Let us suppose that more than ninety years, an entire century almost, have passed away since Haggai and Zechariah began to preach in Jerusalem to the captives who had returned from Babylon. Artaxerxes Longimanus sits now on the throne of Persia, and is the sovereign lord to whom the Hebrews in Judea pay allegiance and tribute. It is, we shall say, the year 425 B.C., for if that be not the exact date it cannot be very far removed from it. The second Temple has been finished long since. It was not in vain that Zechariah encouraged the restored exiles by visions and predictions to be up and doing. Haggai's declarations that there was an intimate union between liberal giving to the Lord and external prosperity were uttered to good purpose. At the call of God's ambassadors the people roused themselves from their unworthy and selfish lethargy. They built the sacred walls and courts and pinnacles with zeal and enthusiasm; before long the hill of Zion was crowned again with the sanctuary of Jehovah. There succeeded a brief season of spiritual life and earnestness and joy. The priests offered sacrifice anew, and made intercession for the citizens within the Holy House. But this genial summer was short-lived. The generation to which Haggai and Zechariah spoke with such effect, died out ere long; and their successors did not manifest their zealous devotion. They were remiss and negligent. The city which their fathers had begun to rebuild they left incomplete and half-ruinous; they took little delight in the Temple which their fathers had raised. They withheld from God those tithes and offerings which pertained to Him; and when they did bring animals for sacrifice on His altar, they were often the very poorest of the flock - sheep and lambs which they would have been utterly ashamed to present to their Persian governor. Their priests were men like themselves. They cared not how slovenly the Temple service might be. They came far short of realizing the responsibilities of their office. They inflicted daily dishonour on the God whose servants they called themselves. Both priests and people intermarried freely with aliens, with those who were strangers to the commonwealth and the covenant, who were idolatrous in worship and sinful in life.

The first reading from the prophet Malachi is an interesting section of scripture because it has man in a rhetorical sense posing questions to God. There are many times in Scripture where people ask questions of God. It seems as though man has no clue either of what God expects of him or what he has done against God.

Our reading begins with these words, “I the Lord do not change.” These words are reminiscent of the words of the prophet Samuel who said of the Lord, “He who is the glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.”

We live in a society that wants God to change and conform to its whims and desires. We are in a denomination that has declared that the word of God is in constant need of reinterpretation to fit the way modern society thinks about how we should live our lives.

Listen again, “I the Lord do not change.”

Malachi

This people had chosen to set God aside as irrelevant; they had determined to pay Him no more attention. They might go through the motions. After all, appearance at the temple was one of those things well-bred people did! But in their hearts there was no longer a place for God.

The prophet Malachi, in our Old Testament Lesson describes a condition in which many Christians find themselves. It is a condition of disappointment, disillusionment, and discouragement. It causes us to have an attitude toward God that we never expected to have. This condition comes about when we feel like we have been let down by God, or when God hasn’t done for us what we expected Him to do. Sometimes it causes us to speak words, either consciously or subconsciously against God.

Listen to what the Lord says through Malachi, “Your words have been stout against me (you have said harsh things against me).” When we hear God saying that against us, we come back with the same words God says we would say, “How have we spoken against thee?” We are always quick to deceive ourselves into thinking that have not spoken against God.

God says, “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God.” In other words we can get to the point in our lives when we say, “It is futile to serve God.”

It is interesting that this passage in Malachi comes right after the part where God accuses His people of robbing him because they are withholding their tithes. He says to test Him and see if He will not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing upon us.

There are some who sign up for the Christian life thinking that God has promised them health, wealth, and prosperity. Your body could be healed because it is God’s will for all of us to be healthy. Your checkbook could be blessed because God wants you to prosper even as your soul prospers. Your social life will certainly improve because, after all, look at the wonderful people taking this trip along with you.

IV. They Disobeyed His Word (3:1-15)

The people had disobeyed God by robbing Him of tithes and offerings. Actually, when God's people are not faithful in their giving, they not only rob God, but they also rob themselves. God had shut off the rain and spoiled the crops because of their selfishness. Tithing, of course, is not "making a bargain with God"; but God does promise to bless and care for those who are faithful in their stewardship (Phil 4:10-19). Certainly God is not bankrupt; He wants our tithes and offerings as expressions of our faith and love. When a believer's love for Christ grows cold, it usually shows up in the area of stewardship. If every church member would bring the Lord His due (10 percent of the income, the tithe), and then add offerings (as an expression of gratitude), our local churches would have more than enough for their ministries. And they would he able to share generously with the many other good ministries that deserve support.