***NOTE:     Missing last minute of recording due to a Technical Difficulty

Does God Really Love Us?

 Malachi 1:1-5

– Malachi is the last of the Old Testament Prophets who delivered God’s message just before the ministry of Ezra and Nehemiah (around 470 BC)

– The book of Malachi is structured around 6 ‘Disputations’ that take place between God and Israel, the first of which deals with God’s love.

I. God’s Love Declared (v. 2a)

1) God’s first priority is to remind Israel of His love

1. Malachi’s prophetic ‘burden’ is fueled by love
2. God’s discipline in the lives of His people is always grounded in His love for us

2) God’s Love is Covenantal

1. Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12-17)
2. Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 7:6-11)

• Chosen to be God’s ‘treasured possession’
• Not loved because of any innate qualities

Application: Just as God’s love for national Israel was rooted in His Covenant promises, so God’s love for the Church (believing Jews and Gentiles) is rooted in His Covenant promises. (See Gal 3:28-29, 6:16, 1 Pet 2:9-10, Rev 1:5-6)

 II. God’s Love Doubted (v. 2b)

1) Israel’s Cynicism Toward God

1. The 70 year ‘Exile’ had come to an official end in 538 BC with the ‘Decree of Cyrus’
2. About 50,000 exiles returned to Jerusalem with hopes of a restored Kingdom (cf. Is 40-66; Hag 2:19; Zech 8:9-11)
3. The Temple was rebuilt in 515 BC, but the people were still ‘slaves’ under the authority of a foreign King (Ezra 9:9)
4. By the time of Malachi, Ezra and Nehemiah, deep cynicism had taken root!

• ‘Does God really love us?’
• ‘Will God ever fulfill His promises?’
• ‘Does it really matter if we obey God?’

Application: Have you ever experienced disappointment and cynicism in your relationship with God?  How does a cynical or bitter heart affect the way that we approach God in worship?

III. God’s Love Demonstrated (vv. 2c -5)

1) Through Sovereign Election

1. God ‘loved’ Jacob by choosing/electing him and ‘hated’ Esau by passing him by
2. God’s election of Jacob was unconditional (cf. Romans 9:6-18)

• Not motivated by genes- they were twins!
• Not motivated by good or evil deeds
• Not motivated by anything God foresaw

2)   Through Historical Events

1. Israel was severely disciplined during the exile but God restored them to the land!
2. Edom was destroyed with no future hope

Application: Many of us struggle with the doctrine of ‘election’ but the real question before us is not how God could ‘hate’ Esau, but how God could love anyone who has broken His covenant?   Next time you are tempted to doubt God’s love or to grow cynical, look straight toward the cross and be reminded that you have been chosen in Christ and that He died in your place for your sin.