”
“Wait, what? What message was I delivering without saying a word. That was a little heartbreaking and I learned a very valuable lesson.
But think about how God must feel when He pours out His love on us, and we respond with apathy or indifference. Friends, God's love deserves more than just a thank you; it deserves a life transformed by His grace.
Scripture Connection:
Look at 1 John 4:19: "We love because He first loved us."
It’s because of God’s love for us that we are able to love others and live for Him.
Point 3: "The Manifestation of God's Love is Glorious" (Malachi 1:5)
Finally, let’s look at verse 5. It’s one of my favorite parts: “You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’”
God is saying that His greatness and love will be on display for all to see. Not just for Israel, but for the whole world. In fact, the way Israel responds to God’s love will be a testimony to the nations of His greatness.
Now, think back to a time when you interacted with someone, family or a friend and their life is just shining Jesus. They are living their life bringing glory to God. One of the things I love about our church camp is that it allows us to come together, enjoy.
each other’s company and live our lives out in front of each other, even if it is just for a weekend, because others examples rub off on us. It’s contagious! When we live in response to God’s love, it becomes a powerful witness to those around us.
God’s love isn’t meant to be kept to ourselves. It’s meant to shine through us and reach the world. Just like when you’re walking around with a good cup of coffee, and people see you, they might say, “Where did you get that?” and suddenly, they want one too. When we’re living out God’s love, others see it and want it for themselves.
Scripture Connection:
Matthew 5:16 tells us, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Malachi 1:1-5 serves as a reminder of God’s unwavering love for us. We might question His love at times, especially when life is difficult, but God’s love is not based on our circumstances—it’s rooted in His eternal character. His love demands a response—one that reflects gratitude and obedience. And ultimately, God’s love is meant to be a light that shines through us to the world.
So, how are you responding to God’s love today? Are you living as though His love has transformed you? Or are you giving Him the left-overs and doing things out of duty, because if it is the latter there are consequences for our actions. Because when we truly grasp the greatness of God’s love, it should change us from the inside and that in turn will reflect outwardly bringing Glory to God.
Let’s pray together:
Father, thank You for Your great love for us. We confess that at times we struggle to see Your love clearly, especially when life gets tough. Help us to respond to Your love with obedience and joy. May Your love shine through us and draw others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
