Malachi 2 Walking the walk

Introduction Chapter 1 – The people’s hearts were cold to the Lord – They had settled into a “rut” of formal religion – They had become complacent – This led to compromise and disobedience – The priests were leading rather than correcting this

Overview of chapter 2 God challenges them and tells them: – What they need to do – The consequences of not doing so – That they should return to the covenant – That they should stop their hypocrisy – That they need to see clearly Understand what God thinks and is saying We will then ask the question – So what

What they needed to do Listen – Attentively and with a right heart – Stop excusing, denying and ignoring Set their hearts on the Lord – A cultivated affection – A firm commitment of the will – An informed and considered decision To learn and be teachable and also to teach

The consequences of not doing so God will send a curse God will turn the blessings to a curse Their descendents would be rebuked God will throw their sacrifices in their faces – Their offerings will not be accepted – They will be an offence to God

Return to the covenant God wants to see them restored God wants to continue to bless them – They are blocking and rejecting the blessing God’s promise of life and peace The Levites were set apart for special service – Responsibilities of the priests – Responsibilities of the people The priests had violated the covenant God had already sent judgement

Walk the walk God called them back to historic truth They had “broken faith” (been unfaithful) – They had acted treacherously Their sin made their worship unacceptable They had dealt unfaithfully with their wives – Divorced them to marry foreign women – Against the law – Broken covenant with wife – God had made them one – godly offspring – God regards divorce as violence

See clearly and understand God was already cursing them – They weren’t listening They wept that God was ignoring them – They didn’t think about why – They were blind and self-righteous The lord was wearied by their hypocrisy – They were calling evil good – They were not discerning the Lords displeasure – They were blaming God

So what? Do we recognise the Lord’s rebuke? Do we listen and respond aright to rebuke? What is your heart set on? Are we teachable and applying what we learn? Are we blocking or rejecting the Lord’s blessings? Are our blessings turning to curses? Are we living in reverent awe? Are we leading well and setting a good example? Are we willing to be led? Are we faithful or disobedient and compromising? Are we dealing with our hypocrisy? Are our hearts aligned to God’s will? Do we accept our fault or blame God?